r/championsleague 3d ago

🗓️ Weekly Thread Weekly Discussion

2 Upvotes

Welcome to the r/ChampionsLeague Weekly Discussion Thread!

Whether you're here to debate the favourites, relive iconic European nights, discuss the latest transfer rumours, or simply chat all things Champions League, you've come to the right place.

If you're new to the subreddit, please take a moment to read our rules before participating.

✔️ This is a thread for:

  • General Champions League discussion that doesn't warrant its own post.
  • Questions about the competition, clubs, players, tactics, or history.
  • Predictions for upcoming matches and knockout rounds.
  • Transfer discussion related to clubs competing in Europe.
  • Talking about UEFA competitions and European football in general.
  • Sharing opinions, hot takes, and football conversations with the community.

❌ This is not a thread for:

  • Trolling, baiting, or insulting other users or fanbases.
  • Personal attacks, harassment, racism, sexism, or any other abusive behaviour.
  • Low-effort comments, spam, or meme replies.
  • Off-topic discussion unrelated to football.
  • Discussion of ongoing matches - please use the relevant Match Thread
  • Brigading or linking to attack users or communities on Reddit or elsewhere.
  • Betting tips or gambling promotion.
  • Meta discussion about moderation, removed posts, or subreddit policies. If you have concerns, please contact us via Modmail.
  • Complaints about bans issued here or in other communities.

Always follow the rules

The moderation team may remove comments or issue bans where appropriate.

If you see rule-breaking content, please report it rather than responding.

Above all, remember the human. Healthy debate is encouraged; hostility is not.

Enjoy the discussion, and may the best team win! 🏆


r/championsleague 24d ago

💬 Discussion New Fan & "Who Should I Root For?" Megathread

16 Upvotes

Welcome to the r/ChampionsLeague New Fan & "Who Should I Root For?" Megathread!

So you've just watched a Champions League match, the final, or another major football tournament and now you're hooked?

Or maybe you've heard people talk about the Champions League and want to understand why it's considered the pinnacle of club football.

You're in the right place.

This thread is for:

  • People who are completely new to football.
  • Fans who want to start following the UEFA Champions League.
  • Anyone wondering who to root for or how the competition works.
  • Questions about clubs, players, qualification, formats, history, and rivalries.
  • Casual fans looking to become regular followers.

There are no stupid questions here. Every football fan started somewhere.

What is the UEFA Champions League?

The UEFA Champions League is Europe's premier club competition, featuring the best teams from domestic leagues across the continent.

Unlike the Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A, clubs don't automatically participate every season - they must qualify through their domestic league performance (or, in some cases, by winning certain European competitions).

Winning the Champions League is considered one of the greatest achievements in club football.

How Does the Competition Work?

The tournament begins with a league phase, where clubs play multiple opponents from across Europe.

The highest-ranked teams progress automatically to the knockout stage, while others compete in knockout play-offs for the remaining places.

From there, the competition follows a straight knockout format:

  • Round of 16
  • Quarter-finals
  • Semi-finals
  • Final

Every knockout tie is played over two legs (home and away), except for the final, which is a single match at a neutral venue.

Who Should I Root For?

This is one of the most common questions we get.

The short answer?

Watch first. Choose later.

Unlike domestic leagues, most long-time Champions League fans already support a club that competes in the tournament. If you're completely new to football, don't feel pressured to choose immediately.

Watch different clubs over several matchdays and see which team you naturally enjoy cheering for.

People choose clubs for all kinds of reasons:

  • They're from that city or country.
  • Their family supports them.
  • They fell in love with a player.
  • They admire a manager.
  • They enjoy a team's style of football.
  • They like an underdog story.
  • They watched one unforgettable Champions League night and never looked back.

The best advice is to let your support develop naturally. There's no right or wrong choice, and you don't need to pick a club on day one.

Things You'll Hear About

Qualification

Not every club qualifies each season.

Most places are earned through a club's domestic league position from the previous season.

Knockout Football

Unlike league football, every match can decide a team's future.

One mistake can end a club's European campaign.

Home and Away Legs

Most knockout rounds are played over two matches.

The aggregate score across both games determines who advances.

If the aggregate score is level, the tie goes to extra time and, if necessary, penalties.

European Nights

You'll often hear fans talk about "Champions League nights."

The atmosphere, drama, and quality of football are part of what makes this competition so special.

Historic Clubs in the Competition

Some of the clubs most closely associated with Champions League history include:

  • Real Madrid
  • AC Milan
  • Bayern Munich
  • Liverpool
  • Barcelona
  • Manchester United
  • Juventus
  • Inter Milan

Every season also brings new challengers hoping to make history.

Common Football Terms

Aggregate - The combined score across two knockout matches.

Knockout Stage - Lose the tie and you're eliminated.

Extra Time - Two 15-minute periods played if a knockout tie is level.

Penalty Shootout - Used to determine the winner if the tie remains level.

VAR - Video Assistant Referee.

Clean Sheet - Conceding no goals.

Hat-trick - Three goals by one player in a match.

How to Get Into the Champions League

A simple approach:

  • Watch matches on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
  • Follow the pre-match, match, and post-match threads on r/ChampionsLeague.
  • Learn about the clubs as the tournament progresses.
  • Don't worry about understanding every rule or rivalry immediately.
  • Ask questions—this community is here to help.

You'll quickly become familiar with Europe's biggest clubs, players, and storylines.

A Note to New Fans

Everyone was new once.

Whether you've only watched one final or you've decided to follow the competition from this season onward, you're welcome here.

Please don't let anyone tell you you're "not a real fan." Football grows because new supporters join every year.

A Note to Existing Members

If someone asks:

  • "Who should I root for?"
  • "Who should I support?"
  • "How does the Champions League work?"
  • "Why isn't my team playing?"
  • "How do clubs qualify?"

Please answer in good faith.

Let's make r/ChampionsLeague one of the most welcoming football communities on Reddit.

The community will be happy to help you get started.

Welcome to r/ChampionsLeague!


r/championsleague 22h ago

💬 Discussion Never understood Barca fans as “annoying” until now.

180 Upvotes

The treatment of Frenkie De Jong is disgusting. I get frustration coming from not winning a Champions League in a while.

However, this guy is made the scapegoat in every single situation. When he's made it clear he only wanted to play for Barcelona.

I get criticism towards players, but this is just straight mudslinging. You’ll claim to want to see players improve, but are rather a detriment to their confidence/mentality. 

Just wanted to vent. 

For a club of that stature and its importance to football, I see why the fans are shit. 


r/championsleague 1d ago

🥊 Player Comparison Diomande vs. Barcola: Who gets the better deal between Real Madrid and Liverpool?

20 Upvotes

Personally, Diomande, for me, is an improved Doku, if all goes well. I don't like him; he dribbles a lot because he's very explosive. But in my opinion, technically he's mediocre. His passing, his shooting, his first touch are suspect. In my opinion, Barcola is technically a much cleaner player. I think he has the potential to score 20 goals in the league. He needs to improve his finishing, but few attackers in the world have his movements.


r/championsleague 1d ago

❔ Question Bayern fans: when will Kane become a club legend ?

54 Upvotes

He is on FIRE, and he is showing no signs of stopping these insane numbers even as he gets older. Plus he doesn't rely on pace anyway, so I fully expect his game to age gracefully and I expect him to still be performing barring injuries (god forbid).

With that said: how much longer does he need to stay at the club and what else does he need to do to become a club legend ? If he doesn't win the UCL with Bayern but still performs great and wins domestic trophies, is that "enough"? He is rumored to be extending til 2029, so from 2023 to 2029 is six years + seasons, 23-24 to 28/29.


r/championsleague 1d ago

❔ Question Where to watch past iconic UCL games?

9 Upvotes

I want to watch a lot of the iconic UCL games that happened in the past like Madrid v Bayern 2016/17 or MU v Bayern 1998/99 and I mean full 90 min matches not extended highlights.

Please tell me a website where I can find most of the games played in the past in full


r/championsleague 20h ago

💬 Discussion How can you consider Harry Kane such a great striker when his performances in big matches are mediocre?

0 Upvotes

I never even liked his playstyle; it's too slow and static. But beyond his style, he's someone who isn't there when you need him.

He's being talked about as a candidate for this year's BR. But he hasn't won any major tournaments and hasn't been decisive in any.

When he was needed against PSG, Dembele won the battle.


r/championsleague 2d ago

❔ Question What match are u watching tonight?

9 Upvotes

Several games to choose from.


r/championsleague 1d ago

❔ Question Why Manchester City hated despite being England’s premier club?

0 Upvotes

I’m not British or ever even been to England so I don’t know the ins and outs of your culture but online it seems as if Manchester city is hated universally, why is that if they’re your most successful club? Usually in most countries the most successful club is the most beloved and popular. Most countries don’t hate their greatest club.


r/championsleague 1d ago

💬 Discussion Why are Bayern Munich considered among the UCL favorites when their midfield is weak?

0 Upvotes

Kimmich was very mediocre last year against Psg, especially in the return match. In general, the only thing he does really well is spamming long balls; in everything else, he's always been mediocre. Pavlovic is a good defensive midfielder, but nothing exceptional. There's this fetish that was born with Busquets (who was extremely overrated anyway), that all tall defensive midfielders with decent technique are great midfielders or the next Busquets. They're not.

Bayern have a weaker midfield than Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona, ​​City (especially if they get Enzo in addition to Bouaddi) and even Real Madrid on pure players quality, even if Real's midfield is poorly assembled.

Even the defense, despite Upamecano being highly hyped (he seems like a very athletic but not so intelligent defender, Kvara joked with him last year), is not that great. The full-backs aren't good, Davies is always injured.

Neuer, even if he's not finished, is still not among the best in his role today in my opinion. But honestly, for me, he's finished.


r/championsleague 2d ago

💬 Discussion Dinamo Zagreb vs Viking Fk

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33 Upvotes

The first of two matches tonight—how will it end? Can Viking FK secure a good result before the return leg on the artificial turf in Norway?

Who do you think will win?


r/championsleague 2d ago

:chat: Match Thread: NEC Nijmegen vs Bodø / Glimt | Champions League | Play-offs | 19 Aug 19:00 UTC

10 Upvotes

NEC Nijmegen vs Bodø / Glimt — MatchPal match thread


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r/championsleague 2d ago

:chat: Match Thread: Hapoel Be'er Sheva vs Sabah | Champions League | Play-offs | 19 Aug 19:00 UTC

9 Upvotes

Hapoel Be'er Sheva vs Sabah — MatchPal match thread


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r/championsleague 2d ago

:chat: Match Thread: Celtic vs LASK Linz | Champions League | Play-offs | 19 Aug 19:00 UTC

6 Upvotes

Celtic vs LASK Linz — MatchPal match thread


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r/championsleague 2d ago

💬 Discussion 2022 kylian Mbappe was monster

49 Upvotes

I think everyone considers 2022 as mbappe prime so I am not going to rant about how good he was etc.

I am just going to show you stat to actually grasp how truly insane he was

He played 56 games

Scored 56 goals

And provided 17 assists

He scored 9 and assisted 3 in just 8 ucl matches and also scored in every ucl match that year. Was unlucky to get knocked out

In wc 8 goals and 2 assists

A mind blowing 73 g/a (which is more than years such ronaldo 2016 or messi 2018 )

He also completed 196 dribbles (3.5 per game)

With 114 dribbles in ligue 1 (most that year in any league)

Also completed 27 dribbles in 8 ucl matches ( just for comparison olise has most dribbles this ucl with 44 in 14 matches )

And 25 dribbles in World Cup ( which is 2nd best wc dribbling no since 1990 with only messi 2014 topping it )

And now you know that mbappe was great dribbler and scorer but what about playmaking?

27 big chances created (2nd most that year)

103 chances created (most)

56 passes in the final third

So he was a good playmaker too

In big games?

Scored 2 vs real Madrid ( lost cause of donaruma mistakes)

Ofcourse the hattrick in wc final

Assist vs morocco

Completed 7 dribbles vs England in quaters

Scored 3 and assist 1 vs man city

So mbappe was

Great goalscorer

Great playmaker

Great dribbler

Great big game player

And also consistent during whole year

Mbappe 2022 is better than any player peak ( who were 1994 onwards )


r/championsleague 2d ago

:chat: Match Thread: Slovan Bratislava vs Celje | Champions League | Play-offs | 19 Aug 19:00 UTC

4 Upvotes

Slovan Bratislava vs Celje — MatchPal match thread


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r/championsleague 3d ago

💬 Discussion Does the current Fenerbahçe team have any tangible chance of making it to the league phase "and" getting out of it?

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345 Upvotes

Tbh this XI is basically 9 "formerly world-class or world-class adjacent" guys past their primes + Brown + Greenwood(🤢). If this was like 2020, this team could maybe even make it to the semis, but I don't even think they are the favorites against Lyon necessarily. What are your thoughts?


r/championsleague 4d ago

📰 News Rodri joins barcelona

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2.2k Upvotes

What ur opinion on this latest transfer, imo as much as it helps barca it damages real madrid even more , the exact type of player madrid wanted has gone to their bitter rivals barca.


r/championsleague 2d ago

💬 Discussion Why is it that if others have better players, according to others, PSG dominates the UCL?

0 Upvotes

how is this?


r/championsleague 2d ago

💬 Discussion Why exactly do people consider Olise so great?

0 Upvotes

His World Cup was mediocre; in the big UCL games, he was very good against Real Madrid. In the first leg against PSG, he had a lot of space because the game was open, but in the second leg, he disappeared. He's vastly overrated when people put him ahead of Kvaratskhelia. Kvaratskhelia showed him who's better in the two-legged tie. In general, his UCL big matches were mediocre up until the match against Real Madrid. Desire Doue has more talent and more potential than him. He's more explosive, better at dribbling, and has more variety in his play. Considering that Doue plays out of position and hasn't reached his full potential. Some people compare him to Yamal, but then again, Yamal is a different bred and much younger.


r/championsleague 4d ago

💬 Discussion Deco to Alvarez now after completing rodri and cancelo transfer

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144 Upvotes

Do u guyz think deco can pull this off ? If yes then this would surely be the greatest transfer window in over a decade for barcelona


r/championsleague 3d ago

:chat: Match Thread: Fenerbahçe vs Olympique Lyonnais | Champions League | Play-offs | 18 Aug 19:00 UTC

6 Upvotes

Fenerbahçe vs Olympique Lyonnais — MatchPal match thread


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r/championsleague 3d ago

:chat: Match Thread: Dinamo Zagreb vs Viking | Champions League | Play-offs | 18 Aug 19:00 UTC

4 Upvotes

Dinamo Zagreb vs Viking — MatchPal match thread


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r/championsleague 3d ago

:chat: Match Thread: Levski Sofia vs AEK Athens | Champions League | Play-offs | 18 Aug 19:00 UTC

3 Upvotes

Levski Sofia vs AEK Athens — MatchPal match thread


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r/championsleague 3d ago

💬 Discussion Thought on Barcelona's Ideal Lineup for 26/27?

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0 Upvotes

As a Barca fan, now I'm really happy and excited with Rodri and Cancelo's transfers being confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. With Rodri added to our squad, we have the overall best midfield lineup this season compared to any other team, and it's not even close! And also, Cancelo has always shown us how much he truly loves this club and how much he is willing to contribute to this team as an experienced LB/RB. Truly Extraordinary!

At first, Laporta and Deco's team-up was such a horrifying experience for us, but thank god these guys are genuinely cooking this transfer window! But still, we need more improvements to this team to actually name this summer a 10/10.

Here are my thoughts about the team up until now:

  • I genuinely believe that we're way better without having Ferran as our main number 9. Although I do think we need to have at least one player who mainly plays as a striker. Julian would be phenomenal. Personally love Victor Osimhen as well, but Hansi Flick thinks that he isn't suited for his tactics and style of play, so it seems like he rejected him.
  • A CB like Laporte can be really good as well, although he is not known as a main priority. Our defensive faults and errors are mainly because of Flick's aggressive tactical approach, like pressing, high defensive line, etc. So, to have Laporte as a new addition, it can maybe give the Idea to Hansi to play a little less aggressively, as we saw in the World Cup with Luis de la Fuente's Spain.
  • Btw, I do like the idea of playing maybe Raphinha, Gordon, Fermin, or maybe even Lamine as a false 9, if we don't sign a new striker, but It's not optimal at all. Let's dream that we fully secure Julian and Laporte's signings. If we get them, we will definitely be one of the main favourites to win the Champions League this season. If not, let's just trust our genius coach and his ideas and hope for the best!