Official Champions League 25/26 Thread

[Hampden Demolition]

The Champions League proper starts tonight with the first round of games in the league phase. Some interesting ties this week notably Juventus/Dortmund, Ajax/Inter Milan, Bayern/Chelsea, Liverpool/Atletico Madrid, Man City/Napoli and Newcastle/Barcelona. 
 

Who is everyone backing to reach the final in Budapest on 30th May?

[Hømme]

The new set up is still fresh so it's good to see some early fixtures between some huge teams. 

 

I'd expect Barca and Chelsea to be around near the latter stages. 

 

 

[Hampden Demolition]

5 minutes ago, Hømme said:

The new set up is still fresh so it's good to see some early fixtures between some huge teams. 

 

I'd expect Barca and Chelsea to be around near the latter stages. 

 

 

yeah really enjoyed the set up last season. Gives even the biggest clubs something to play for up to the last round of games. 
 

Quite fancy Arsenal to do well this season. Recruited well in the summer to add to a pretty strong squad. Done well last season too.

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

Might start the 26/27 one in July

[Morgan]

I would be surprised if Real Madrid. PSG and Liverpool weren't there, or thereabouts, next May.

 

I would be surprised if Arsenal were. 

[If carlsberg did rivals...]

Napoli could go far for a dark horse, if you can call the champions of Italy dark horses. Be interesting to see KDB back at City this week.

[Lambert Simnel]

Dunno if anyone is interested in Opta's take (https://theanalyst.com/articles/premier-league-clubs-europe-success-opta-supercomputer)

 

56% likelihood of an English winner of the Champions League .

 

If anyone's interested in betting on such things, they have Crystal Palace at a 49% chance of winning the Conference League, when you can get a bet on them at 9/2 fairly widely.  That's an awfully big gap between the bookies and the analysts, and likely worth a tenner on Palace at those sort of odds.

 

 

Edited September 16, 2025 by Lambert Simnel
capitalisation gaff

[Luckies1874]

5 hours ago, If carlsberg did rivals... said:

Napoli could go far for a dark horse, if you can call the champions of Italy dark horses. Be interesting to see KDB back at City this week.

 

Think they are quite a tasty price at 9/4 to finish in the Top 8 of the League Stage. 

[HMFC01]

PSV v USG on now.  Both playing 433.   

 

Looks more a 3412 or 4312.   Two target men up top.  For USG.

Edited September 16, 2025 by HMFC01

[Bill Sikes]

Ive got Ath Bilbao v The Gooners on. 

[HMFC01]

Penalty USG 😀 

[HMFC01]

0-1 Promise David, A Canadian apparently.   

[Agentjambo]

Our Belgian brothers doing the business 

[N Lincs Jambo]

Trying to get a stream on fawanews but not obliging either for USG or Arsenal 

[Locky]

Good chance over the next dew nights to see what we're up against next season.

[N Lincs Jambo]

USG stream now working 

[leginten]

PSV - USG is absolutely fantastic so far. Away team one up.

[HMFC01]

USG dominating the midfield with Burgess mopping up at the back mostly.   It's like say Halkett, Devlin, Beni, with Braga in a 10 position.   Shankland scoring a penalty 😂 Promise David.   Just as an example.

[Captain Scarlett]

I wonder how much the Bilbao club shop brings in on shirt sales? 

[Wee Mikey]

15 minutes ago, Locky said:

Good chance over the next dew nights to see what we're up against next season.

 

I'm wondering which of them will swoop for Braga.

Edited September 16, 2025 by Wee Mikey

[HMFC01]

What a goal USG

Hadj great run and finish.   From the midfield.   Dominating.

 

 

Edited September 16, 2025 by HMFC01

[N Lincs Jambo]

2-0 USG

[August Landmesser]

Can't help getting carried away watching this USG game. Took them three years to get promoted, so we have a head start, and so I'm imagining where we could be in four years time. 2-0 up at PSV in the CL would be alright eh?

[Morgan]

1 hour ago, Locky said:

Good chance over the next dew nights to see what we're up against next season.

[Jack Torrance]

8 minutes ago, August Landmesser said:

Can't help getting carried away watching this USG game. Took them three years to get promoted, so we have a head start, and so I'm imagining where we could be in four years time. 2-0 up at PSV in the CL would be alright eh?

 

I've been trying very hard to manage my expectations, since Tony came for a blether with us.

 

You're not helping. 

[Bindy Badgy]

3-0 USG. Renew your passports boys.

Edited September 16, 2025 by Bindy Badgy

[Morgan]

5 minutes ago, Jack Torrance said:

 

I've been trying very hard to manage my expectations, since Tony came for a blether with us.

 

You're not helping. 

 

[John Findlay]

12 minutes ago, Bindy Badgy said:

3-0 USG. Renew your passports boys.

3-1 now but in the 92nd minute.

[Bridge of Djoum]

Fantastic result for USG. Hopefully a sign of things to come for us.

[h-e-a-r-t-s]

20 minutes ago, Jack Torrance said:

 

I've been trying very hard to manage my expectations, since Tony came for a blether with us.

 

You're not helping. 

 

They’re going to make a movie about us aren’t they… 

 

 

 

 

 

[Seaside Dave]

Comfortable win in the end. Subs doing the business. Not the best performance but a win. Onto the next one 😎

[Seaside Dave]

9 hours ago, Morgan said:

I would be surprised if Real Madrid. PSG and Liverpool weren't there, or thereabouts, next May.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal were. 

 FTFY. 😎😎

[Morgan]

Just now, Seaside Dave said:

 FTFY. 😎😎

 

Couldn’t resist, Dave.

 

I knew you’d jump on my post!

[Seaside Dave]

1 minute ago, Morgan said:

 

Couldn’t resist, Dave.

 

I knew you’d jump on my post!

Batteries been dead all day mate. You know I have notifications on my phone whenever you post anywhere on the forum 😂😂😂😃

[PortyJambo]

That was some OG by the Villareal keeper against Spurs

[John Findlay]

What a howler there from the Villarreal keeper to give Spurs the lead.

[Tynecastle Valhalla]

Spurs handed a free goal 

[Luckies1874]

1 hour ago, August Landmesser said:

Can't help getting carried away watching this USG game. Took them three years to get promoted, so we have a head start, and so I'm imagining where we could be in four years time. 2-0 up at PSV in the CL would be alright eh?

 

 

Since January 1st USG have played 28 domestic league matches and taken 72 points out of possible 84 points which of course saw them win the title and sees them already 7pts ahead of Club Brugge and Anderlecht this. An unbelievable run of form given some of the teams they face. 

 

23 wins

3 draws

2 losses

 

And now they are making their mark in the Champions League. Incredible story which we can only dream we can replicate. 

[Craig_]

58 minutes ago, h-e-a-r-t-s said:

 

They’re going to make a movie about us aren’t they… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Released on DVD. In 2029! 

[Der Kaiser]

Watching this Spurs game reminds me of the few Hibs fans on twitter this summer who thought they were being linked with Xavi Simons........when it was actually Xavier Simons from Bolton.

 

[Sooperstar]

Stupid as **** from Carvajal.

[August Landmesser]

1 hour ago, Luckies1874 said:

 

 

Since January 1st USG have played 28 domestic league matches and taken 72 points out of possible 84 points which of course saw them win the title and sees them already 7pts ahead of Club Brugge and Anderlecht this. An unbelievable run of form given some of the teams they face. 

 

23 wins

3 draws

2 losses

 

And now they are making their mark in the Champions League. Incredible story which we can only dream we can replicate. 

72 out of 84 available is 86.7%

13 out of 15 available is 85.6%

 

We're on the right track!

 

 

[Mikey1874]

[neilnunb]

2-0 Liverpool already

[RENE]

Robertson scores first but doesn't know much about it.he was getting out the way ofSLahs shot.

[neilnunb]

You watching that John Beaton? 🙄

[hughesie27]

Commentators appear to be astounded that VAR is intervening.

[neilnunb]

41 minutes ago, neilnunb said:

2-0 Liverpool already

 

 

2-1 

[neilnunb]

Wow. 2-2

[HMFC01]

 

Divine deflection.