UEFA Champions League and Europa League: About the 2024/25 Season
The 2024/25 season of the European football club competition was exciting and unpredictable, and not just on the pitch. UEFA introduced new competition formats that fundamentally changed the structure of the Champions League and Europa League. This season, the pitch has been the site of historic performances and surprising twists and turns, which will be remembered for years to come.
To no one’s surprise, the Champions League drew the most attention, which has undergone a complete transformation: 36 teams competed in a new league phase instead of the traditional group stage. Each team played against eight different opponents, and the league table was determined based on the points earned. This change brought not only novelty but also increased competitive pressure. First place went to Liverpool, who delivered an excellent performance, followed by Barcelona and Arsenal. Titleholder Real Madrid ultimately placed 11th and was eliminated by Arsenal in a memorable quarter-final clash. However, Inter Milan may have caused the biggest surprise of the season, reaching the final by defeating Barcelona. In the final, held on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Inter will face PSG, returning to the Champions League final for the first time since 2020. Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, PSG finally appears to be catching up and could consider itself a possible winner; still, Inter Milan currently seems like one of the most cohesive teams. The Europa League also adopted the new system introduced in the Champions League, starting with 36 teams and a similar league phase. This new setup made it clear early on: a strong start is not enough; consistent performance is essential throughout. In this competition, Premier League dominance was clearly on display. The final, held on May 21 at San Mamés Stadium, will be a title bout on familiar grounds, with both teams being English: Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United made it through. Unfortunately, Spurs had an inconsistent season, but despite all this, they managed to reach the Europa League final. Manchester United also had an eventful campaign, but they have always prevailed in the crucial moments. This will be Tottenham’s first international final since the 2019 Champions League, while United are looking to redeem themselves and erase the disappointments of recent years. One thing is certain: although this is considered the ‘second tier’ European competition, the prestige and stakes of the final are enormous. Throughout the season, we witnessed several outstanding individual performances. The Champions League top scorer is Raphinha, Barcelona’s Brazilian winger, with 13 goals. In the Europa League, Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos) and Kasper Høgh (Bodø/Glimt) lead the scoring charts with 7 goals each, proving that even players from smaller teams can rise to stardom. The season also clearly demonstrated that tactical flexibility and squad depth are just as important as individual brilliance in modern football. The 2024/25 season marked a turning point in every respect. The new formats successfully passed their first real tests, giving fans more top-tier clashes and more challenges for the teams to face. As the finals approach, only one question remains: Who will write the next chapter in European football history? One thing is certain: when the trophy is lifted, whether in Munich or Bilbao, the 2024/25 season will remain memorable for both fans and experts alike. Translated by: Tímea Hajtmann
