UEFA Champions League Semifinals, 1st leg, 29/30 April 2025

29 April 2025

Arsenal vs Paris St-Germain

21.00h CET (20.00h local time), Emirates Stadium, London

It has been quite a long time ago that Arsenal have been playing at this stage of the UEFA Champions League. Yet, their chances on Champions League final tickets seem to be better than ever. The fashion in which they beat Real Madrid to reach the semifinals was impressive enough to suggest that they could even win the title from here. But of course, PSG have some open accounts to settle with the Champions League as well. In the first year after the departure of Kylian Mbappé they seem to have a team that could just as well do the business and bring a first UCL title to France since Olympique Marseille won in 1993.

KJ3777 CDG 1115-1115 LTN B733 LY-CHF (28/04/25)

30 April 2025

FC Barcelona vs Inter Milan

21.00h CET (20.00h local time), Estadi Lluis Companys, Montjuic

Another two heavyweights of European football meet in the second semifinal of this season's competition. Barcelona are right on top of their league, albeit in a battle with their eternal rivals Real Madrid. On the other side, Inter are currently sitting in second position, three points behind Napoli. Barça had a very convincing first leg against Borussia Dortmund, before losing the return leg in Germany. They still progressed with an aggregate score of 5-3 however. Inter managed the rare feat of beating Bayern München away (2-1) and then cruised to their semifinal berth thanks to an entertaining 2-2 draw back home at the San Siro.

This may be Barça's last international home game at the exile that is the 1992 Olympic Stadium. A return to the Camp Nou was predicted for late 2024 already, but postponed due to the slow progress of the construction at Barça's main ground.

AZ9018 MXP 1625-1810 BCN A320 (29/04/25)
AZ9019 BCN 0040-0230 MXP A320 (01/05/25)

An ITA Airbus A320 arriving at Barcelona, seen in August 2024

UEFA Champions League R16 Return Leg - 11 March 2025

11 March 2025

Liverpool FC vs. Paris St-Germain

First leg: 1-0

After scoring a late winner in the first leg, Liverpool must be the favourites to win this tie. This comes despite the fact that they were completely outplayed away in Paris. But the atmosphere with the home crowed at Anfield Road is something different and helped Liverpool to many famous wins already.

KLJ3313 CDG 1145-1200 LPL B733 LY-CHF (10/03/25)

C3479 CDG 1030-1050 LPL A320 9A-BTH (11/03/25)

C3480 LPL 1055-1315 CDG A320 (12/03/25)

Inter Milan vs. Feyenoord Rotterdam

First leg: 2-0

A comfortable lead from the first leg should help Inter at booking their spot in the quarter-finals. Feyenoord may still see a little chance, but scoring two goals at least away at San Siro is a big task ahead of them.

HV7908 RTM 1245-1435 MXP B738 PH-HXF (10/03/25)

HV7010 RTM 1445-1635 MXP B738 PH-HXK (10/03/25)

A Transavia Boeing 737-800
seen at Gran Canaria in December 2021

FC Barcelona vs. SL Benfica

First leg: 1-0

Playing with 10 men for a long time in the first leg, Barcelona still managed to come away with a small win away in Lisbon. Now it's all about defending that lead after an emotional week for Barça, which included a cancelled game on the weekend following the death of their team doctor.

TP9012 LIS 1005-1300 BCN A339 CS-TUM (10/03/25)

TP9013 BCN 2245-xxxx LIS A320 (11/03/25)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. FC Bayern München

First leg: 0-3

Bayern take a big lead into the second leg here. Slightly more complicated could be the travel situation. With transport strikes all across the country, it may not seem guaranteed that they will arrive in time by plane.

JW1900 OBF 1715-1820 CGN D328 D-CITO (10/03/25)

JW286 OBF 1720-1825 CGN D328 D-CLAY (10/03/25)

Business end coming closer - UEFA Champions League R16 1st leg 4 & 5 March 2025

A Madrid derby on Tuesday night may not have been what many expected at this stage of the Champions League. Yet, this type of encounter has become possible with the new structure of the competition. The whole tournament structure in the knock-out stages is based on the rankings after the league phase after all. Real had to earn the right to play in the round of 16 very hard though, beating Manchester City over two legs in the knock-out play-offs. Other teams will have to travel a bit more to go and play their round of 16 fixtures this week.

4 March 2025

Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille OSC

10th vs. 7th

21.00h CET, Westfalenstadion, Dortmund

On the pathway back to stability, Dortmund got a goalless draw to guarantee their spot in the round of 16 and now on the weekend beat St Pauli 2-0 away. Will this be enough to beat a very solid Lille side though? Lille had a tricky assignment on the weekend and lost 4-1 away in Paris against PSG. Their Champions League form however should leave them in a positive mood ahead of the trip to Germany.

ATV003H BHX 1500-1715 LIL DH8D D-AASG (03/03/25, ferry flight)

ATV131H LIL 1800-1900 DTM DH8D D-AASG (03/03/25)

ATV151H DTM 1115-1215 LIL DH8D D-AASG (05/03/25)

Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa

24th vs. 8th

18.45h, Jan Breyel Stadion, Bruges

From the worst possible position on the table, Brugge qualified for the round of 16. It took them a win in two legs over Atalanta, where they even won both legs, 2-1 home and 3-1 away in Bergamo. Now the 8th-placed Aston Villa awaits and will they be a sterner test? After all, Atalanta were the 9th seeds and are now out of the competition.

BRO36P STN 1300-1340 BHX B733 G-SWRD (03/03/25, ferry flight)

BRO36A BHX 1600-1755 OST B733 G-SWRD (03/03/25)

BRO36B OST 2300-2250 BHX B733 G-SWRD (04/03/25)

2Excel Aviation Boeing 737-300
seen at Copenhagen in July 2022

PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal

ZT101 LTN 1550-1800 EIN A320 G-POWK (03/03/25)

5 March 2025

Feyenoord Rotterdam vs. Inter Milan

19th vs. 4th

18.45h CET, De Kuip, Rotterdam

The favourites' role should be clearly in Inter's hands in this tie. They finished the league stage in 4th position and therefore had the play-off round off to save their legs. Feyenoord come off beating Inter's local rivals Milan, thus preventing another city derby in the round of 16.

AZ9018 MXP 1610-1750 RTM A320 (04/03/25)

SL Benfica vs. FC Barcelona

16th vs. 2nd

21.00h CET (20.00 local time), Estadio da Luz, Lisbon

After some troubled years, it seems plain sailing again for Barcelona. They finished the league phase in 2nd position and therefore also had some weeks off from the European Football. Their first opponents away are Benfica who won the previous round against AS Monaco. The first leg there was successful for Benfica while the return leg ended in an attractive 3-3 draw.

UX937 BCN 1115-1115 LIS B738 (04/03/25)

UX983 LIS xxxx-0310 BCN B738 (06/03/25)

FC Bayern München vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen

KK7004 CGN 1730-1830 MUC A320 D-ANNE (04/03/25)

KK7005 MUC 1230-1330 CGN A320 D-ANNE (06/03/25)

Paris St-Germain vs. Liverpool FC

HT2845 LPL 1600-1805 LBG B734 9H-ZAZ (04/03/25)

Man City or Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League KO Playoffs Return Leg 19 February 2025

Borussia Dortmund vs. Sporting CP

18.45h CET, Westfalenstadion, Dortmund

First leg: 3-0

Dortmund may have their issues in the domestic league. But internationally, they show some nice form. Beating Sporting 3-0 away in Lisbon is no mean feat and the BVB will be expected to book a spot in the round of 16. For Sporting, this trip is mostly about limiting the damage and leaving the competition with a smile on their face. Bigger comebacks have happened though in Champions League ties.

TP9002 LIS 1500-1845 DTM A20N CS-TVM (18/02/25)

TP9004 LIS 1530-1920 DUS A320 CS-TNM (18/02/25)

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

21.00h CET, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

First leg: 3-2

For some time it looked as if Man City could take a small lead into the away game in Madrid. But then Real Madrid fired in two goals in quick succession at the end of the first leg. Whether the taunting tifo before the game fired up Vinicius Jr and his teammates? In any case, the return leg promises more of the same, with two teams full of offensive firepower. Dropping out of the Champions League at this early stage is not what both clubs are used to.

TLJ440C MAN 1000-1320 MAD E135 F-HSTE (18/02/25)

BRO030A MAN 1530-1900 MAD B737 G-NEWG (18/02/25)

LS6900 LPL 1230-1555 MAD B738 G-GDFJ (18/02/25)

G-SWRD, Boeing 737-300 of 2Excel Aviation
seen at Copenhagen in July 2022

TLJ440C MAD 1100-1230 MAN E145 (20/02/25)

LS6901 MAD 1230-1405 LPL B738 (20/02/25)

BRO030B MAD 1430-1547 MAN B733 (20/02/25)

PSV Eindhoven vs. Juventus Turin

21.00h CET, PSV Stadium, Eindhoven

First leg: 1-2

Just one goal is in between these two teams before the second leg. Juventus may have wanted to create a bigger gap in the first leg. Yet, PSV are still nicely in this and could seal their spot in the round of 16 with a win over Juventus.

AZ9014 TRN 1600-1740 EIN A20N (18/02/25)

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AC Milan vs. Feyenoord Rotterdam

18.45h CET, San Siro, Milan

First leg: 1-1

It was feisty in Rotterdam on Wednesday night. Feyenoord took an early lead thanks to Paixao's strike in the third minute of the game. But Milan tried their best to fight back into the game. They just could not quite get there and thus take a slight deficit into their home match at San Siro.

KK1908 RTM 1300-1445 MXP A320 D-ANDI (17/02/25)

F41010 RTM 1500-1645 MXP B738 EI-FFA (17/02/25)

KK6010 MXP xxxx-1345 RTM A320 (19/02/25)

FC Bayern München vs. Celtic Glasgow

21.00h CET, Fussball Arena München

Already before the first leg at Parkhead, there were questions over Celtic's away support in Munich. The fans were facing a ban that in the end did not materialize. This means that many hundreds or possibly thousands of Celtic supporters will flood Bavaria's capital and create a great atmosphere on and off the field. Pictures from the 2024 EURO in Germany are still in people's minds. Famously, the Scotland supporters won over the hearts of the German hosts back then, creating an admiring friendship that will hopefully last for a long time.

LS6849 GLA 0945-1310 MUC B738 G-JZHF (17/02/25)

HT2973 GLA 1430-1730 MUC B734 9H-ZAZ (17/02/25)

LS6902 GLA 0900-1125 MUC B738 (18/02/25)

LH2697 GLA 1300-1510 MUC A20N (18/02/25)

LH2699 GLA 1305-1515 MUC A321 (18/02/25)

A Jet2 Holidays Boeing 737-800
seen at London Stansted in May 2024

LH2696 MUC 0630-0855 GLA A321 (19/02/25)

LH2698 MUC 0635-0900 GLA A321 (19/02/25)

LS6850 MUC 1355-1615 GLA B738 (19/02/25)

LS6903 MUC 1400-1620 GLA B738 (19/02/25)

Atalanta Bergamo vs. Club Brugge

21.00h CET, Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo

First leg: 1-2

The Belgian champions take a small lead into the second leg of their tie with Atalanta. This should not mean that they are huge favourites however. After all, Atalanta is very strong at home and might easily fight back to erase the deficit.

ENT55DT OST 1100-1240 BGY B738 SP-ESB (17/02/25)

KK7200 OST 0900-1040 BGY A320 D-ANDI (18/02/25)

SL Benfica vs. AS Monaco

21.00h CET, Estadio da Luz, Lisbon

First leg: 1-0

Benfica managed to get a lead in the first leg away from home and will now try and defend this lead for sure. As with any other tie this Tuesday night, there is only one goal's difference in it, so many things are yet to play for.

MT1240 NCE 1640-1810 LIS A320 9A-BTL (17/02/25)

Bayern going big against Celtic & more - UEFA Champions League Play-Offs First Leg 12 February 2025

Celtic Glasgow vs. FC Bayern München

21.00h CET (20.00h local time), Celtic Park, Glasgow

When teams travel to Glasgow for a game against Celtic, many fans join them to enjoy the atmosphere at one of the loudest stadiums in Europe. Bayern travel to Glasgow with ITA Airways and there will be fan charter flights with Lufthansa and TUI from Munich to Glasgow. On the sports side, Bayern should be favourites of Celtic who play a reasonable international season for their standards.

AZ8964 MUC 1700-1835 GLA A339 (11/02/25)

X38912 MUC 0900-1030 GLA B738 (12/02/25)

LH2698 MUC 1330-1455 GLA A321 (12/02/25)

LH2696 MUC 1335-1500 GLA A321 (12/02/25)

X38913 GLA 0245-0605 MUC B738 (13/02/25)

LH2699 GLA 0530-0840 MUC A321 (13/02/25)

LH2697 GLA 0535-0845 MUC A321 (13/02/25)

AZ8965 GLA 1030-1355 MUC A339 (13/02/25)

A Lufthansa Airbus A321 seen at Helsinki-Vantaa in July 2024

AS Monaco vs. SL Benfica

21.00h CET, Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo

On paper, this should be the tightest of the eight ties in the playoffs. AS Monaco finished in 17th position, with Benfica just one spot above. Coincidentally, these teams already met in the league phase, where Benfica managed to win away in Monaco, outscoring the hosts 3-2. Benfica turned the game around really late at that time, with goals from former FC Basel Players Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni.

TP9094 LIS 0920-1250 NCE A339 CS-TUL (11/02/25)

TP9095 NCE 1130-1215 LIS A339 (13/02/25)

Feyenoord Rotterdam vs. AC Milan

21.00h CET, De Kuip, Rotterdam

Coming off a resounding win over FC Bayern, Feyenoord are facing another traditional giant of European football. AC Milan finished higher up in the league phase, so they will get to play the second leg of this tie at home.

NO9186 MXP 1630-1810 RTM B738 (11/02/25)

NO9187 RTM 1230-1415 MXP B738 (13/02/25)

Club Brugge vs. Atalanta Bergamo

18.45h CET, Jan Breydel Stadion, Brugge

Of all the eight ties in this play-off round, Brugge vs Atlanta sees the teams with the biggest points difference overall. Brugge just about made it into this round while Atalanta closely missed out on a direct qualification for the round of 16. Atalanta are the big favourites, but Jan Breydel Stadion is never an easy place for any away side.

AZ9070 BGY 1430-1615 OST A320 EI-DTA (11/02/25)

AZ9945 OST 1705-1925 FCO A320 EI-DTA (11/02/25, ferry flight)