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

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)

Small teams but big trips - UEFA Champions League MD7 22 January 2025

The penultimate round of the League Phase goes into the second day with another nine fixtures across Europe. By the end of these matches, some more entrants to the round of 16 and the play-off phase will be known for sure.

22 January 2025

RB Leipzig vs. Sporting CP

34th/0 pts vs. 17th/10 pts

18.45h CET, Leipzig

Formerly a powerhouse of Champions League football, Leipzig found life really difficult this season. With zero points from six games, they are in the bottom group without a chance on making the knockout stages. Sporting need some points from this game to stay in the competition and maybe still make it directly into the round of 16.

HFM881 LIS xxxx-1920 LEJ A343 (21/01/25)

AC Milan vs. Girona FC

12th/12 pts vs. 30th/3 pts

21.00h CET, San Siro, Milan

After a promising start, Girona have tailed off considerably in the last few matches of the league phase. They are now playing for pure survival and need points from the away game in Milan. This does not promise to be an easy task however. It has historically been proven that San Siro is a very difficult place to win a game as the away side.

AP1985 GRO 1500-1625 MXP B738 EI-HIL (21/01/25)

AP1986 MXP xxxx-0315 GRO B738 (23/01/25)

The AlbaStar flight for Girona is actually operated by a Milan-based Neos Boeing 737-800.

Real Madrid vs. RB Salzburg

20th/9 pts vs. 32nd/3 pts

21.00h CET, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

No matter the situation on the table, away days at the mighty Bernabeu are always big for smaller teams. That Salzburg is making that trip with quite a lot of supporters should not be a surprise in this context. On the field however, Salzburg need a win or they go bust with one game to spare in the league phase. Real's rather low position on the table will not help the visitors however, even if Real are in some injury misery and therefore cannot count on their full squad for this important match.

KK900P MUC 0950-1030 SZG A320 D-ANNE (21/01/25, ferry flt)

KK902P VNO 1230-1335 SZG A320 9H-GTS (21/01/25, ferry flt)

KK7122 SZG 1420-1700 MAD A320 9H-GTS (21/01/25)

KK7120 SZG 1140-1420 MAD A320 D-ANNE (21/01/25)

QS430P PRG xxxx-0700 SZG B739 (22/01/25, ferry flt)

ENT547P KTW xxxx-0720 SZG B738 (22/01/25, ferry flt)

ENT547 SZG 0815-1105 MAD B738 (22/01/25)

QS4301 SZG 0815-1100 MAD B739 (22/01/25)

QS4302 MAD 1030-1300 SZG B739 (23/01/25)

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ENT548 MAD 1040-1330 SZG B738 (23/01/25)

ENT548P SZG 1425-xxxx KTW B738 (23/01/25, ferry flt)

KK6123 MAD 1100-1340 SZG A320 (23/01/25)

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KK6121 MAD 1420-1655 SZG A320 (23/01/25)

KK901P SZG 1735-xxxx CGN A320 (23/01/25, ferry flt)

Sparta Prague vs. Inter Milan

28th/4 pts vs. 6th/13 pts

21.00h CET, Prague

The situation on the table could not be more different for both these sides. Sparta will be trying their best to add to their four points in order to save a spot in the knock-out stages. Most probably, they will need two wins from two games to stand a chance for that though. Inter on their hand are looking for a finish in the top 8 and will therefore look to get maximum points from this fixture themselves.

NO9260 MXP 1645-1815 PRG B38M EI-RZA (21/01/25)

Shakhtar Donezk vs. Stade Brestois

27th/4 pts vs. 7th/13 pts

18.45h, Arena auf Schalke, Gelsenkirchen

The French visitors are still flying high and look like the favourites for this match. They surely want to maintain their good run and beat Shakhtar to improve their chances for a direct entry into the round of 16.

YW8042 BES 0830-1020 FMO CRJX EC-LJX (21/01/25)

YW8068 BES 0800-0940 DUS CRJX (22/01/25)

Arsenal vs. Dinamo Zagreb

3rd/13 pts vs. 24th/8 pts

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

Dinamo sit right on the edge of making it to the next stage of the competition. They face a lot of pressure from teams like PSG or VfB Stuttgart from behind however. A trip to London may not be the easiest thing in this situation. After all, Arsenal sit pretty well on the table, with 13 points from six matches.

OU1490 ZAG 1130-1235 STN A320 9A-CTK (21/01/25)

Celtic Glasgow vs BSC Young Boys

21st/9 pts vs. 36th/0 pts

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

It is one final away trip for Young Boys before their European campaign is over. They will face a Celtic side in fine European form that still dreams of making it through to the knockout stages. YB on their side will hope to finally get some points from the league phase however. They are one of three teams already eliminated before the penultimate round of the league phase.

QS432P BTS 1710-1830 BRN B38M OK-SWI (20/01/25, ferry flight)

QS4320 BRN 1100-1230 GLA B38M OK-SWI (21/01/25)

Feyenoord Rotterdam vs. FC Bayern München

18th/10 pts vs. 10th/12 pts

21.00h, De Kuip, Rotterdam

Leaders of the German Bundesliga, Bayern travel to Rotterdam to improve their chances on a direct entry into the round of 16. Before the game, they sit just behind the top 8, but a win should help them to put pressure on direct opponents like Borussia Dortmund or the French competitors from Lille and Brest.

LH2570 MUC 1720-1900 RTM A21N D-AIEL (21/01/25)

Paris St-Germain vs. Manchester City

25th/7 pts vs. 22nd/8 pts

21.00h, Parc des Princes, Paris

Both these teams sit surprisingly low in the table. PSG absolutely need points to at least make it into the knockout stages. A direct entry into the round of 16 seems almost impossible already. Man City face similar challenges, although at least they got one more point from their previous six matches.

AGR1008 MAN 1000-1225 LBG E145 PH-DWA (21/01/25)

BRO987A MAN 1600-1825 LBG B733 G-SWRD (21/01/25)

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

Tickets for the next round looming - UEFA Champions League MD6, 10 December 2024

10 December 2024

Girona FC vs. Liverpool FC

30th / 3 pts vs. 1st / 15 pts

Already certain of a spot in the knock-out stages in 2025, Liverpool could already make sure to avoid the play-off round and qualify directly for the round of 16. Girona fight for survival in the Champions League however, so it remains to be seen how much resistance they will manage to come up with.

LS6967 LPL xxxx-1625 GRO B738 (09/12/24)

HT2170 LPL xxxx-1840 GRO B734 (09/12/24)

LS6968 GRO 2230-xxxx LPL B738 (10/12/24)

HT2281 GRO 2300-xxxx LPL B734 (10/12/24)

A Jet2 Boeing 737-800 seen at Gran Canaria in 2021

GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs. Celtic Glasgow

23rd / 7 pts vs. 20th / 8 pts

Both these teams sit right on the edge of making it to the play-off round in February. They need full points from this round though, because Real Madrid and PSG sitting behind them will definitely look to improve. It will be a big day out for the Celtic supporters who are set to travel to Zagreb with several Jet2 Boeing 737 aircraft.

LS6961 GLA xxxx-1310 ZAG B738 (09/12/24)

LS6985 GLA xxxx-1325 ZAG B738 (09/12/24)

LS6957 GLA xxxx-1640 ZAG B738 (09/12/24)

ZT6701 GLA xxxx-1800 ZAG A321 (09/12/24)

Atalanta Bergamo vs. Real Madrid

5th / 11 pts vs. 24th / 6 pts

One would have expected Real Madrid higher up in the table. But just the two wins and three losses already make them have to fight for every single point. Atalanta will be no push-overs at all and will give them a fight until the last minute for the valuable points.

IB1400 MAD 1010-xxxx BGY (09/12/24)

IB1403 BGY xxxx-0300 MAD (11/12/24)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Inter Milan

6th / 10 pts vs. 2nd / 13 pts

Bayer face opponents from Milan for the second time in this year's UEFA Champions League. This time round, it is a proper top-of-the-table clash with two teams definitely looking for a finish in the top 8.

NO9140 MXP xxxx-1810 CGN B738 (09/12/24)

Club Brugge vs. Sporting CP

22nd / 7 pts vs. 10th / 10 pts

The visitors from Lisbon are looking for points to make the top 8, while Brugge might look at just about defending their spot on the table.

FC Salzburg vs. Paris St-Germain

32nd / 3 pts vs. 25th / 4 pts

Two of Europe's best teams in recent years have been struggling all season long. While PSG are at least leading their own league, Salzburg are also struggling domestically. Will this round already be the end of their Champions League hopes this season? The same goes for the mighty PSG however.

KLJ2568 CDG xxxx-1230 SZG B733 (09/12/24)

AEH141 LBG xxxx-1825 SZG E145 (09/12/24)

AEH142 SZG 1030-xxxx LBG E145 (11/12/24)

KLJ2570 SZG 1130-xxxx CDG B733 (11/12/24)

Shakhtar Donezk vs. FC Bayern München

26th / 4 pts vs. 13th / 9 pts

A domestic trip to Gelsenkirchen for the German giants Bayern. It remains uncertain whether they will use an aircraft at all.

RB Leipzig vs. Aston Villa

34th / 0 pts vs. 9th / 10 pts

One of the surprises in this season's UCL definitely is Aston Villa. They have a big chance of getting more points at the so far unlucky RB Leipzig.

LS6819 BHX xxxx-1645 LEJ B738 (09/12/24)

BRO001A BHX 1600-1855 LEJ B737 G-NEWG (09/12/24)

LS6820 LEJ 1300-xxxx BHX B738 (11/12/24)

Stade Brestois vs. PSV Eindhoven

11th / 10 pts vs. 18th / 8 pts

In midfield, more points are key for any team. Brest could make a huge step towards the next round with a win. But also PSV could remain in contention if they manage to beat the French surprise package in Brittany.