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)

Giants meeting in Manchester - UEFA Champions League Play-Offs First Leg 11 February 2025

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

21.00h CET (20.00h local time), City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester

Two of the ultimate giants of European club football are vying for a place in the last 16 of this season's Champions League. Both would have hoped for more, but at least the fans get to enjoy two legs of the finest football available at an early stage. Pep Guardiola has reinforced his squad over winter with some high-profile signings. Just, will it be enough to beat the mighty Real Madrid of Carlo Ancelotti?

IB1401 MAD 1030-1215 MAN A333 EC-LXK (10/02/25)

IB1402 MAN 2330-0245(+1) MAD A333 (11/02/25)

An Iberia Airbus A330-300
seen at Madrid in March 2023

Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund

21.00h CET (20.00h local time), José Alvalade, Lisbon

Troubled in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund at least held their own in the Champions League. Yet they have to go through the play-offs and have not quite got an easy draw. At least they have their "own" transport of sorts, a Eurowings Airbus A320 in the colours of the club that takes them to the away games. For once they will have to settle with a different aircraft however, with D-AEWT in normal Eurowings colours taking over the charter duties.

EW1909 DTM 1550-1810 LIS A320 D-AEWT (10/02/25)

EW1909 LIS 1410-1810 DTM A320 (12/02/25)

Juventus Turin vs. PSV Eindhoven

21.00h CET, Juventus Stadium, Turin

PSV may not have been the team expected to finish above Juventus in the League Phase table. But with just one more point they finished five spots above the Italian record champions.

ATV010H BHX 0750-1020 EIN DH8D D-AASG (10/02/25, ferry flight)

ATV040E EIN 1100-1300 TRN DH8D D-AASG (10/02/25)

HV81 AMS 0855-0925 EIN B738 9A-ABC (10/02/25)

2F1914 EIN 1115-1240 TRN B738 9A-ABC (10/02/25)

Stade Rennais 29 vs. Paris St-Germain

18.45 CET, Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp

In their exile in Guingamp, Stade Rennais 29 are hosting none less than their own domestic champions PSG. There was no protection from domestic clashes in the play-off round and this is the result of it. Despite the relatively short distance from Paris to Guingamp, PSG are still taking the plane to get to the game, flying from Paris CDG to St Brieuc.

KLJ3123 CDG 1145-1240 SBK B733 LY-CHF (10/02/25)

New Year New Luck? - UEFA Champions League MD7 21 January 2025

The first ever league phase of the UEFA Champions League is now reaching its business end. Some teams can already plan for the knock-out stages and some have not chance on that phase already. But for many of the 36 teams involved, it is now all about gathering points to make it as far as possible. Big names like Manchester City or Paris St-Germain are way down the table - not where they want to be. They will need to make the upcoming two games count to stand a chance of winning the prestigious UEFA Champions League title in spring 2025. Yet, the Road to Munich is still pretty long for everyone. Time to have a look at who needs what from these upcoming games and of course who is traveling when and how.

21 January 2025

AS Monaco vs. Aston Villa

16th/10 pts vs. 5th/13 pts

18.45h CET, Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo

Both these sides should make it into the knockout stages, but they are playing for higher ambitions. Aston Villa may not have expected to run that high in the competition. Yet they are even looking for a direct qualification for the round of 16. A win would help them a lot in achieving this particular goal on the way to Champions League glory.

LS6878 BHX xxxx-1510 NCE B738 (20/01/25)

LS6879 NCE 2300-xxxx BHX B738 (21/01/25)

G-DRTN, Jet2, Boeing 737-800
seen arriving at London-Stansted in May 2024

Atalanta Bergamo vs. SK Sturm Graz

13th/11 pts vs. 29th/3 pts

21.00h, Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo

The Austrian champions are finding life in the Champions League a bit difficult it seems. They need maximum points in Bergamo to stand a chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages. Meanwhile, the hosts are looking to consolidate their already decent outcome in the league phase with another win.

ENT568P KTW xxxx-1445 GRZ B738 (20/01/25, ferry flight)

ENT569 GRZ 1545-xxxx BGY B738 (20/01/25)

Atlético Madrid vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen

11th/12 pts vs. 4th/13 pts

21.00h, Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid

With more than two points on average per game, both teams sit nicely on the table. The visitors from Germany are up in fourth place and will definitely look to consolidate this spot in order to save themselves from the play-off round in February. The Metropolitano is not an easy place to go and play a game though. So expect Atlético to resist the German champions with everything they have. After all, the hosts still play for the direct qualification into the round of 16 as well.

PVG3992 CGN 1550-1830 MAD A321 (20/01/25)

PVG3991 MAD 1345-xxxx CGN A321 (22/01/25)

SL Benfica vs. FC Barcelona

15th/10 pts vs. 2nd/15 pts

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

Visiting Barcelona have snuck through the league phase so far and worked themselves up in the table to the second spot, only behind Liverpool. Their objective for this game must clearly be to win and thereby securing the direct admission to the round of 16. Benfica will try and keep the points in Lisbon however, with the competition for the next rounds waiting in the spots behind.

UX937 BCN 1050-1100 LIS B738 (20/01/25)

UX938 LIS 0010-0310 BCN B738 (22/01/25)

Bologna FC vs. Borussia Dortmund

33rd/2 pts vs. 9th/12 pts

21.00h, Stadio Renato Dall'ara, Bologna

There are no less than 24 places between these two sides. Dortmund are right in the battle for the top 8 spots while Bologna are definitely looking for survival in the competition. Only a win will be good enough for Bologna. Anything else will mean elimination at the end of the league phase. With just two draws from six matches so far, winning against the mighty BVB may be a very tough ask however.

EW1909 DTM xxxx-1705 BLQ A320 D-AEWM (20/01/25)

EW5209 DTM xxxx-1305 BLQ A320 D-ABHF (20/01/25)

Slovan Bratislava vs. VfB Stuttgart

35th/0 pts vs. 26th/7 pts

21.00h CET, Tehelne Pole, Bratislava

As one of three teams, Slovan Bratislava are already eliminated from the UEFA Champions League this season. In six matches, they have not won a single point. German runners-up Stuttgart are not sitting that much higher on the table. In 26th position, they need points urgently to maintain their hopes about a spot in the next round. Expect Stuttgart to do everything in their power to win this game and to continue their first European season in quite some time.

LWG1314 STR 1430-1545 BTS DH8D (20/01/25)

LWG1315 BTS 1200-1315 STR DH8D (22/01/25)

Club Brugge vs. Juventus Turin

19th/10 pts vs. 14th/11 pts

21.00h CET, Jan Breydel Stadion, Brugge

These two teams are very close on the table, with notably Juventus possibly hoping for more points from the league phase so far. Yet, the Italian team must still count as favourites against the Belgian champions Brugge.

AZ9014 TRN 1530-1710 OST A20N (20/01/25)

AZ9927 OST 1800-2020 FCO A20N (20/01/25, ferry flight)

Red Star Belgrade vs. PSV Eindhoven

31st/3 pts vs. 23rd/8 pts

21.00h CET, Maksimir, Belgrade

CD1913 EIN xxxx-1115 BEG B738 (20/01/25)

CD040 EIN xxxx-1215 BEG B39M (20/01/25)

Liverpool FC vs. Lille OSC

1st/18 pts vs. 8th/13 pts

21.00h CET (20.00h local time), Anfield Road, Liverpool

VOE9240 LIL 1630-1635 LPL A320 EC-NOY (20/01/25)

ENT553 LIL 1800-1805 LPL B738 SP-ENM (20/01/25)

ZT751 LIL 1000-1000 LPL A321 G-POWN (21/01/25)

VOE9238 LIL 1015-1020 LPL A320 EC-NON (21/01/25)

Milan going big, Leverkusen going long - UEFA Champions League MD4, 5 November 2024

PSV Eindhoven vs. Girona FC

18.45h, Philips Stadion, Eindhoven

28th/2pts vs. 24th/3pts

Two teams in need for more points face off in Eindhoven. PSV managed two draws so far. At the same time, Girona at least managed to beat a win over Slovan Bratislava in the previous round. To make it at least to the knockout phase play-offs, both teams need a positive result from this game however.

ENT597P LGW 1110-1405 GRO B738 SP-ENX (04/11/24, ferry flight)

ENT597 GRO 1500-1700 EIN B738 SP-ENX (04/11/24)

ENT598 EIN xxxx-1040 GRO B738 (06/11/24)

Slovan Bratislava vs. Dinamo Zagreb

18.45h, Tehelne Pole, Bratislava

36th/0pts vs. 22nd/4pts

The absolutely last-placed team in this year's competition is Slovan Bratislava. After three games, they have no points and just the one goal to show for. Their opponents Dinamo Zagreb at least won against RB Salzburg and drew with AS Monaco.

OU1320 ZAG 1200-1250 BTS A320 9A-CTK (04/11/24)

Real Madrid vs. AC Milan

21.00h, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

12th/6pts vs. 25th/3pts

Two of the ultimative heavy-weights in European club football play each other in Madrid. Real have won two out of three matches so far. Milan won one against Brugge and lost the other two against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen. A win for Real would help them to keep up the pace with the leaders. Interestingly enough, Milan will use a widebody aircraft for the relatively short trip from Malpensa to Madrid. The flight is running under a Neos callsign, but will be operated by Norse Atlantic Airways.

NO9104 MXP 1600-1755 MAD B789 LN-FNC (04/11/24)

MMO1200 BGY xxxx-1205 MAD A320 (05/11/24)

MMO1201 MAD 0115-xxxx BGY A320 (06/11/24)

NO9105 MAD 0845-1040 MXP B789 (06/11/24)

Norse Atlantic Boeing 787-9 LN-FNC
seen at Oslo-Gardermoen in July 2022

Bologna FC vs. AS Monaco

21.00h, Stadio Renato Dall'ara, Bologna

It looks like a tough ask for the home team against the high-flying AS Monaco. The visitors from Monaco already have seven points from three matches while Bologna sits way down the table with just a solitary point from a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.

AP1347 NCE 1520-1605 BLQ B738 EC-MTV (04/11/24)

Liverpool FC vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen

21.00h (20.00h local time), Anfield Road, Liverpool

2nd/9pts vs. 6th/7pts

Ten out of 36 teams in this year's Champions League League phase are still unbeaten. Liverpool is even amongst the two teams that won all three games this far. Bayer Leverkusen had wins in Rotterdam against Feyenoord and then at home against Milan before a draw with Brest away in Guingamp. Enthusiasts in Liverpool will get treated to a Condor Boeing 757-300 visiting - one of the last, if not the last chance for them to see this particular aircraft type.

DE9246 DUS 1730-1800 LPL B753 D-ABOK (04/11/24)

DE9247 LPL 1335-1605 DUS B753 (06/11/24)

Celtic Glasgow vs. RB Leipzig

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

20th/4pts vs. 31st/0pts

That Leipzig are so far down the table could probably not be expected before the League phase. But the team played some big teams so far, including Juventus and Liverpool, against whom they both lost by just one goal. Away in Glasgow, they will aim to do much better. But can they come up against the traditionally very big atmosphere at Celtic Park?

PVG3891 LEJ 1345-1445 GLA A321 EC-NLJ (04/11/24)

ENT541 LEJ 1000-xxxx GLA B38M (05/11/24)

Lille OSC vs. Juventus Turin

21.00h, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq

15th/6pts vs. 14th/6pts

Two neighbors on the table face off in a quest for more points. Juventus had two wins in three games, just like LOSC. That recent loss at home against Stuttgart may not have been planned for however. Surely Juve may look for something better away in Northern France. LOSC started with a defeat away in Lisbon against Sporting but came back well with wins over both Real and Atlético Madrid.

AZ9014 TRN 1530-1710 LIL A20N (04/11/24)

Borussia Dortmund vs. SK Sturm Graz

21.00h, Signal Iduna Park (Westfalenstadion), Dortmund

11th/6pts vs. 32nd/0pts

It is another very difficult assignment for the Austrian champions Sturm Graz, away at the mighty Borussia Dortmund. In one of their first three matches, Borussia scored a 7-1 win over Celtic - and yet this is not even the highest win of this league phase. In the third match however, they lost 5-2 away at Real Madrid. Could it be a question of which BVB turns up at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday night?

ENT504P CDG xxxx-0800 GRZ B738 SP-ENU (04/11/24, ferry flight)

ENT535 GRZ 0900-1025 DTM B738 SP-ENU (04/11/24)

ENT537P DTM 1120-1245 GRZ B738 SP-ENU (04/11/24, ferry flight

ENT537 GRZ 1500-1625 DTM B738 SP-ENU (04/11/24)

ENT539P DTM 0835-1000 GRZ B738 SP-ENU (05/11/24, ferry flight)

ENT539 GRZ 1100-1225 DTM B738 (05/11/24)

Sporting CP vs. Manchester City

21.00h (20.00h local time), Stadio José Alvalade, Lisbon

8th/7pts vs. 3rd/7pts

These two teams are high up in the table and equal on points. Whoever wins this match will have great chances to make a step forward towards the knockout rounds.

AGR1229 MAN 1000-1300 CAT E135 PH-DWS (04/11/24)

BRO985A MAN 1600-1900 LIS B733 G-SWRD (04/11/24)