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)

UEFA Champions League League Phase MD3 - 23 October 2024

Atalanta Bergamo vs. Celtic Glasgow

LS6969 GLA 1300-1635 BGY B733 G-GDFG (22/10/24)

HT3260 GLA 1400-1730 BGY B734 9H-MPW (22/10/24)

Stade Brestois vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen

DE9356 DUS 1430-1610 BES A320 D-AICI (22/10/24)

BN1440 CGN 1615-1805 SBK DH8D 9H-LWA (22/10/24)

DE9357 BES 1220-1400 DUS A320 (24/10/24)

Atlético Madrid vs. Lille OSC

ENT549 LIL 1500-1715 MAD B738 SP-ESC (22/10/24)

ENT550 MAD 0100-xxxx LIL B738 (24/10/24)

FC Barcelona vs. Bayern München

AZ8964 MUC 1540-1755 BCN A339 EI-HJR (22/10/24)

DE9398 MUC 0820-1025 BCN A321 (23/10/24)

DE9399 BCN 0405-xxxx MUC (24/10/24)

AZ8965 BCN 1220-xxxx MUC (24/10/24)

A Condor Airbus A321 seen at Corfu in June 2023

RB Salzburg vs. Dinamo Zagreb

OU1446 ZAG 1200-1255 SZG A319 9A-CTN (22/10/24)

OU1447 SZG 1335-xxxx ZAG A319 9A-CTN (22/10/24, ferry flight)

OU1446 ZAG xxxx-1020 SZG A319 (24/10/24, ferry flight)

OU1447 SZG 1100-xxxx ZAG A319 (24/10/24)

Manchester City vs. Sparta Prague

LO7220 PRG 1255-1330 MAN E75S SP-LIB (22/10/24)

QS4376 PRG 1300-1415 MAN B738 OK-TVX (22/10/24)

QS4452 PRG 1315-1430 MAN B738 OK-TSS (22/10/24)

ENT577 PRG xxxx-1005 MAN B738 (23/10/24)

RR9267 PRG xxxx-1005 MAN B738 (23/10/24)

RR9281 PRG xxxx-1005 MAN B738 (23/10/24)

ENT578 MAN 0300-xxxx PRG B738

RR9268 MAN 0300-xxxx PRG B738

RR9282 MAN 0300-xxxx PRG B738

QS4377 MAN 1200-xxxx PRG B738

QS4453 MAN 1215-xxxx PRG B738

LO7311 MAN 1400-xxxx PRG 

SL Benfica vs. Feyenoord Rotterdam

TB9610 RTM 1215-1435 LIS B38M OO-TMB (22/10/24)

F42 RTM 1300-1445 LIS B738 EI-FFB (22/10/24)

BSC Young Boys vs. Inter Milan

AZ9018 MXP 1050-1200 BRN A319 EI-IMO (22/10/24)

AZ9931 BRN 1250-1430 FCO A319 EI-IMO (22/10/24, ferry flight)

AZ9019 BRN 1050-1200 MXP A319

RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool FC

LS6974 LPL 1130-1415 LEJ B733 G-GDFN (22/10/24)

HT2280 LPL 1545-1820 LEJ B734 9H-ZAZ (22/10/24)

All of Stuttgart on the move - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Matchday 1 - 17 September 2024

Six matches will take place on the first proper day of UEFA Champions League football this season. It is also the Champions League's exclusive week to start with, so Wednesday and Thursday will be packed with Champions League action as well. On every game day, two matches start in the early slot at 18.45h CET, with the remainder to kick off at 21.00h CET.

BSC Young Boys vs. Aston Villa

18.45h, Stadion Wankdorf, Bern

While Young Boys have been to the Champions League three times before, Aston Villa will make their debut in the group or league stages of the competition. In fact, the last time the club competed in the main European Cup was in 1982/83, off the back of winning the European Cup the season before. They qualified for the 2024/25 edition as the 4th-placed team of the Premier League.

T3 9597 BHX xxxx-1645 BSL BRN E170 (16/09/24)

BRO988A BHX 1100-1330 BRN B737 G-NEWG (16/09/24)

BRO999P BRN 1445-1515 LTN B737 G-NEWG (16/09/24)

T3 9598 BSL 2330-xxxx(+1) BHX E170 (17/09/24)

Juventus Turin vs. PSV Eindhoven

18.45h, Juventus Stadium, Turin

Two traditional guests to the group or league stage meet in Turin for their first league phase match. Surely Juventus would have to be favourites on the day. But a Dutch side can never be ruled out completely in international football.

AP1439 EIN 1100-1235 TRN B738 EC-MUB (16/09/24)

CD040 EIN 1115-1250 TRN B738 PH-HXD (16/09/24)

Real Madrid vs. VfB Stuttgart

21.00h, Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

Last season's Champions League winners are up against one of the more surprising entries for the first match. Real Madrid has made it a habit of winning this particular title. Their opponents Stuttgart however are only rarely in Europe's prime club football competition. A second-place finish in the Bundesliga ahead of Bayern München came as a major surprise. But they will look to replicate performances of past Stuttgart teams for sure. Not only will the VfB Stuttgart team fly to Madrid - there will be plenty of German supporters down in the Spanish capital as well:

DE9140 STR 1115-1330 MAD A320 D-AICE (16/09/24)

SEK1491 STR 1120-1335 MAD A320 (16/09/24)

NGN6902 STR 0740-0955 MAD A320 D-ANDI (17/09/24)

AP1447 STR 0800-1100 MAD B738 EC-MTV (17/09/24)

ART5103 STR xxxx-1100 MAD A333 9H-PTP (17/09/24)

EVE6202 STR 1120-1335 MAD A320 (17/09/24)

NGN6904 STR 1305-1520 MAD A320 D-ANDI (17/09/24)

EC-LZD, Iberojet, Airbus A320

seen at Madrid-Barajas in March 2023

AP1448 MAD 0410-0610 STR B738 (18/09/24)

EVE6201 MAD 0500-0700 STR A320 (18/09/24)

NGN6903 MAD 0630-0830 STR A320 (18/09/24)

ART5104 MAD 0700-0900 STR A333 (18/09/24)

SEK1341 MAD 1330-1530 STR A320 (18/09/24)

DE9141 MAD 1345-1545 STR A320 (18/09/24)

NGN6905 MAD 1240-1440 STR A320 (19/09/24)

AC Milan vs. Liverpool FC

21.00h, San Siro, Milan

These two heavyweights have both seen many successful European campaigns. But none would have started with a wide open league phase like the 2024-25 Champions League. Milan qualified as the runners-up of the Italian Serie A, while Liverpool come into the Champions League as the third-placed team of last season's Premier League. After eight years with Jürgen Klopp on the sideline, Arne Slot is the new manager at Liverpool. Whether he can coach his side to victory away at the iconic San Siro?

BA703P LCY 0730-0815 LPL E190 G-LCAE (16/09/24, ferry flight)

BA7031 LPL 1100-1420 MXP E190 G-LCAE (16/09/24)

BRO990P BOH 1300-1355 LPL B733 G-SWRD (16/09/24, ferry flight)

BRO990 LPL 1540-1840 MXP B733 G-SWRD (16/09/24)

FC Bayern München vs. Dinamo Zagreb

21.00h, Allianz Arena, Munich

Whenever Bayern start into a new season, they do that as favourites for pretty much every competition they play in. Their motivation for the Champions League should be particularly high this year however, with the final taking place at their home ground on 31 May 2025. Having had to watch compatriots Borussia Dortmund playing (although losing) the final this year should be another bit of extra motivation. On the other hand, Dinamo Zagreb do not have much to lose in the Champions League. Yet, after beating Azerbaijan's FK Qarabag to make the Champions League proper, they will look to sell themselves at a high price.

OU1400 ZAG 1350-1445 MUC A319 9A-CTH (16/09/24)

Sporting CP vs. Lille OSC

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

This fixture may go slightly under the radar of other matches on this opening day. But Portugal and France are high up in the UEFA rankings for good reasons. Sporting qualified as Portugal's national champion, ahead of Benfica. Lille had to go through the third round and the play-off round to qualify as they only finished their league in fourth position. LOSC will travel to Lisbon with ASL Airlines.

5O735 LIL 1545-1655 LIS B738 F-HIXC (16/09/24)

One more step until the league phase - UEFA Champions League Play-Off Round return leg 27/28 August 2024

The UEFA Champions League qualifiers are going down the final straight and seven teams will join the 29 clubs that are already in the main draw for the league phase. While some of the ties have already gone quite clearly in one team's direction, some others are still wide open after the first leg matches on 20 and 21 August. The games on 27 and 28 August will provide some prime action and surely some interesting charter flights too.

27 August 2024

Sparta Prague vs. Malmö FF 

21.00h, Stadion Letna, Prague

(first leg 2-0)

The Czech champions Sparta will take a handy lead into their home game against the Swedish champions. They could qualify for the main event for the first time in 19 years as long as they will not lose by more than one goal. Malmö travel in rather discrete style, using a Saab 2000 of Frost Air for the trip to Prague.

FRO040 MMX 1100-1225 PRG SB20 OY-FSC (26/08/24)

FRO041 PRG 1200-xxxx MMX SB20 (28/08/24)

FC Salzburg vs. Dynamo Kyiv

21.00h, Red Bull Arena, Salzburg

(first leg 2-0)

Once again, Dynamo Kyiv will arrive from their exile in Poland for the away game in Salzburg. Interestingly, there were two flights planned for this trip, one on what is supposed to be FlyOne's sole Boeing 737-800 UR-PSF and the other one on an Enter Air Boeing 737-800. Equally interesting is the return trip to Kishinev. On the sports side, Salzburg will start with a two-goal lead in the tie - enough to take them to the Champions League league phase?

ENT588 LUZ xxxx-1510 SZG B738 (25/08/24)

ENT589P SZG 1600-xxxx GRX B738 (25/08/24, ferry flight)

7W7737 LUZ 1835-2015 SZG B738 UR-PSF (25/08/24)

7W7738 SZG 2100-xxxx RMO B738 UR-PSF (25/08/24, ferry flight)

7W7737 RMO xxxx-0910 SZG B738 (28/08/24, ferry flight)

ENT589P POZ xxxx-0930 SZG B738 (28/08/24, ferry flight)

7W7738 SZG 1010-xxxx RMO B738 (28/08/24)

ENT590 SZG 1030-xxxx RMO B738 (28/08/24)

Galatasaray Istanbul vs. BSC Young Boys

21.00h CET (22.00h local time), Rams Park ("Ali Sami Yen"), Istanbul

(first leg 2-3)

The first leg of this champions path tie was an up and down for both side. Joel Monteiro scored two goals in the first half for YB. Michi Batshuayi followed this up by two goals as a substitute in the second half. The Swiss champions then took a late lead from a Filip Ugrinic penalty. Interestingly for this long trip, Young Boys are using a propeller plane in Avanti Air's Dash 8-Q400.

ATV025H GRZ 1740-1905 BRN DH8D D-AASH (25/08/24, ferry flight)

ATV261H BRN 0900-1340 IST DH8D D-AASH (26/08/24)

D-AASH, Avanti Air Dash 8-Q400, seen at London-Gatwick in May 2024

28 August 2024

Red Star Belgrade vs. Bodø/Glimt

21.00h, Rajko Mitic Stadium ("Marakana"), Belgrade

(first leg 1-2)

After some exciting ventures in UEFA's other two club competitions, Bodø/Glimt are on the verge of making Norwegian football history. They could be the next club from this Nordic country to qualify for the main event in the UEFA Champions League if they manage to defend their 2-1 lead successfully in Belgrade. The team will travel South one day earlier than usual, flying out with Global Reach Aviation and their CRJ-900 OY-MIT.

GAV325 BOO 1500-xxxx BEG CRJ9 OY-MIT (26/08/24)

GAV325 BEG xxxx-1840 BOO CRJ9 OY-MIT (29/08/24)

Slavia Prague vs. Lille OSC

21.00h, Eden Arena, Prague

(first leg 0-2)

In a league path clash, LOSC beat Slavia Prague 2-0 in the first leg. This lead should come in handy for the return leg. But with no away goals rule these days, even two goals' deficit are not that much to overcome actually. So, Slavia are still in with a chance - and they play at home in the second leg. LOSC's charter flight shows up with an AirExplore flight number, but should actually be operated by KlasJet and one of their Boeing 737-500 aircraft.

AXE8131 LIL xxxx-1815 PRG B735 LY-KLT (27/08/24)

AXE8132 PRG 0000-xxxx LIL B735 LY-KLT (29/08/24)

Qarabag Agdam vs. Dinamo Zagreb

18.45h CET (20.45h local time), Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku

(first leg 0-3)

Three goals up from the first leg, Dinamo Zagreb have a healthy lead to defend in Azerbaijan against Qarabag. The journey down there is a long one though and the Croatian champions depart one day early, on Monday with Croatia Airlines to Baku.

OU9520 ZAG 1410-2005 GYD A319 9A-CTG (26/08/24)

OU9521 GYD 2055-2255 ZAG A319 9A-CTG (26/08/24, ferry flight)

Slovan Bratislava vs. FC Midtjylland

21.00h, Narodny Futbalovy Stadion, Bratislava

(first leg 1-1)

90 or even 120 minutes await these two teams who are tied at one goal apiece after the first leg. The champions of Denmark can count on some supporters who will even fly down to Slovakia on a charter flight on the match day itself - rather unusual for a qualifier game.

ZQ1999 BLL 1225-1420 BTS E190 (27/08/24)

AP1235 BLL 1020-1215 BTS B738 (28/08/24)