To the knockout - Champions League 18-19 February 2020

18 February 2020

Atlético Madrid vs. Liverpool FC

The knock-out stage will begin again where it all ended with the trophy last season for Liverpool FC. Atlético Madrid's new home ground Wanda Metropolitano hosted the 2019 final between Liverpool and Spurs. As it is quite often the case actually, supporters will depart from Liverpool as well as Manchester:

MLT856 LPL 1230-1600 BCN B733 9H-ZAK (17/02/20)
BRO20 LPL 1500-1820 BCN B733 G-SWRD (17/02/20)

LS6037 MAN xxxx-1120 MAD B738
VY4203 LPL xxxx-0940 MAD A320
ENT559 LPL xxxx-1130 MAD B738
ENT555 LPL xxxx-1125 MAD B738

VY3069 LPL xxxx-1405 MAD A320

VY4116 MAD 0330-xxxx LPL A320
LS6038 MAD 0055-xxxx MAN B738
ENT560 MAD 1400-xxxx LPL B738
MLT857 MAD 1230-xxxx LPL B733
BRO020 MAD 1400-xxxx LPL B733
ENT556 MAD 1455-xxxx LPL B738

VY3068 MAD 1630-xxxx LPL A320

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris St-Germain

The French giants travel to Dortmund, where a great atmosphere should be expected - and who knows, maybe Borussia bring their A game and make for a great spectacle in this first leg.

VLJ19BN LBG xxxx-1245 DTM E145 (17/02/20)
KLJ3274 LBG xxxx-1245 DTM B735 (17/02/20)
VY2608 CDG 0900-1000 DTM A320 (18/02/20)
5O855 CDG 0900-1000 DTM B738 (18/02/20)

VY2609 DTM 0920-1020 CDG A320 (19/02/20)
5O856 DTM 1110-1210 CDG B738 (19/02/20)

19 February 2020

Atalanta Bergamo vs. Valencia CF

Playing against Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donezk, Atalanta managed to proceed to the knockout stage with just seven points and notably after losing the first three matches. They will continue to play at the San Siro in Milan though, because their home ground in Bergamo is still not up to full UEFA standards:

YW2001 VLC 1700-xxxx MXP CRJX (18/02/20)

LAV5881 VLC 0900-xxxx MXP B738
VY2230 VLC 0900-xxxx MXP A320

YW2002 MXP xxxx-0325 VLC CRJX (20/02/20)
YV6235 MXP xxxx-0330 VLC A320 (20/02/20)

LAV5882 MXP xxxx-0340 VLC B738 (20/02/20)

Tottenham Hotspur FC vs. RB Leipzig

The Leipzig team will arrive at Stansted before their first ever knockout game in the Champions League, using a Titan Airways Boeing 757. Their supporters will travel early on matchday, leaving Leipzig at 07.00h already for an early arrival into Stansted as well.

ZT5031 LEJ 1300-xxxx STN B752 (18/02/20)
ENT529 LEJ 0700-xxxx STN B738
ENT530 STN xxxx-0600 LEJ B738 (20/02/20)

Spanish Supercopa, 8-12 January 2020

Spanish Supercopa 2020

In an unprecedented event, the Spanish Supercopa will now not only feature four teams instead of just the La Liga champions and the winners of the Copa del Rey. It will also take place in Saudi Arabia for the first time, though previous editions have been played in Morocco as well, much to the dismay of notably a lot of the players involved. Adding extra games with extra travel does not seem to be in their favour, but after all, this is part of what they get paid for.

The semifinal line-up is as follows:

Wednesday 8 January 2020

Valencia CF vs. Real Madrid

Thursday 9 January 2020

FC Barcelona vs. Atlético de Madrid

And the teams travel like this:

Real Madrid

IB2800 MAD 0940-xxxx JED A359 EC-NCX (07/01/20)

IB2801 JED xxxx-1530 MAD A359 (13/01/20)

Atlético Madrid

HFM1903 MAD 1230-xxxx JED A388 9H-MIP (07/01/20)

HFM2003 JED xxxx-1615 MAD A388 9H-MIP (10/01/20)
HFM2003 JED xxxx-0500 MAD A388 9H-MIP (13/01/20)

© Ibex73 [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

HiFly Malta Airbus A380 9H-MIP seen at Paris Airshow 2019

FC Barcelona

SV7472 JED xxxx-1130 BCN B77W HZ-AK21 (07/01/20, ferry flt)
SV7472 BCN 1300-xxxx JED B77W HZ-AK21 (07/01/20)
SV7473 JED xxxx-1445 BCN B77W HZ-AK21 (10/01/20)

Saudia B777-300/ER HZ-AK20 seen at London-Heathrow in July 2014

Valencia CF

AXY*** VLC xxxx-xxxx JED A343 9H-BIG (06/01/20)

Extra flights:

EK2515 JED 1015-1530 MAD A388 A6-EVK (05/01/20, ferry flt)

EK2516 MAD 1725-0040(+1) JED A388 A6-EVK (06/01/20)

EK2515 JED xxxx-1400 MAD A388 (09/01/20)

EK2515 JED xxxx-0450 MAD A388 (13/01/20)

Additional information is of course always welcome, particularly for the part about Valencia CF. This post should get regular updates in the next few days as well.

Update: It appears that Valencia CF were using A340-300 9H-BIG.

On an Airbus to San Siro? - UEFA Champions League Group Stage MD3

23 October 2019

RB Leipzig vs. Zenit St. Petersburg

The young German team from Leipzig faces the current pool leaders from St. Petersburg. Zenit will use Rossiya, as they usually do.

FV4101 LED xxxx-1330 LEJ A319 (22/10/19)

FV4102 LEJ 2230-xxxx(+1) LED A319

Inter Milan vs. Borussia Dortmund

Once again, the nicely painted "Mannschaftsairbus" will take Borussia Dortmund on an away trip, this time to the iconic San Siro in Milan. Or at least as far as Malpensa airport.

KLJ6115 DTM 1100-xxxx MXP B735 (22/10/19)

EW1909 DTM 1115-xxxx MXP A320 (22/10/19)

KRC Genk vs. Liverpool FC

The holders from Liverpool will have to look for maximum points from the next two matches against the Belgian champions Genk. They will travel as usual, using Titan Airways:

ZT4081 LPL xxxx-1830 MST B752 G-POWH (22/10/19)
ZT4082 MST 1400-xxxx LPL B752 G-POWH (24/10/19)

Slavia Prague vs. FC Barcelona

UX937 BCN 1600-xxxx PRG B738 (22/10/19)

SL Benfica vs. Olympique Lyonnais

FPO857 LYS xxxx-1135 LIS B737 (22/10/19)

ENT511 LYS xxxx-1100 LIS B738 (22/10/19)

OSC Lille vs. Valencia CF

YW5014 VLC 1500-xxxx LIL CRJ2 (22/10/19)

YW2011 VLC 1715-xxxx LIL CRJX (22/10/19)

Ready to go - Champions League Group Stage MD1

17 September 2019

Group E

FC Salzburg vs. KRC Genk

Missing out on the Champions League for ten years, Salzburg has finally made it to the main event as a result of Austria's improving country coefficient. They will play against Genk first up, an opponent that should not be underestimated, because after all, Belgium's national team is the number 1 in the world. There will be two flights for the team and the staff traveling to Salzburg, with Jet Netherlands and TUI Belgium:

JNL927 MST xxxx-1230 SZG E145 (16/09/19)

TB9200 MST xxxx-1240 SZG B738 (16/09/19)

JNL927 SZG 1200-xxxx MST E145 (18/09/19)

TB9300 SZG 1245-xxxx MST B738 (18/09/19)

SSC Napoli vs. Liverpool FC

Last season's winners Liverpool start their title defence in Italy, away at the refurbished San Paolo. There is only a hint yet of what they will fly with, which should be one of the spectacularly painted KlasJet Boeing 737-500s.

Group F

Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Barcelona

Two heavyweights of European football clash in Dortmund, where the Borussia takes on the mighty FC Barcelona. As usual, Barcelona will travel with Air Europa, while their supporters will have to make do with a Vueling flight. The late night departure is still not possible from DTM, so these flights will depart from Cologne instead.

UX937 BCN 1555-xxxx DTM B738

VY4008 BCN 0810-xxxx CGN A320

VY4009 CGN xxxx-1325 BCN A320

UX938 CGN xxxx-0300 BCN B738

VY4018 BCN 2200-xxxx CGN A320

VY4019 CGN xxxx-0315 BCN A320

Inter Milan vs. Slavia Prague

The Czech champions have come through the qualifiers, while Inter of course are well-known guests in the Champions League.

Group G

Olympique Lyonnais vs. Zenit St. Petersburg

FV4102 LED xxxx-1330 LYS

FV4101 LYS 2230-xxxx LED

SL Benfica vs. RB Leipzig

KLJ3189 LEJ 1230-xxxx LIS B735 LY-FLT

Group H

Ajax Amsterdam vs. OSC Lille

Much was written about Ajax and them having to qualify for the competition again, even though they had almost made to the final last season. But here this young team is again, looking to put smiles on the fans of Dutch football again.

Chelsea vs. Valencia CF

Valencia face a difficult task straight away, traveling to Stanford Bridge for a game against the Europa League winners from last season.

YW2011 VLC 1155-xxxx STN CRJX

YW2014 VLC 1700-xxxx LGW CRJX

YW2015 STN xxxx-0350 VLC CRJX

YW2012 STN xxxx-0430 VLC CRJX

UEFA CL, GS MD6, 12 December 2018

12 December 2018

Group E

Ajax Amsterdam vs. FC Bayern München

The German giants will arrive in Amsterdam not using the Airbus A340-600 any more, but one of Lufthansa's brand new Airbus A350-900s:

LH2570 MUC xxxx-1210 AMS A359 (11/12/18)

© Airbus

LH2571 AMS 1230-xxxx MUC A359 (13/12/18)

Group F

Manchester City vs. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

EW5202 FKB 1330-1415 MAN A320 (11/12/18)
EW5202 MAN 1000-1245 FKB A320 (13/12/18)

Group G

Real Madrid vs. CSKA Moscow

The long journey from Moscow to Spain means that CSKA will arrive in Madrid a couple of days before the game, once again using Aeroflot and one of their Airbus A320s for the trip:

SU7002 SVO xxxx-1320 MAD A320 (10/12/18)

SU7003 MAD 2300-xxxx SVO A320 (12/12/18)

Viktoria Plzen vs. AS Roma

AZ8950 FCO 1500-1650 PRG A320 (11/12/18)

Group H

BSC Young Boys vs. Juventus

The Swiss champions may be eliminated already, but they will look to gain at least one more point against a Juve that is still looking to win the group as it might want to avoid some bigger calibers in the knockout stages:

ST1080 TRN 1600-1720 BRN A319 (11/12/18)
ST1081 BRN 1030-1135 TRN A319 (13/12/18)

CF Valencia vs. Manchester United

SU7400 SVO xxxx-1230 MAN A333 VQ-BNS (11/12/18, ferry flt)
SU7404 MAN 1500-1840 VLC A333 VQ-BNS (11/12/18)

LS6766 MAN xxxx-1045 VLC B738

LS6683 MAN xxxx-1100 VLC B738

LS6684 VLC 0000-xxxx MAN B738 (13/12/18)

LS6767 VLC 0015-xxxx MAN B738 (13/12/18)

GNJ74 VLC 0030-xxxx MAN B734 SX-ATF (13/12/18)

UEFA CL, GS MD5, 27 November 2018

27 November 2018

Group E

AEK Athens vs. Ajax Amsterdam

OR7395 AMS 1000-xxxx ATH B738 OO-JAV (26/11/18)

OR7396 ATH xxxx-1735 AMS B738 OO-JAD (28/11/18)

FC Bayern München vs. SL Benfica

HFM612 LIS 0950-1340 MUC A340 (26/11/18)

HFM631 MUC 1450-1650 LIS A340 (28/11/18)

Group F

Olympique Lyonnais vs. Manchester City

ZT1601 MAN 1500-1755 LYS B752 (26/11/18)

MT9064 MAN xxxx-1020 LYS

LS6669 MAN xxxx-1030 LYS

BY8024 MAN xxxx-1105 LYS

BY8025 LYS 0010-xxxx MAN (28/11/18)

LS6670 LYS 0055-xxxx MAN (28/11/18)

MT9065 LYS 0055-xxxx MAN (28/11/18)

ZT1605 LYS 1500-xxxx MAN B752 (28/11/18)

Group G

CSKA Moscow vs. Viktoria Plzen

OK7110 PRG 1010-1255 SVO A319 (26/11/18)

AS Roma vs. Real Madrid

IB2806 MAD 1030-1255 FCO A333 (26/11/18)
IB2807 FCO xxxx-0320 MAD A333 (28/11/18)

Group H

Manchester United vs. BSC Young Boys

2L8442 BRN xxxx-1230 MAN F100 HB-JVE (26/11/18)
TDR526 BRN xxxx-1305 MAN F100 (26/11/18)
2L8452 BRN 1130-1225 MAN F100 HB-JVE (27/11/18)
ST1018 ZRH 1400-1505 MAN A319 D-ASTL (27/11/18)
ST1019 MAN xxxx-xxxx BRN A319 D-ASTL (28/11/18, diverted to BSL)
2L8443 MAN xxxx-xxxx BRN F100 (28/11/18)
2L8453 MAN xxxx-xxxx BRN F100 (28/11/18)
TDR527 MAN xxxx-xxxx BRN F100 (28/11/18)

Juventus Turin vs. CF Valencia

YW2001 VLC 1300-xxxx TRN CRJX (26/11/18)
YW5001 VLC 1300-xxxx TRN CRJ2 (26/11/18)

UEFA CL, GS MD2, 2 October 2018

Group E

FC Bayern München vs. Ajax Amsterdam

OR7311 AMS 1200-xxxx MUC B738 PH-TFD (01/10/18)

OR7315 AMS 1010-xxxx MUC B738 PH-TFD (02/10/18)

OR7316 MUC xxxx-1145 AMS B738 OO-TUP (03/10/18)

OR7312 MUC xxxx-1635 AMS B738 PH-TFD (03/10/18)

AEK Athens vs. SL Benfica

5K972 LIS 1615-xxxx ATH A345 CS-TFX (30/09/18)

Group F

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs. Manchester City

ZT1561 MAN 1500-1740 FRA B752 (01/10/18)

ZT1562 FRA 1505-1550 MAN B752 (03/10/18)

Group G

CSKA Moscow vs. Real Madrid

IB2806 MAD 1650-2125 SVO A346 EC-JNQ (30/09/18)

AS Roma vs. Viktoria Plzen

OK6104 PRG 1100-1250 FCO A319 (01/10/18)

Group H

Manchester United vs. CF Valencia

EVE6351 VLC 1200-1345 MAN A320 (01/10/18)

YW5001 VLC 1230-1410 MAN CRJ2 (01/10/18)

YW5002 MAN xxxx-0410 VLC CRJ2 (03/10/18)

Juventus Turin vs. BSC Young Boys

ST1200 BRN 1230-1330 TRN A319 (01/10/18)

UEFA CL, GS MD1, 19 September 2018

Group E

Ajax Amsterdam vs. AEK Athens

The Greek champions find themselves in a rather tricky pool, together with Ajax, Bayern and Benfica. Supposedly, qualifying for the Europa League knock-out stage would be their target from this group. Their first away trip takes them to Amsterdam, where they will face Ajax:

AEE4050 ATH xxxx-1300 AMS A320 (18/09/18)

AEE4051 AMS 1245-xxxx ATH A320 (20/09/18)

SL Benfica vs. FC Bayern München

Despite a new transport sponsor, it is still Lufthansa that flies FC Bayern to the away games in Europe, and in some style, still using a big widebody like an Airbus A340-600 from Munich to the first away stop in Lisbon:

LH2570 MUC 0950-1200 LIS A346 (18/09/18)
LH2571 LIS 1700-2055 MUC A346 (20/09/18)

Group F

Manchester City vs. Olympique Lyonnais

The former French serial champions have made it into the big competition once again and will play against one of the financial heavyweights in Manchester City, which is relying on lots of money from the Arabian peninsula. Some fans of OL will travel to the City of Manchester stadium with Privilege Style:

AF4002 LYS 1100-1155 MAN A320 (18/09/18)
PVG7335 LYS 1100-1155 MAN B752 (19/09/18)

PVG7336 MAN 2355-0355(+1) LYS B752 (19/09/18)
AF4003 MAN 1115-1515 LYS A320 (20/09/18)

Group G

Real Madrid vs. AS Roma

Having won the competition three times in a row in recent seasons, Real are in for something new this season, with a new manager and obviously without their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has left the club. AS Roma will travel across the Mediterranean with Alitalia.

AZ8950 FCO xxxx-1805 MAD A319 (18/09/18)

AZ8951 MAD 0030-xxxx FCO A319 (20/09/18)

Group H

BSC Young Boys vs. Manchester United

The fifth club to qualify for the Champions League from Switzerland, YB, is hosting Manchester United first up at the Stade de Suisse. Traveling to and from Berne can always be a slight challenge, with only a short runway and not much ramp space available. Also, night flying hours are severely restricted. Manchester United has chosen to stay in Bern over night after the match and they will use a rather small aircraft for the trip, in KlasJet's luxurious Boeing 737-500 LY-KLJ:

KLJxxxx ??? xxxx-0730 MAN B735 LY-KLJ (18/09/18, ferry flt)

KLJ1138 MAN 1000-1235 BRN B735 LY-KLJ (18/09/18)
MLT709F ??? xxxx-1100 MAN B735 9H-MAC (18/09/18, ferry flt)
MLT709 MAN 1230-1515 BSL B735 9H-MAC (18/09/18)

KLJxxxx BRN xxxx-1045 MAN B735 LY-KLJ (20/09/18)
MLT710 BSL xxxx-1220 MAN B735 9H-MAC (20/09/18)
MLT710F MAN 1305-xxxx ??? B735 9H-MAC (20/09/18, ferry flt)

Valencia CF vs. Juventus Turin

CR7 may have won the Champions League several times, with Manchester United and Real Madrid, but he is still looking for new challenges and has joined Juventus now. His first UCL trip on Juve duty will take him to Valencia with Alitalia:

AZ9014 TRN xxxx-1755 VLC A321 (18/09/18)

AZ9015 VLC 1100-xxxx TRN A321 (20/09/18)