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)

UEFA CL, GS MD1, 18 September 2018

Group A

AS Monaco vs. Atlético Madrid

PVG1903 MAD 1125-xxxx NCE B752 (17/09/18)

PVG2003 NCE xxxx-0245 MAD B752 (19/09/18)

Club Brugge vs. Borussia Dortmund

EW1909 DTM 1130-xxxx OST A320 D-AIZR (17/09/18)
EW1909 OST xxxx-xxxx DTM A320 D-AIZR (19/09/18)

Group B

FC Barcelona vs. PSV Eindhoven

The Dutch champion has drawn a big lot, but maybe just one that might be too big. Barcelona are an absolute powerhouse and would not want to give away points too easily:

TB9121 EIN xxxx-1250 BCN B738 (17/09/18)

QS2178 EIN xxxx-1255 BCN B738 (17/09/18)

TB9353 BCN 0955-xxxx EIN B738 (19/09/18)

QS2179 BCN 1100-xxxx EIN B738 (19/09/18)

Inter Milan vs. Tottenham Hotspur

ZT1553 STN 1155-1455 MXP B752 (17/09/18)

Group C

Liverpool FC vs. Paris St-Germain

Last season's finalists have come up against something really big in Paris St-Germain. PSG will once again count as major contenders, mainly because of their insane Qatar firepower through the finances. Whether a team that is not really challenged in the domestic league can fire on all cylinders internationally remains to be seen:

ZI985 ORY 1130-1150 LPL A332 (17/09/18)
TX1518 ORY 1800-1820 LPL A333 (17/09/18)

SRN265 CDG 1045-1105 LPL AT72 (18/09/18)

ZI986 LPL 0010-0230 CDG A332 (19/09/18)

SRN266 LPL 1230-1450 CDG AT72 (19/09/18)

Red Star Belgrade vs. SSC Napoli

AZ9016 NAP xxxx-1225 BEG A319 (17/09/18)

Group D

Schalke 04 vs. FC Porto

HFM001P BYJ 1530-1615 OPO A343 (16/09/18, ferry flt)

HFM611 OPO 0930-xxxx DUS A343 (17/09/18)

HFM632 DUS xxxx-0700 OPO A343 (19/09/18)

HFM002P OPO 1000-1045 BYJ A343 (19/09/18, ferry flt)

UEFA CL Qualifiers, Play-Off return leg, 28-29 August 2018

28 August 2018

Dynamo Kiev vs. Ajax Amsterdam

Ajax brings a lead from the first leg to Kiev and is hoping to qualify for the Champions League once again, a competition they last won in 1995:

PS3610 AMS 1100-1450 KBP B738 (27/08/18)

PS3609 KBP xxxx-1430 AMS B738 (29/08/18)

Dinamo Zagreb vs. BSC Young Boys

In an attempt to finally qualify for the Champions League for the very first time, Young Boys even takes supporters to Zagreb, something rarely seen during the qualifying stages of the competition:

SX8670 BRN xxxx-1200 ZAG SB20 (27/08/18)
ST1060 BRN xxxx-1635 ZAG (28/08/18)

ST1061 ZAG 0630-xxxx BRN (29/08/18)
SX8671 ZAG 1200-xxxx BRN SB20 (29/08/18)

29 August 2018

PSV Eindhoven vs. BATE Borisov

BRU8931 MSQ 1000-1135 EIN CRJ2 (28/08/18)

PAOK Saloniki vs. SL Benfica

GNJ74 LIS 2015-xxxx SKG B734 SX-ATF (27/08/18)
MLT672 LIS 2015-xxxx SKG (27/08/18)

FC Salzburg vs. Red Star Belgrade

After a goalless draw at the Marakana in Belgrade, both teams are still in the running for the spot in the Champions League group stage:

PAV5135 BEG xxxx-1220 SZG CRJ2 (28/08/18)

PAV5135 SZG 1320-xxxx FRA CRJ2 (28/08/18, ferry flt)

JU3600 BEG xxxx-1315 SZG A319 (28/08/18)

JU3601 SZG 1405-xxxx BEG A319 (28/08/18, ferry flt)

AEH451F BGY xxxx-0910 SZG E145 (30/08/18, ferry flt)

AEH081 SZG 1030-xxxx BEG E145 (30/08/18)

JU3600 BEG xxxx-1245 SZG A319 (30/08/18, ferry flt)

JU3601 SZG 1335-xxxx BEG A319 (30/08/18)

UEFA CL Qualifiers, Play-Off first leg, 21-22 August 2018

21 August 2018

Some quick planning was required for the clubs involved in the 2018-19 Champions League qualifiers, setting up trips to new destinations right after they knew that they had won their clashes in the 3rd round.

Red Star Belgrade vs. FC Salzburg

After many unsuccessful attempts at qualifying for the Champions League, the Salzburg team try it once again, this time against the Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade:

PE930 ACH xxxx-1220 SZG E170 (20/08/18, ferry flt)

PE630 SZG 1305-1440 BEG E170 (20/08/18)

PE631 BEG xxxx-1435 SZG E170 (22/08/18)

PE933 SZG 1520-xxxx ACH E170 (22/08/18, ferry flt)

BATE Borisov vs. PSV Eindhoven

MLT666 EIN 1300-xxxx MSQ B735 (20/08/18)

SL Benfica vs. PAOK Saloniki

The Greek cup winners have hired a Portuguese A319 to carry them to ... Portugal. Albeit with a Greek flight number:

AZI120 SKG 1900-2015 LIS A319 CS-TFU (19/08/18)

22 August 2018

Ajax Amsterdam vs. Dynamo Kiev

These teams have gained their chance for a place in the Champions League proper through their league positions and will now face off for the actual spot in the group stage. The losing team will take part in the Europa League group stage:

7W7771 KBP xxxx-1200 AMS A321 UR-WRI (21/08/18)

7W7772 AMS 1310-xxxx KBP A321 UR-WRI (23/08/18)

BSC Young Boys vs. Dinamo Zagreb

Swiss Champions after more than 30 years, YB are taking another attempt at qualifying for the Champions League. They have done so several times as runners-up in recent years, but have never been successful at it. The club has a long legacy though, with a European Cup semifinal in the 1950s possibly being the biggest performance of a Swiss club in this competition ever:

LO7643 ZAG 0950-1130 BRN E170 (21/08/18)

MOL Vidi vs. AEK Athens

AEE4050 ATH 1100-xxxx BUD A320 (21/08/18)

UEFA Supercup 2018, 15 August 2018

15 August 2018

Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid (in Tallinn)

UX1903 MAD 1515-2015 TLL B738 (13/08/18)

IB2800 MAD 1630-2130 TLL A346 (13/08/18)

UX925 MAD 0845-xxxx TLL B738 (15/08/18)

PEV651 MAD 0900-xxxx TLL E170 (15/08/18)

IB2802 MAD 1100-xxxx TLL (15/08/18)

IB2801 TLL xxxx-0420 MAD (16/08/18)

UX2003 TLL xxxx-0455 MAD (16/08/18)

UX926 TLL xxxx-0455 MAD (16/08/18)

PEV652 TLL xxxx-1400 MAD E170 (16/08/18)

UEFA CL Qualifiers, R3 return leg, 14 August 2018

14 August 2018

With the UEFA Supercup being played on 15 August 2018, all Champions League qualifiers this week are being played on Tuesday, 14 August 2018:

Spartak Moscow vs. PAOK Saloniki

AZI120 SKG 1125-1430 VKO B463 SX-DIZ (13/08/18)

AZI121 VKO 0200-0505 SKG B463 SX-DIZ (15/08/18)

Shkendija vs. FC Salzburg

TDR9036 ZAG xxxx-1215 ZSG F100 (13/08/18, ferry flt)

TDR306 SZG 1300-1445 SKP F100 (13/08/18)

TDR307 SKP 1100-1250 SZG F100 (15/08/18)

Spartak Trnava vs. Red Star Belgrade

JU3620 BEG 1100-1205 BTS B733 (13/08/18)

BATE Borisov vs. Qarabag Agdam

AHY5237 GYD 2000-2230 MSQ (12/08/18)

Dinamo Zagreb vs. FC Astana

GZP147 ??? xxxx-0930 TSE B737 RA-73004 (12/08/18, ferry flt)

GZP147 TSE 1100-1240 ZAG B737 RA-73004 (12/08/18)

Malmö FF vs. MOL Vidi

AEH981 MMX 1100-xxxx BUD E145 (13/08/18)

AEH982 BUD xxxx-0130(+1) MMX E145 (14/08/18)

Fenerbahce vs. SL Benfica

GNJ57 BHX 1430-xxxx LIS B752 SX-RFA (12/08/18, ferry flt)
GNJ57 LIS 2015-xxxx(+1) IST B752 SX-RFA (12/08/18)

AEK Athens vs. Celtic Glasgow

BRO37A GLA 1515-2115 ATH B733 G-TGPG (12/08/18)

UEFA CL Qualifiers, R3 first leg, 7-8 August 2018

7 August 2018

Malmö FF vs. MOL Vidi

The Swedish champions have beaten their Romanian counterparts CFR Cluj and earned themselves a third-round tie against the champions from Hungary, MOL Vidi, formerly known as Videoton Balaton:

ATV501G BUD 1000-1200 MMX F100 (06/08/18)

Benfica Lisbon vs. Fenerbahçe Istanbul

On the league path, there are some ties, that could just as well be encounters during the Champions League group stage, so some serious contenders will be eliminated fairly early. Fenerbahce are looking to improve from their shambolic performance in Europe last season and are traveling far west to Lisbon, where they face a Benfica team that has recently been shaken up quite badly:

TK3507 IST 0900-1155 LIS B738 (06/08/18)

TK3508 LIS 1300-1930 IST B738 (06/08/18, ferry flt)

TK3508 LIS 1000-1630 IST B738 (08/08/18)

Red Star Belgrade vs. Spartak Trnava

The Slovak champions from Trnava once again make use of the regional airfield at Piestany, flying from there to Belgrade with Sprint Air from Poland and one of their ATR-72s:

SRN275 PZY xxxx-1135 BEG AT72 (06/08/18)

Qarabag Agdam vs. BATE Borisov

The Belarussian champions have qualified for this round against the Finnish champions HJK Helsinki and are now headed further south-east to face the rising Azeri outfit of FK Qarabag Agdam:

BRU8931 MSQ 0900-1325 GYD CRJ1 EW-100PJ (06/08/18)
BRU8932 GYD 0100-0320 MSQ CRJ1 EW-100PJ (08/08/18)

Slavia Prague vs. Dynamo Kiev

This clash in the league path of the Champions League sees Dynamo Kiev traveling west in another attempt to qualify for the main competition:

7W7771 KBP 0810-xxxx PRG A321 (06/08/18)

FC Astana vs. Dinamo Zagreb

The Croatian champions traveled to Kazakhstan on Sunday already, using Azerbaijan Airlines for their long trip to the East:

AHY5234 ZAG 1200-2200 TSE A319 4K-8888 (05/08/18)
AHY5235 TSE 2355-0240(+1) ZAG A319 4K-8888 (07/08/18)

8 August 2018

PAOK Saloniki vs. Spartak Moscow

SVR3227 SVO 1240-xxxx SKG A319 (07/08/18)
SVR3234 SKG xxxx-0335 SVO A320 (09/08/18)

FC Salzburg vs. Shkendija

OK6805 SKP 1825-2115 SZG AT72 (06/08/18)
OK6805 SZG 2155-xxxx PRG AT72 (06/08/18, ferry flt)
OK6804 PRG xxxx-2115 SZG AT72 (08/08/18, ferry flt)
OK6804 SZG 2155-0040(+1) SKP AT72 (08/08/18)

Celtic Glasgow vs. AEK Athens

AEE4050 ATH 0930-xxxx GLA A320 (07/08/18)