The Champions League 2024/25 season has introduced a new format that’s reshaping Europe’s biggest club competition. With a single, league-style table and more clubs competing for knockout stage positions, every match has a higher stakes, creating a fresh sense of unpredictability. Fans have already witnessed some familiar teams in top form and a few unexpected contenders making waves.
As the Champions League season progresses, let’s explore the key performances, standout surprises, and what this format shift means for the road ahead.
Key takeaways
- Dominant Teams: Clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Inter Milan have excelled, showcasing consistent performances that keep them well-positioned in the standings.
- Struggling Giants: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain have faced unexpected difficulties, revealing vulnerabilities as they fight to secure their spots.
- Unexpected Standouts: Teams such as Sporting CP, Monaco, and Brest have exceeded expectations, proving to be dark horses in the Champions League league table.
- What’s Next: With the knockout stages approaching, the competition will intensify as clubs push to secure their places in the next phase of the Champions League season.
Consistent Contenders
In the Champions League 2024/25 season, a few teams have set themselves apart by delivering strong, reliable performances each game. Liverpool, Inter Milan, and Barcelona are leading examples, showing the consistency needed to advance in the new, highly competitive format.
Liverpool has emerged as the only team with a perfect record so far, boasting maximum points and conceding just one goal across all matches. Under their new coach, Liverpool has found renewed form and consistency, leading both the Champions League standings and the Premier League. Mohamed Salah has been instrumental in their success, currently topping the assists chart with four assists. With their next Champions League clash against Real Madrid on the horizon, Liverpool’s momentum and disciplined play could see them continue this strong run in Europe.
Inter Milan has showcased remarkable defensive strength, standing as the only team (with Atalanta) yet to concede a goal. Currently 5th on the table with 10 points, Inter has demonstrated a disciplined approach, often keeping matches tight and low-scoring. They’ve held their ground against top opponents, including a goalless draw with Manchester City and a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal. In a standout exception, they delivered a decisive 4-0 win against Crvena Zvezda, proving they can capitalize when opportunities arise. Inter’s balanced play and defensive resilience have made them a formidable contender this season.
Barcelona has proven to be an offensive powerhouse, leading all teams with 15 goals scored. Currently 6th with 9 points, Barcelona’s attacking firepower has been largely driven by Raphinha, who holds the highest Sofascore rating so far (8.48) and shares the top scorer spot with teammate Robert Lewandowski – both with five goals. Although they suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to Monaco in their opening match, Barcelona quickly bounced back with dominant wins over Young Boys, Bayern Munich, and Crvena Zvezda. Their ability to create and convert scoring opportunities has made them a dangerous side as they aim for a strong finish in the group stage.
Under pressure: The struggling giants
Despite their status as perennial Champions League contenders, several top clubs have had a challenging campaign in the new format, with Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and PSG all experiencing unexpected setbacks.
Manchester City has the highest Sofascore team rating this season (7.30), but theirs Champions League campaign has been unexpectedly turbulent. Sitting in 10th place with only 7 points – outside the Round of 16 spot – City recently suffered a surprising 4:1 defeat against Sporting CP, marking their third consecutive loss across all competitions. Known for their control of the game, with an impressive average possession of 72.3%, City has struggled to convert their dominance into points. The team will need to find both form and consistency quickly to avoid going through playoffs in the knockout stage.
As the defending Champions League winners, Real Madrid has faced a challenging season, currently sitting in 18th place with just 6 points. Their recent 3:1 loss to Milan at home came as a shock to fans, marking their second consecutive home defeat following a heavy 4:0 loss to Barcelona. With three of their next four opponents currently in the top 10 of the Champions League standings, Real Madrid’s path to the knockout rounds is anything but certain. They’ll need to recover quickly to keep their title defense hopes alive.
Bayern Munich’s Champions League season began with a bang as they secured a historic 9:2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb (after which even famous pundits from Golazo TV show had Sofascore’s experts brought in their studio). However, the early momentum has since faded, with Bayern now sitting in 17th place with only 6 points, trailing behind that same Dinamo Zagreb in the standings. Following their explosive opener, Bayern has struggled to find the net, scoring only twice in their next three matches. This unexpected dip in form has left them needing strong results in the remaining fixtures to ensure progression in the tournament.
Despite their high-profile roster and significant investment aimed at securing a Champions League trophy, PSG’s campaign has fallen short of expectations. Currently 25th in the standings with just one win and a total of 4 points, PSG sits outside the knockout stage spots. For a club with ambitions of European glory, this performance has been a major disappointment, underscoring the challenges they face in translating star power into consistent results on the field.
Surprising Standouts
This Champions League season has introduced fans to some unexpected top performers. While typically overshadowed by the usual giants, clubs like Sporting, Monaco, and Brest have turned heads with their impressive performances, showcasing resilience and skill in this new, competitive format.
Currently 2nd in the Champions League standings with 10 points, Sporting has delivered a standout performance this season, most notably in their recent 4:1 win over Manchester City. Viktor Gyökeres was instrumental in that match, earning a Sofascore rating of 9.1 and netting a hat-trick, showcasing his attacking prowess. Under the guidance of coach Ruben Amorim, who is set to take over at Manchester United, Sporting has demonstrated tactical discipline and a strong counter-attacking game, making them one of the top contenders in this new Champions League format.
Known for producing young talent, Monaco has capitalized on their energetic lineup to earn a spot near the top of the standings with 10 points. Currently sitting in third place and remaining unbeaten with just one draw in their first four matches, Monaco has shown remarkable consistency. They opened their campaign with an impressive 2-1 victory over Barcelona, setting a confident tone that has carried through each game. Monaco’s mix of youth and strategic play has turned them into a formidable competitor, proving they’re ready to challenge Europe’s elite.
As one of the season’s true underdogs, Brest has captured fans’ attention with an impressive Champions League run, currently sitting in fourth place with 10 points. Despite being only 11th in Ligue 1 domestically, Brest has made the most of a favorable draw, facing teams like Sturm, RB Salzburg, Leverkusen, and Sparta Praha—three of which currently sit outside the knockout stage spots. With Barcelona as their next big challenge, Brest has likely already secured enough points to advance, marking the club’s most successful European campaign to date and solidifying their place as this season’s surprise story.
What’s next in the Champions League
With four Rounds down and four to go in this new league-format Champions League season, the pressure is mounting for every team in the standings. Upcoming fixtures feature some blockbuster matchups, including Liverpool vs. Real Madrid, Juventus vs. Manchester City, and PSG vs. Manchester City. As the race for the knockout stage heats up, every point counts, and each team will be pushing to secure their place among Europe’s elite. Fans can expect thrilling games and intense competition as the Champions League 2024/25 season reaches its critical phase.
To stay on top of every goal, assist, and stat in real-time, follow all the Champions League action live on Sofascore. With up-to-the-minute updates and detailed match insights, Sofascore brings you closer to every moment that matters in Europe’s biggest club competition. Don’t miss a beat as the Champions League drama unfolds!