Football News
Lille qualified, here are the 36 participants of the 2024/2025 edition and the different hats!
The 2024/2025 Champions League play-offs have just ended, and with them, the last tickets for the group stage of this prestigious European competition. This Wednesday evening, while some teams, such as Young Boys Bern, Red Bull Salzburg and Sparta Prague, had already secured their qualification, others like Losc had to fight until the last minute.
French club Lille showed tenacity in these play-offs. After a convincing 2-0 win in the first leg against Slavia Prague, the Dogues found themselves in a delicate situation in the return match. By losing 2-1, they had to dig deep to maintain their overall lead and thus qualify for the Champions League. This match was a real test for the players, who had to manage the pressure while remaining focused on their objective. Lille's qualification is all the more significant as it allows the club to join Paris Saint-Germain, AS Monaco and Stade Brestois, making France a major player in this edition of the Champions League.
Dinamo Zagreb also shone in these play-offs. After winning the first leg against Qarabag with a score of 3-0, the Croatian team confirmed its dominance by winning 2-0 in the return match. Dinamo Zagreb, buoyed by its success, now hopes to create a surprise in the competition, where each match will be crucial for its ambitions. In addition to Lille and Dinamo Zagreb, other teams have also validated their ticket for the group stage. Slovan Bratislava and Red Star Belgrade have managed to pull off a masterstroke.
The Champions League draw begins
With the draw set for tomorrow, it is interesting to note that this edition of the Champions League is marked by an unprecedented representation of French clubs. With four teams qualified, France equals the performances of England and Spain, a historical fact that shows the rise of Ligue 1. French clubs, often perceived as outsiders, show that they can compete with the best teams in Europe.
In total, 36 teams have qualified for the Champions League, split into four pots. Pot one features heavyweights like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, while Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Inter Milan round out the elite group. Pot two is equally impressive, with clubs like Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and AC Milan bringing a wealth of history and experience to the competition.
The third pot, meanwhile, is dominated by teams on the rise, such as Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, and Red Bull Salzburg. These clubs, while lesser known, have proven that they can cause surprises on the European stage. Finally, the fourth pot includes teams like AS Monaco, Sparta Prague, and Stade Brestois, who are looking to take advantage of every opportunity to shine on the European stage.
This edition of the Champions League promises to be particularly balanced. With five teams from Germany and Italy, as well as two representatives from the Netherlands, Portugal and Austria, the competition promises to be intense. Clubs from Belgium, Scotland, Switzerland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Serbia and Slovakia have also managed to place at least one team, highlighting the diversity and growing competitiveness of European football.
The 36 qualified teams and the different pots
Hat 1: Manchester City (England), Bayern Munich (Germany), Real Madrid (Spain), Paris Saint-Germain (France)Liverpool (England), Inter Milan (Italy), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), RB Leipzig (Germany) and FC Barcelona (Spain)
Hat 2: Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), Atlético de Madrid (Spain), Atalanta (Italy), Juventus (Italy), Benfica (Portugal), Arsenal (England), FC Bruges (Belgium), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) and AC Milan (Italy)
Hat 3: Feyenoord (Netherlands), Sporting CP (Portugal), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), Young Boys Bern (Switzerland), Celtic Glasgow (Scotland), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia), Lille (France) and Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Hat 4: AS Monaco (France)Sparta Prague (Czech Republic), Aston Villa (England), Bologna (Italy), Girona (Spain), Stuttgart (Germany), Sturm Graz (Austria), Stade Brestois 29 (France) and Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)