It's a kinder format that leaves plenty to be decided on the final day. Smaller clubs will unquestionably advance to the direct elimination stages of the competition, where the stakes and pressure are higher. Upsets in the playoff round are likely to happen, with plenty of Davids getting a chance to dispatch any struggling Goliaths.

Five games into the new-look Champions League and the 36-team table is finally starting to take shape. Sort of. Strong favourites to progress have emerged, with Arne Slot’s Liverpool sat top of the pile after an impressive 2-0 victory over Real Madrid made it five wins from five.

Matchday 5 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season witnessed some memorable performances. Here are the top five.

The UEFA Champions League continues Nov. 27 with Liverpool hosting Real Madrid in one of, if not the most anticipated matches of the league phase.

We're are now more than halfway done with the the Champions League league phase. Matchweek 5 re-shuffled the standings and now the top four leagues in Europe each have one team representative in the top four of the table.