The UEFA Champions League continues its thrilling 2024/2025 season with a series of compelling matches scheduled for Wednesday, January 22, 2025. This season marks a significant shift in the tournament’s structure, transitioning from traditional group stages to a single league format comprising 36 teams. This change has resulted in an increased number of matches per team, expanding from six to eight, thereby intensifying the competition and leading to fixtures being played in January—a rarity since the 1963/64 season.
Match Schedule:
All match times are listed in West Africa Time (WAT), the local time zone for Lagos, Nigeria.
- 17:45 WAT (5:45 PM):
- RB Leipzig vs. Sporting CP at Red Bull Arena.
- Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Brest at VELTINS-Arena.
- 20:00 WAT (8:00 PM):
- AC Milan vs. Girona at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
- Arsenal vs. Dinamo Zagreb at Emirates Stadium.
- Celtic vs. BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park.
- Feyenoord vs. Bayern Munich at Stadion Feijenoord.
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester City at Parc des Princes.
- Real Madrid vs. Red Bull Salzburg at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
- Sparta Praha vs. Inter Milan at epet ARENA.
Key Match Previews:
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester City: This fixture stands out as a marquee matchup, featuring two of Europe’s elite clubs. Both teams are known for their attacking prowess and tactical acumen, promising an exhilarating encounter at the Parc des Princes.
- Real Madrid vs. Red Bull Salzburg: Real Madrid aims to leverage their home advantage at the Santiago Bernabéu to secure a pivotal win against Red Bull Salzburg, bolstering their position in the league standings.
- Arsenal vs. Dinamo Zagreb: Arsenal looks to continue their strong European campaign with a home fixture against Dinamo Zagreb. A victory here would be crucial for the Gunners as they navigate the competitive league stage.
The adjustment to a single league format has led to a more congested fixture schedule, necessitating matches in January to accommodate the expanded number of games. This scheduling is unprecedented in recent Champions League history, with the last occurrence of January fixtures dating back to the 1963/64 season.
Fans can anticipate a day filled with high-stakes football as teams vie for crucial points in this restructured and highly competitive league stage.
