Aadi's Sports Corner

The final match day before a UCL match week, has persistently proved to be a launchpad for big clubs to experiment their lineups and often prove a point to their opponents before the big match. 

With the UCL returning this week, the excitement and buzz regarding the competition is peaking. Clubs and fans are rearing to go out and have an entertaining set of matches. Let’s have a look at the club’s latest performances over the weekend and where they stand before the midweek showdown. 

Note: This tier list is only based on current performance and strategies of each club, the list can change subject to the teams performance and results over the coming weeks. 

Strong Statement

Manchester City

Manchester City are coming from the back off a dominating performance in the Manchester derby. A bold 3-0 victory over the Red Devils, looking to shade their dismal start to the season, the Cityzens are all set to welcome back Kevin De Bruyne, who has been in good touch since leaving City earlier in the summer on a free deal to join Napoli. Key signing of Donnarumma and return of Erling Haaland back to form screams “City means business”. 

Bayern Munchen

The Bavarian giants have been dazzling with goal fests, courtesy to their new signing Diaz. A 6-0 thumping of Hamburg fills the team and fans with enough confidence as they face a shaky Chelsea in their opening fixture. 

Real Madrid 

The “owners” of the competition, Los Blancos have set their sights on a record 16th UCL. The Spanish club had a tricky tie against Real Sociedad after they were reduced to 10 men early on in the game, but displayed their elite mentality as they secured the 3 points with Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler’s strikes. 

FC Barcelona 

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona had a decent start to their season. They sit second in La Liga behind league leaders Real Madrid. A thumping 6-0 victory over Valencia, with a number of injuries within the squad, the club put on a show for their fans, boosting their confidence before they face Newcastle United in a hostile stadium, with immense pressure. 

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s men gave a statement 3-0 victory at home against Nottingham Forest. With all the new signings shining and stepping up, Arsenal will be looking to set a positive start to their UCL campaign. 

Napoli

One of the only teams across Europe to not yet drop points, Italian champions Napoli are on course for what few may say a “historic season”. Last season’s MVP Scott McTominay has formed a deadly combination with Kevin De Bruyne. The addition of Rasmus Hojlund to the squad can be appreciated with the goal he scored on his debut. 

Evenly Poised 

PSG

The current European champions are tasked with one of the brutal league stage routes. The club has been in supreme form, but have lost Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, who were key in last season’s triumph, to injury while on international duty.  The transfer of Donnaruma has left space for young Chevalier to grow, but would have a testing space during the UCL nights. 

Liverpool 

Liverpool might be the outright favourites coming into the season with the magnificent transfer window they performed. Including Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike into a team deemed as the “best” last season is criminally underrated. Despite the big names, Liverpool have had to wait until the dying moments in games to get a winner. Their recent win against Burnley, came from a Salah penalty in added time, a concern which the club will have to address in the upcoming fixtures. It would be a tough challenge against a side like Atletico Madrid, whose manager Diego Simeone is well known for mastering the art of low block football. 

Newcastle United 

A handful of clubs can relate to the horrendous and unfortunate plight of Newcastle during the transfer window. Having lost nearly each of your targets on your return to the Champions League and your star striker deciding to leave for Liverpool, can highly dampen your team’s morale. Nevertheless, Newcastle United have had a mixed start to their season, contrary to what the pundits predicted, as they got their first win of the season over the weekend. Newcastle’s home crowd would be extremely key in piling pressure on opponents and making the group stage memorable for the club. 

Juventus 

The Bianconeri have gotten off to a perfect start securing 3/3 wins. Saturday saw the club have a generational Derby D’Italia, as they came from behind to secure a 4-3 win over fierce rivals Inter Milan. The match served as a message to the club’s resilient spirit.

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs can be considered as a club that may lack enough experience, both at player and manager levels when talking about the UCL. The Europa League win has done enough for the club to pose a serious threat to the big boys of Europe. Their league start has been fairly good and can attribute to the slow and steady transformation and rebuilding of the team. 

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund are a club deemed as the “Dark Horses” of the UCL every season. A myth they shattered as they reached the final in 2024, only to lose to the inevitable kings- Real Madrid. The story with the club has been the same throughout the decade, but always holds the power to defeat the elite.

Concerning 

Atletico Madrid 

It is fair to say that Los Rojiblancos have had quite a disappointing start to their season for the money they spent behind transfers during the summer. A loss and 2 draws in the first 3 games have put them on the backfoot early in the league race as their rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona are off to flying starts. A slim 2-0 victory over the weekend would be enough to carry momentum ahead for manager Simeone, who will be in for the sternest test of the season against favourites Liverpool. 

Chelsea

The only club in the past few months who made PSG look clueless and were crowned as the first “World Champions” of the newest format, have had a chaotic time off late. For most, Chelsea look as the ultimate contenders and favourites, but the club has had a few tough moments. The late equaliser by Brentford exposed Chelsea’s defensive fragility. If the club manages to settle and tweak a few players in the lineup, they could go from concerns to favourites once again. 

Inter Milan

Inter Milan have not been the same since the final against PSG in Munich. Once termed as the best and strongest club in the world, after eliminating Barcelona in the UCL semi finals, the team went trophyless last season, lost the UCL final to PSG 5-0, eliminated from the Club World Cup R/o16,  Simone Inzaghi left the club for Al Hilal, lost 2 of their first 3 games of the new season, blew 3-2 lead against Juventus in the derby over the weekend. Inter’s woes have only persisted and need to be controlled before the season gets away.