Five talking points from the Champions League draw | OneFootball

The Champions League's initial phase was completed on Thursday and there was no shortage of talking points.

Here were our takeaways from the draw.

New twist on an old classic

UEFA kicked things off with an announcement concerning this season's final.

The Puskás Aréna will host the showpiece on May 30 next year but, crucially, will be at a considerably earlier start than its previously established 21:00 CET slot.

European football's governing body said it brought kick-off forward by three hours in order to 'enhance the overall matchday experience' for fans, teams and host cities.

The days of fans being stranded by logistical issues caused by finals that ran late into the night, or early morning depending on the location, will be a thing of the past.

It's a new twist on an old classic but should help those who do make it to Budapest.

📸 Justin Setterfield - 2023 Getty Images

No easy run for the holders

The beauty of the Champions League's new format is its removal of predictability.

No matter how good a team or recently they were crowned kings of Europe, all bets are now off as the reigning holders Paris Saint-Germain are already finding out.

Luis Enrique's side arguably have one of the toughest line-ups in the league phase with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham all in their bracket.

Remaining opponents Atalanta, Newcastle and Athletic Club are no slouches, either.

Les Parisiens may find the crown weighing a bit heavier against this line-up.

📸 FRANCK FIFE - AFP or licensors

A serious case of the ex

Who doesn't love a good reunion?

UEFA's supercomputer is apparently a fan with the draw throwing up a host of players coming up against their former employers within the continental elite.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's early return to Liverpool with Real Madrid, who also have a former Kop favourite in manager Xabi Alonso, is undoubtedly the main highlight.

The Premier League champions' own summer signing will be heading back to Eintracht Frankfurt for a first time as they prepare to welcome Hugo Ekitiké.

But Kylian Mbappé's renewed acquaintances with Monaco is another intriguing subplot, as is Manchester City's clash with Napoli and new boy Kevin de Bruyne.

Pep Guardiola's side will also meet Leroy Sané again as he lines up for Galatasaray against them while Erling Haaland is set to welcome back Borussia Dortmund.

📸 Angel Martinez - 2025 Getty Images

Grudge matches galore

Familiarity does also breed contempt, as some of this year's fixtures fully attest.

Wherever you look, there are grudge matches galore with some of the Champions League's bitterest rivalries down the years ready to play out once more.

PSG are again one of the main protagonists, preparing to clash with Barcelona again and facing off against Newcastle following 2023's controversial late draw.

Real Madrid will take on Manchester City for remarkably an 11th time in the past five-and-a-half years while also turning their attention to a rematch with Liverpool.

For those of a more vintage persuasion, Barça's trip to Chelsea will evoke memories of their shared encounters involving Ronaldinho, Iniesta and Fernando Torres.

Let battle resume!

📸 Jamie McDonald - 2009 Getty Images

Can minnows make big waves again?

Kairat Almaty are undoubtedly this year's surprise package after sealing their first  Champions League involvement by eliminating Celtic in the third play-off round.

Flying the flag for Kazakhstan, Rafael Urazbakhtin's side will face one of the longest ever journeys in the competition when they travel 6,900km to take on Sporting CP.

Real Madrid will make a similarly mammoth 12-hour trip to Pavlodar Central Stadium for a prestige fixture where Kairat can emulate a fellow UCL minnow.

Sheriff Tiraspol made similar waves against the Champions League's most successful side in the 2021/22 group phase with a shock 2-1 win at the Bernabéu.

The Moldovans still exited the tournament before the knockout stage but the Halyq komandasy could strike another blow for the underdog against Los Blancos.

📸 Ian MacNicol - 2025 Getty Images

📸 FREDERIC DIDES - AFP or licensors