New Delhi: The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League league phase has reached its conclusion, and with it, the first set of eliminations have occurred. The competition format, which replaced the traditional group stage with a league structure, saw 36 teams compete across eight matchdays. The top 24 teams advance to the knockout rounds, while the bottom 12 teams are eliminated from the tournament entirely. In this new setup, there’s no fallback to the Europa League, making the stakes even higher for every match.
On the final matchday, January 29, 2025, several clubs were already facing the harsh reality of elimination, and their performances on matchday 8 sealed their fate. Dinamo Zagreb, VfB Stuttgart, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bologna, and Sparta Praha were among those who failed to secure a spot in the knockout stages.
The introduction of the league phase has brought a new level of intensity, with teams having to secure consistent results to make it to the knockout rounds. With no chance for a second life in the Europa League, the pressure was higher than ever.
Teams are now realising the importance of every single point and the need to perform across all eight matchdays to avoid elimination. As the competition continues to evolve, clubs will have to adapt to the pressures of this fresh format to remain competitive on the European stage.
Clubs like RB Leipzig, Girona, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, and others also suffered crucial losses or draws that confirmed their exit from the competition. With the last round of fixtures played simultaneously, these teams could only watch as their European hopes ended.
Clubs exiting after UEFA Champions League 2024/25 matchday 8
After all 18 matches concluded on the final day, the following clubs were officially eliminated:
- Dinamo Zagreb
- VfB Stuttgart
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Bologna
- Sparta Praha
- RB Leipzig
- Girona
- Red Star Belgrade
- Sturm Graz
- RB Salzburg
- Slovan Bratislava
- BSC Young Boys
Despite putting up a fight, these teams couldn’t make the cut after the full eight games.
Notable eliminations
Defeat in Austria.
⏱️ FT | 1-0 | #STURBL | #UCL pic.twitter.com/ovP5btVSss
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) January 29, 2025
RB Leipzig, a consistent contender in recent seasons, failed to perform in crucial fixtures, while Bologna and Girona, though showing flashes of brilliance, couldn’t gather enough points to stay in the race. These clubs will now look towards domestic competitions for success.
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League league phase ended with 12 teams eliminated. Dinamo Zagreb, RB Leipzig, and Stuttgart are among the clubs who couldn’t make it to the knockout rounds. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
