On December 18, the drawing for the 1/8 finals of the Champions League took place in Nyon, Switzerland. The event determined eight exciting pairings that would shape the knockout stage as the competition progressed through the spring. The eight matchups are listed here exactly as drawn: Porto versus Arsenal; Napoli versus Barcelona; Paris Saint-Germain versus Real Sociedad; Inter versus Atletico Madrid; PSV Eindhoven versus Borussia Dortmund; Lazio versus Bayern Munich; Copenhagen versus Manchester City; RB Leipzig versus Real Madrid. These pairings set the stage for a contest featuring some of Europe’s most storied clubs, each aiming to advance beyond the first hurdle and push toward the final stages of the season. Attribution: UEFA draw details.
The Champions League final for the 2023/2024 season was scheduled to be played on June 1, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London. Manchester City, the reigning champions, were entering the knockout rounds with the aim of defending their title and adding another trophy to their modern era records. This match date and venue had been widely publicized by the organizing bodies and football press, with fans around the world watching closely to see which club would emerge as Europe’s top team that season. Attribution: UEFA final details.
In the spring of 2022, the international football bodies took a decisive step in response to geopolitical developments. The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) decided to suspend participation of the Russian national team and all Russian clubs in all competitions under their governance. This broad suspension affected multiple competitions and was accompanied by extensive discussions about eligibility, competitive fairness, and the broader implications for clubs and players tied to Russian football. Attribution: FIFA and UEFA announcements.
During that season, Russian clubs other than Zenit did not play any matches in European cups in 2022. Zenit St. Petersburg, in particular, faced a challenging campaign, and the club lost 2:3 on aggregate to Real Betis in the Europa League knockout stage. Earlier group-stage success allowed Spartak Moscow to advance to the play-offs, where they were matched against RB Leipzig. This sequence underscored how the suspension affected club pathways across European competitions, altering typical schedules and competitive narratives for Russian teams. Attribution: match reports and competition rounds.
Earlier, FIFA announced plans to establish a new club competition. This development was part of a broader conversation about structured European club football and the evolution of top-tier formats intended to complement existing tournaments. Attribution: FIFA announcements.