New-look Champions League is here, while Kane bags yet another Bayern hat-trick
Sep 17, 2024
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James Horncastle, a football journalist with a keen eye for European leagues, joins Pol Ballús, Julien Laurens, and Seb Stafford Bloor. They dive into Harry Kane's remarkable fifth hat-trick for Bayern and Barcelona's perfect start in La Liga. Explore the thrills of the new Champions League format and standout fixtures like Milan vs. Liverpool. The discussion includes AC Milan's resurgence and Napoli's impressive performance, along with humorous anecdotes and insights on player dynamics across Europe's top leagues.
The new Champions League format introduces a league-style competition with 36 teams, emphasizing increased match importance and strategic planning.
Harry Kane continues to dominate in the Bundesliga, scoring his fifth hat-trick for Bayern in a decisive victory against Holstein Kiel.
Barcelona's strong start in La Liga under Hansi Flick highlights the competitive landscape as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid also secure wins.
Deep dives
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Champions League Anticipation
The return of the Champions League brings excitement, and several key matchups are eagerly anticipated. Among the notable games is the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona, which marks a significant moment for Girona as they face a top club on a major stage. The episode stresses the importance of these fixtures not only for the teams involved but also for fans who are keenly following their favorite clubs in international competition, underscoring the global nature of football fandom.
Moments from Recent Matches
A variety of standout moments from recent games were analyzed, showcasing the unpredictable nature of football. Highlights included unique incidents such as Italy's surprising victory over France and personal anecdotes from team executives. These discussions illustrate how performances can generate unexpected emotions and reactions within clubs, highlighting the depth of passion and commitment in the sport, which frequently intertwines with personal stories from players and staff.
New Champions League Format
The new Champions League format has transitioned to a league-style competition involving 36 teams, where each club plays eight matches. This change aims to enhance the overall competition, removing the traditional 32-team group stage. The top 24 clubs based on points will then advance to knockout rounds, making this reform significant as it alters the landscape of European football, including considerations for strategy and club preparations for each match along the way.
Jimbo’s joined by James Horncastle, Pol Ballús, Julien Laurens and Seb Stafford Bloor to round up the welcome return to domestic action across the continent.
Barcelona extended their perfect start in La Liga under Hansi Flick with a 4-1 victory at Girona, while Real Madrid and Atleti both won to keep up the pressure - including first goals for Conor Gallagher and Julián Alvarez.
Harry Kane’s been doing Harry Kane things - scoring his fifth Bayern hat-trick as they hammered Holstein Kiel 6-1 to make it three wins from three under Vincent Kompany in the Bundesliga. Dortmund kept up the early pressure with their own 4-2 triumph over Heidenheim.
AC Milan finally showed up to the party with their first three points under Paulo Fonseca in Serie A - plus Napoli are flying after their 4-0 win at Cagliari. That Hellas Verona defeat feels like a long time ago now…
Meanwhile in Ligue 1, PSG came from behind in their 3-1 victory against Brest to maintain their perfect start - and Marseille continue to impress under Roberto De Zerbi.
Plus - it’s matchday one in the new look Champions League! We take a look at some of the standout fixtures over the next few days - including Milan v Liverpool and Man City v Inter.
Produced by Lucy Oliva.
RUNNING ORDER:
• PART 1: Hello and moments of the week (00.45)
• PART 2: Champions League preview - matchday one standout ties (08.40)
• PART 3: La Liga review - Barcelona can't stop winning (20.30)
• PART 4: Serie A review - Big wins for Napoli and Milan (28.45)
• PART 5: Ligue 1 review - PSG's perfect start continues - plus eye-catching results elsewhere on the continent (37.35)
• PART 6: Bundesliga review - Bayern Munich put six past Holstein Kiel (48.15)