Nick and Taylor provide a comprehensive analysis of the first ever Champions League Playoff round, which absolutely lived up to the hype. The Playoff round featured a blockbuster rematch for the fourth-straight season between Real Madrid and Manchester City, two Italian vs Dutch matchups (including a rematch between PSV and Juventus from Matchday 1), a rematch between Benfica and Monaco from Matchday 5, an all-French affair between PSG and UCL debutants Brest, and several other entertaining ties. Our European football experts dissect the tactics, goals, blunders, and endless drama from a riveting Playoff round that paved the way to the last 16.

Timestamps:

03:03 Real Madrid vs Manchester City

22:48 PSV vs Juventus

39:29 Atalanta vs Club Brugge

49:50 Milan vs Feyenoord

01:05:00 Benfica vs Monaco

01:12:34 PSG vs Brest

01:20:56 Bayern vs Celtic

01:30:17 Dortmund vs Sporting

Taylor analyzes the complete slate of Matchday 8 fixtures from the Champions League group phase. This epic conclusion featured sixteen fixtures in which at least one club had something to play for: a top-8 finish, a seeded playoff spot, or an unseeded playoff spot. As eighteen clubs had mathematically secured a top-24 finish after Matchday 7, nine clubs competed for the remaining six playoff spots, including PSV, Club Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting, Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, and Shakhtar Donetsk. Additionally, only Liverpool and Barcelona had mathematically secured top-8 finishes with an automatic bye to the round of 16, which meant that every club behind them fought heroically to secure safe passage to the last 16. And, well, then there was Sturm Graz, Leipzig, Young Boys, and Crvena Zvezda, who essentially played meaningless friendlies with absolutely nothing at stake. There was certainly no shortage of drama, delight, and despair.

Timestamps:

City vs Club Brugge 1:20-04:38

Stuttgart vs PSG 04:39-07:43

Dinamo Zagreb vs Milan 07:44-13:20

Sporting vs Bologna 13:21-17:17

PSV vs Liverpool 17:18-22:45

Barcelona vs Atalanta 22:46-24:58

Leverkusen vs Sparta Praha 24:59-26:41

Aston Villa vs Celtic 26:42-30:07

Lille vs Feyenoord 30:08-36:32

Juventus vs Benfica 36:33-39:42

Dortmund vs Shakhtar 39:43-44:04

Inter vs Monaco 44:05-47:31

Brest vs Real Madrid 47:32-50:35

RB Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid 50:36-54:02

Girona vs Arsenal 54:03-56:06

Bayern vs Slovan Bratislava 56:07-58:00

Sturm Graz vs RB Leipzig 58:01-59:20

Young Boys vs Crvena Zvezda 59:21-1:01:24

Group Phase Outcomes vs Predictions: 1:01:25-01:05:28

Playoff Round Preview: 01:05:29-01:16:40

Playoff Round Predictions: 01:16:41-01:17:34

Nick and Taylor return just in time to provide comprehensive analyses of Matchday 7 in the Champions League with just days to go before the final League Phase matchday! Our European football experts explain what went wrong for Benfica and Manchester City, how Feyenoord somehow scored three on a dominant Bayern side, and how Atletico Madrid adapted to overturn seemingly impossible odds. Matchday 7 featured 2/8 clubs securing automatic round of 16 placements, 18/24 total clubs securing the playoff round at minimum, and 9/12 clubs becoming mathematically eliminated from reaching the playoff round. As Matchday 8 draws near, Nick and Taylor highlight the must-see matches, and provide the scenarios that certain clubs face in what promises to be an electric, chaotic final day.

Time Stamps:

0:00-6:05 Intro & FIFA Club World Cup Talk

6:06-32:00 Benfica vs Barcelona

32:01-50:38 Atletico Madrid vs Leverkusen

50:39-1:02:14 Bologna vs Dortmund

1:02:15-1:11:46 Liverpool vs Lille

1:11:47-1:15:33 Monaco vs Aston Villa

1:15:34-1:19:29 Crvena Zvezda vs PSV

1:19:30-1:21:30 Slovan Bratislava vs Stuttgart

1:21:31-1:23:59 Atalanta vs Sturm Graz

1:24:00-1:25:59 Club Brugge vs Juventus

Wednesday, 01/22/2025:

1:26:00-1:41:32 Feyenoord vs Bayern

1:41:33-1:50:32 PSG vs Manchester City

1:50:33-1:54:50 Leipzig vs Sporting

1:54:51-1:56:26 Shakhtar vs Brest

1:56:27-1:59:24 Milan vs Girona

1:59:25-2:01:38 Sparta Praha vs Inter

2:01:39-2:03:39 Real Madrid vs Salzburg

2:03:40-2:05:04 Celtic vs Young Boys

2:05:05-2:07:28 Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb

2:07:29-2:12:18 Matchday 8 Notable Fixtures & Conclusion

Nick and Taylor break down all 18 fixtures from Matchday 6 of the Champions League group phase, which included first-time losses for Italian sides Atalanta and Inter, further misery for Sporting and Man City, and persistent wins from Bayern, Atletico, and Milan. Liverpool and Barcelona became the first sides to mathematically secure the playoff round at minimum, and RB Leipzig, Slovan Bratislava, and Young Boys became the first sides to confirm elimination following the conclusion of the group phase in late January. Our European football experts analyze the goals, the tactics, the statistics, and all of the drama, as European football enters a one-month hiatus before an absolute frenzy unfolds in the new year.

Nick returns to the show to help break down a magnificent Matchday 5 in the Champions League. On Tuesday, Manchester City conceded three late goals to blow a 3-0 lead at home, Sporting found it difficult to adjust following their manager's departure, and Brest finally tasted defeat on a historic night for Robert Lewandoski. And on Wednesday, Madrid suffered their third-straight defeat in the competition to a perfect Liverpool, Monaco and Shakhtar blew leads late, and Crvena Zvezda absolutely smashed Stuttgart in embarrassing fashion. Our European experts highlight all 18 matches, complete with statistical analyses, tactical breakdowns, schedule previews, and some exquisite trolling, as Matchday 5 also included several blowouts. Only three Matchdays to go with the race for top eight and the playoff positions heating up!

2520 Sports Talk host Taylor Monroe analyzes all 18 fixtures from Matchday 4 in the Champions League: the official midway point in the opening League Phase. Taylor breaks down how Sporting sent off their beloved manager Ruben Amorim in style with a famous home victory over Manchester City, what's going wrong at Madrid as a marvelous Milan humbled the reigning champions, and how Aston Villa ended their perfect campaign in the most perplexing way. Additionally, Taylor praises a resurging Dinamo Zagreb following their historic defeat on Matchday 1, and expresses concern for PSG, Feyenoord and Benfica following their devastating defeats. Finally, our host reveals the upcoming remaining schedules for the teams still contending for the knockout rounds, and which clubs are destined for elimination after Matchday 8.

Nick and Taylor break down a marvelous Matchday 3 in the Champions League, which once again featured no shortage of drama. The duo provides a comprehensive analysis of Real Madrid's comeback against fellow UCL finalist Dortmund, Barcelona's long-awaited revenge against Bayern (with the help of the Bavarian's former manager and striker), a second-straight win for Lille over a club from Madrid, Benfica's baffling home collapse vs Feyenoord, and much more from across the continent. Taylor also seizes an opportunity to strongly criticize Bayern's star goalkeeper, defenders, and board, as Bayern have now lost two-straight in the competition. Finally, our European football experts reveal their complete predictions for the competition's final 36-team standings as the opening phase quickly approaches the halfway point.

Nick and Taylor provide a complete analysis of all 18 matches on Matchday 2 in the Champions League. The duo commence with an irresistible clowning of Celtic, who were absolutely annihilated in Germany against the reigning finalists of Dortmund. Then, our European football experts break down two massive upsets, including Aston Villa's nostalgic encounter with Bayern at Villa Park, and Lille's incredible rebound from losing to Sporting away to defeating the reigning champions Madrid in France. Next, our experts explain how Juventus completed an unthinkable comeback despite being down a man and a goal against Leipzig, the brilliant Benfica blasting of Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, and a fascinating match in abysmal conditions in Zagreb. Finally, the duo praise Barcelona's front men despite an expected win over Young Boys, and explain why Austrian clubs (in addition to Scottish, Swiss, and Czech clubs) have already proven why a lifetime ban from the Champions League might be needed.