Hail GFOP!

Rog writes: The Champions League is back in our loving arms and I could not be more elated. The tournament is, in my life, like the Garfunkel to the Premier League's Simon, even though both competitions would swear it is the other way around. Football just hits different under the floodlights, and despite the tweaked format, and the new Big Gulp table, the tradition of the individual teams, and the lore of the past, bellows as a bass line under every kick of the ball. It is part elite-footballing tournament, part “Star Wars” cantina, part geographic and geopolitical lesson about modern Europe in equal measure.  

We have long wanted to newsletter it, and bring you the best of all there is bubbling across Europe on a weekly basis, and I am thrilled that this is Issue No. 1. This enterprise is going to be largely helmed by my friend and colleague, Tommy Stewart, who lives in Manchester and is proper United (and has been working on the Monday Raven for some time now). This competition has given him some of the finest, most profound nights of his life. Now that his team is not in it, he has nothing to do – hence this newsletter. In all seriousness, I am overjoyed to build this with you and would, as ever, value your feedback, insights and questions at [email protected].

To more together, and may we soon have Everton to write about in year two of this newsletter. 

Courage,
ROG

The Champions League Is So Back! 🏆

Tommy writes: Alexa, play “The Champions League Anthem.” OK, let’s go.

Now, before we start dissecting this year’s competition, I should explain who I am and the connection I have with what was simply called the European Cup back when my club, Manchester United, became the first English team to lift it in 1968. My name is Tommy Stewart, I’m 35, I’m a Manchester United season ticket holder, which is convenient because I live 1.2 miles from Old Trafford, and I’ve written the Monday Raven for the past six months.

The relationship I have with the Champions League is that of an ex-boyfriend clinging on to good memories as I stoically come to accept that due to my [club’s] toxic ways, I may never experience them again. Memories like the first European match I remember going to with my dad and brothers in 2003, which happened to be against Real Madrid at Old Trafford. 

This was not a lone-star Los Blancos XI, it was a constellation on which the greatest club in world football’s contemporary branding was built. It was “The Galácticos”: Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo, Iker Casillas, Roberto Carlos, and most notably (original) Ronaldo, who scored the greatest hat-trick I’ve ever seen, securing him the only ubiquitous standing ovation Old Trafford has imparted on an opposition player in the 26 years I’ve been going there. I’ve come to accept that magical April night as the zenith of my footballing experience that will probably never be topped.

We'll be coming to you each Wednesday of every Champions League week, looking at the biggest moments of the best games, previewing the juiciest upcoming matches, diving deep into some of the lesser-known clubs and making sure you know when and how to watch. Whatever excuse or recurring "Out of Office" message you want to use to ensure you don't miss any of the action is completely up to you. 🍾

ii. If you’re looking for even more intel as we begin the nearly 37 weeks of Champions League play before we reach the final at the end of next May, listen to Rog and Rory Smith’s conversation from Monday where they preview the new season, discuss Napoli’s All-Mancunian Rejects, and wonder why Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Bayer Leverkusen lasted just three games. 🏆

iii. Speaking of Rory, make sure to check out his most recent restaurant recs, should you find yourself famished while in Paris this Champions League season, or if you happen into the French Alps instead. 🍕

iv. Later today, be sure to join Rog and James Horncastle as they Do It Live! on YouTube at 5 p.m. ET to close out all the action from across Europe. Bring your thoughts, theories, and questions about Arsenal’s super subs or Tim Weah’s historic goal at the Bernabéu. You don’t want to miss it. 🍻 

Cheers,
Tommy

MiB HQ Bulletin Board 📣 

The New(ish) UCL Format: A Refresher 🧠

It makes sense that something called the Champions League would have a league system within it, but that was only hard-launched into our already overly football-capacitated minds last season. At the time, we didn’t really get it, and it seemed a lot of people involved in the game didn’t either, but with time comes understanding, so here’s the need-to-know on the new format:

• The expanded version of the tournament means rather than teams being drawn in a group with three others who they’ll each play one home and one away fixture against, they will now play four games at home and four away against eight totally different sides.

• Those who finish in the top eight of the 36-team league automatically qualify for the last 16, while those placed ninth-24th will each have to play in two-legged play-off matches to stay in the competition.

• From there the tournament is, as David Byrne once said, “same as it ever was”: last 16, quarter-finals, semis and final, but the new format means an increase from 125 to 189 total matches, which for us, can only be a good thing… right? 

Arsenal’s Super Subs Have a Night in Bilbao 🤩

Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal 🇪🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Mikel Arterta’s belief in strength in numbers after a summer of heavy recruitment was once again proven to be wise last night in Bilbao, as it took 72 minutes and two impact substitutes to break the duct. Arteta stalwarts Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli were in danger of becoming forgotten men amongst the influx of so many exciting new attacking players, but they brilliantly combined for the first that was stroked past Spain’s number one, Unai Simón, by the Brazilian winger. Trossard sealed the goods minutes before the final whistle and both players reminded their manager and fans that not only are they still here, but they’re still very good footballers. After winning their first three La Liga games, this was Athletic Club’s second loss at home in three days, and with their next Champions League fixture away at Borussia Dortmund, Ernesto Valverde must quickly rekindle his side’s early season form.

Tottenham 1-0 Villarreal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇸

When Tottenham qualified for the Champions League via Brennan Johnson’s scuffed shin in Bilbao last season, many feared for them, but that was under the old regime, which at times prioritized reckless abandon over winning. Last night, Thomas Frank’s side settled their nerves early, thanks to Lucas Bergvall’s run and cross that had enough fizz and dip for Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior to fumble it into his own net. After that, Spurs dominated possession and managed to resist the attacking waves of El Submarino Amarillo, which were mainly initiated by former Arsenal winger, Nicolas Pépé, who with jeers and whistles ringing though his ears, repeatedly tried and failed to pass the ball into Vicario’s bottom corner from outside the box. With Frank at the helm, the vibes are currently immaculate in North London, and this business-like performance complete with a clean sheet against an experienced European competitor was further proof of their upward trajectory. 

Juventus 4-4 Borussia Dortmund 🇮🇹 🇩🇪

Who are you, Igor Tudor, and what have you done with Juventus? Some of you may be old enough to remember him shepherding the Old Lady’s defense to only conceding four goals across a whole round of Champions League fixtures, but after a classic 4-3 win over Inter at the weekend, it seems his managerial philosophy is simply “throw down and we’ll match or beat you.” You can skip through yesterday’s goalless first-half highlights and go right to the action where, once again, Juve left it late in Turin to escape with something from this game. There’s too much to unpack it all bit by bit, but come for the eight second-half goals (including two in stoppage time) and stay for brace-scoring substitute Dušan Vlahović and his Big Grim Reaper Energy™.

Real Madrid 2-1 Marseille 🇪🇸 🇫🇷

Just three minutes into this match, Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his Champions League debut for his new club, went down with a hamstring injury, a sign of the chaos that was yet to come. His replacement at right-back, Dani Carvajal, would eventually see red towards the end of the game, leaving Real Madrid with 10 men against a threatening Marseille side led by the ageless Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who showed flashes of his former Arsenal self throughout. But thanks to two Mbappé penalties, Los Blancos snuck out with a win. The highlight of the game, however, was the absolute thunder-strike from Marseille’s Tim Weah. Not only was this the USMNT star’s first goal for his new club, but it was also the first time any American has scored at Madrid’s famed Bernabéu. Weah said after the game, “In a hundred years, I didn't believe I'd play here. I grew up in Rosedale [Queens], playing on a small turf pitch.” However, to put it mildly, not everyone was buying it.

Elsewhere in the Champions League: PSV Eindhoven 1-3 Union St.-Gilloise, Benfica 2-3 FK Qarabag

📬 Enjoying The Raven? Check out our other Men in Blazers newsletters:

🌞 The Women’s Game: Everything you need to know about women’s football, sent straight to your inbox each week.

🔍 The Correspondent: Rory Smith’s thoughts on the world of soccer, culture, food, and how they all connect – every Thursday.

🇺🇸 USMNT Only: Your weekly update on the most important topics in the U.S. men’s game, all leading up to next year’s World Cup.

Benfica Lost to Who? Say Hello to Qarabağ FK 🇦🇿

Before Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK’s historic 2-3 away win last night against Portuguese royalty, Benfica, their odds of winning the Champions League were just 1000/1. They’ve been here once before, back in 2017 where they went out after the first round, and are still the first and only team from Azerbaijan to compete at the elite level of European competition.

The 12-time Azerbaijan Premier League winners have won all but one league title since the 2013-14 season and represent Aghdam, a city in the Karabakh region, although they play their games in Baku after their home ground was reduced to ruins as a byproduct of war. This season they’ll welcome Chelsea and Ajax to Baku, while their fans can look forward to away trips to Bilbao and Naples, but it’ll be tough to ever top last night’s exploits in Lisbon which were initiated by star player, Leandro Andrade, who leads their goal contributions chart this season so far. Their manager, Gurban Gurbanov, knows how important this first-ever UCL win was, not just for his team, but for his nation: “Such victories give an impulse for the popularization of football in our country.” To many more, Gurban. 

🚨 We Need Your Help: Our 2025 GFOP Survey 👏

One of the greatest joys of Men in Blazers is this community we’ve built together. A ragtag band of football obsessives spread across the nation, united by the joy, the pain, and the wonder of this game.

Every year, your voices in our annual GFOP Survey help us understand what matters most to you, and how we can make this community even stronger. From the pods, to the newsletters, to the live shows and everything in between, your feedback truly shapes what we do.

It only takes a few minutes to complete, but it helps us create something even better, together. We’d be so grateful for your time... and honestly, who doesn’t like answering questions about themselves?

To thank you, a lucky few who take the survey will win free gear from the soon-to-be-released Breakfast Club Collection from our store. It’s the least we can do.

👉 Take the 2025 GFOP Survey here

Mid-Week Matches Worth Faking a Meeting for 📺

Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea (TODAY, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇩🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

History means that Bayern Munich will always be out for vengeance whenever the fixture list spews this tie out, because the scars of Didier Drogba’s exploits in the Allianz Arena in 2012 somehow still feel fresh. Vincent Kompany’s Bayern side, spearheaded by England captain Harry Kane, are convincingly top of the Bundesliga, where they could conceivably remain all season; in only three matches, they’ve scored 14 and conceded two. World Champions Chelsea have a stacked young squad with attacking riches recently emboldened by Cole Palmer’s return to fitness, and the signing of a man out to prove he’s not just a cool haircut and high cheekbones, former United winger, Alejandro Garnacho.

Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid (TODAY, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇸

It’s stalemate city in the six times these two have faced each other, with two wins apiece and two draws. Seems like it’s about time someone landed a decisive blow, which is surely reason enough for Arne Slot to hand Alexander Isak his debut at Anfield tonight. The only chink in Slot’s armor in a near-perfect debut season was the nature in which his team exited the Champions League last time out, where they topped the league stage but were then ceremoniously dispatched in the first knockout round by eventual winners PSG. Perennial Man in Black, Diego Simeone, and his swashbuckling Atleti side will be a stern test for Slot’s last-minute Liverpool, and although they come into this off the back of a 2-0 win against Villarreal, they’re 12th in La Liga with that being their only victory so far. 

PSG vs. Atalanta (TODAY, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🇫🇷 🇮🇹

It wasn’t until the knockout rounds that defending champions PSG started moving through the gears last season, so evidently a win isn’t imperative at this preliminary stage, but with a lot more eyes on them now, Luis Enrique will want to make a statement. After four games, they’re top of Ligue 1, which for them is a formality, but since losing the Club World Cup final to Chelsea, Enrique’s done what once seemed unthinkable by trading out goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for France’s potential future No. 1, Lucas Chevalier. Ivan Juric’s Atalanta side are still without key man Ademola Lookman after he tried to leave the club in the summer, but they bounce into Paris off the back of a strong 4-1 away win at Lecce on Sunday. On top of that, PSG are weakened by their expected absentees list, which includes three of last season’s key attacking men in Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Manchester City vs. Napoli (Thursday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇮🇹

No one likes a high school reunion unless they can come back boasting of their success, and although it’s too soon for Kevin De Bruyne to do that on his immediate City return, he did score in his side’s 3-1 away win at Fiorentina this weekend. Another man on that same scoresheet was Teemu Haaland and former Manchester United striker, Rasmus Højlund, who like Scott McTominay already looks much happier in Naples; both will surely buzz off the inevitable boos that follow them at the Etihad tomorrow. Pep will relish the challenge of hosting the Italian Champions and their manager Antonio Conte, who matches his human intensity while using a diametrically opposed footballing philosophy.

Newcastle vs. Barcelona (Thursday, 3 p.m. ET, Paramount+) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇸

This is the sort of match that will make Newcastle fans forget their miserable summer of being the rejected kid in the transfer window, because it doesn’t get much bigger than Barcelona. Although Eddie Howe’s side only have one win this season, their new 6’6” power forward and record signing, Nick Woltemade, has looked impressive, and he’ll be feeling nearly as tall as he actually is after netting against Wolves at the weekend. Hansi Flick’s domestic treble-winners might be homeless as the Camp Nou continues to tease its readiness, but they’re flying high in La Liga and visit St James’s park after a 6-0 win against Valencia. While Robert Lewandowski is fit and scoring again, Lamine Yamal will likely miss out due to a groin injury, leaving a space for Marcus Rashford to start and add to the five goals he’s already scored against the Magpies in his career so far.

You can find the full list of today and tomorrow’s fixtures here.

News & Notes from Around Football 🗞️

• As only Miguel Delaney can articulate: The Champions League’s existential threat is closer than you think.

• With Sporting Lisbon in this year’s competition, and Manchester United decidedly out, the clock is ticking (very loudly) for Ruben Amorim.

• Do you know which Real Madrid player is the ninth most-influential brand ambassador in the world?

• This feels like a good opportunity to compare Micky van de Ven’s top speed to that of a sprinting cheetah.

• A question for the (modern) ages: Does European football come at a Premier League cost?

Who Played There? 🤔

As this is a new newsletter, we thought we’d start with a fresh game for you. It’s simple, really: We give you a match and lineup from any point in Champions League history, blank out a player or two (or three) and you tell us who’s missing.

To kick things off, here’s your first starting XI where we’ve gone easy and left out just one player from Manchester City’s 1-0 victory against Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final:

Email us (or reply to this newsletter) with your answer for a chance to win a much-coveted MiB patch!

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.

Join for free today!