Excel Champions League 2024-2025 Fixture Template Download

The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in European football, featuring the continent’s top clubs. Here’s a brief history of the tournament:

Origins (1955–1992)

The competition was founded in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup (or European Cup), inspired by the success of South America’s Copa Libertadores. The idea came from Gabriel Hanot, a French journalist, and was supported by UEFA.

First Edition (1955–56): Real Madrid won the inaugural tournament, defeating Stade de Reims 4–3 in the final.
Real Madrid’s Dominance (1956–1960): Led by Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás, Real Madrid won the first five editions, establishing themselves as the kings of Europe.
Rise of Other Giants (1960s–1980s): Clubs like Benfica (1961, 1962), Inter Milan (1964, 1965), Celtic (1967), Manchester United (1968), Ajax (1971–1973), Bayern Munich (1974–1976), Liverpool (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984), and AC Milan (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990) emerged as dominant forces.

Rebranding to the Champions League (1992–Present)

In 1992, UEFA rebranded the competition as the UEFA Champions League, introducing a group stage to increase revenue and competitiveness.

Marseille (1993): First winner under the new format.
Ajax (1995), Juventus (1996), Borussia Dortmund (1997): New winners emerged.
Real Madrid’s Revival (1998, 2000, 2002): Won three titles in five years, including a 7th in 1998.
Galácticos Era (2000s): Real Madrid, Barcelona, and AC Milan dominated.
English Dominance (2000s–2010s): Liverpool’s “Miracle of Istanbul” (2005), Manchester United’s 2008 win, and Chelsea’s 2012 triumph.
Spanish Supremacy (2014–2018): Real Madrid won four titles in five years (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), while Barcelona claimed two (2015, 2015).
Recent Winners:
- Bayern Munich (2020)
- Chelsea (2021)
- Real Madrid (2022, 2024)
- Manchester City (2023) – First UCL title.

Records & Stats

Most Titles: Real Madrid (15)
Most Finals: Real Madrid (18)
Top Scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (140 goals)
Most Wins by a Manager: Carlo Ancelotti (5)

Evolution of the Format

1955–1991: Knockout-only.
1992–1993: Introduction of a group stage.
1999: Expanded to include more non-champions.
2024: New “Swiss Model” format with 36 teams.

Are you looking for a simple yet powerful way to track the UEFA Champions League fixtures? Our Excel Champions League Fixture Template is the perfect solution! Whether you’re a football enthusiast, a club manager, or just want to follow the tournament closely, this template will help you stay organized and updated.

Key Features of the Template

Automatic Fixture Scheduling: Enter the teams, and the template will generate fixtures automatically.
Results and Standings Update: Input match results, and the table updates instantly.
Knockout Stage Tracker: Follow the progression from group stages to the final with ease.
Customizable Design: Modify team names, colors, and layout to match your preference.
User-Friendly Interface: No complex formulas—just a clear, structured format anyone can use.

Why Use an Excel Template?

With an Excel-based fixture tracker, you can: ✔ Have offline access to your fixture list. ✔ Customize it according to your needs. ✔ Avoid ads and distractions found in online trackers. ✔ Easily print schedules and standings for reference.

How to Get the Template

Simply download our Excel Champions League Fixture Template and start tracking your favorite teams today. Keep up with every thrilling moment of the tournament effortlessly!

UEFA Champions League New Format (2024/25 Season)

Starting in the 2024/25 season, the UEFA Champions League will undergo its biggest format change in decades, moving away from the traditional group stage to a “Swiss Model” league phase. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes:

1. Expansion to 36 Teams

Previously, 32 teams competed in the group stage.
Now, four additional teams will enter, making it a 36-team league phase.

How the Extra 4 Teams Qualify:

2 spots to the best-performing nations in UEFA coefficients (based on previous season’s European performance).
1 spot to the third-placed team from the league ranked 5th in UEFA coefficients (e.g., France).
1 spot via the Champions Path qualifiers (an extra team from lower-ranked leagues).

2. Single League Phase (No Traditional Groups)

Instead of 8 groups of 4, all 36 teams will be in one giant league table.
Each team plays 8 matches (up from 6 in the old group stage).
- 4 home, 4 away.
- Opponents are drawn based on seeding tiers, ensuring balanced matchups.

3. Fixture Scheduling (“League Stage”)

Matches will be spread across 10 weeks (instead of 6 matchdays).
“Champions League Nights” will still be on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, but some games may also be on Thursdays due to the increased number of matches.

4. Top 8 Advance Directly, Playoffs for 9th–24th

Top 8 teams in the league phase qualify automatically for the Round of 16.
Teams ranked 9th–24th enter a two-legged playoff:
- Winners advance to the Round of 16.
- Losers are eliminated.
Teams 25th–36th are eliminated (no Europa League drop-down).

5. Knockout Stages Remain Similar (But More Teams)

Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final stay the same (two-legged ties except the final).
The final will still be a single match at a neutral venue.

6. Why the Change?

More big matches (e.g., Real Madrid vs. Man City could happen in the league phase).
Fairer system (no more “group of death”).
More revenue for UEFA and clubs (extra games = more TV money).

7. Impact on Other UEFA Competitions

Europa League & Conference League will also adopt a similar Swiss Model format.
No teams drop from UCL to Europa League mid-season (unlike before).

Summary of Key Changes

Old Format (Pre-2024)	New Format (2024/25+)
32 teams	36 teams
8 groups of 4	1 league of 36
6 group matches	8 league matches
Top 2 advance to R16	Top 8 advance, 9th–24th go to playoffs
Some teams drop to Europa League	No drop-down to Europa League

This new format aims to make the Champions League more exciting and competitive, though some fans worry about more games leading to player fatigue.

It works quite simply, though with some differences from other tournaments. During the league phase, you just enter your predicted results into the designated boxes – either all at once before matches begin or gradually as each matchday unfolds. The spreadsheet automatically calculates the league standings based on your inputs. If teams finish level on points, you have the option to manually set their final ranking order.

After the actual Champions League group stage concludes and the playoff draw takes place, you’ll need to refresh the data in your file. Typically, you’ll see a prompt to enable updates when opening the spreadsheet. If not, just navigate to the Data tab and select “Update Data” to load the latest fixtures.

For knockout matches, enter your predicted scores for each leg. Should any tie end in a draw overall, additional boxes will appear where you can input extra time or penalty shootout outcomes. This same process repeats for every subsequent round – simply update the data after each official draw to see the new matchups.

The entire spreadsheet operates using formulas alone, with no macros involved. More detailed instructions are available for download if needed.