2024/25 UEFA Champions League: Who Are the Debutants?
Europe’s elite clubs are set to collide in a revamped format of the prestigious UEFA Champions League which promises to deliver even more excitement and drama.
With more matches, heightened intensity, and countless unforgettable moments on the horizon, matchday one is poised to kick off this thrilling new chapter in the quest for club football’s ultimate prize.
As the highly-anticipated 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season kicks off today, September 17, 3Sports shines the spotlight on the fresh contenders who are set to make their mark on Europe’s club football biggest stage.
SK Slovan Bratislava
SK Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia’s football powerhouse, makes its Champions League debut after a dominating 15-point margin in the domestic league. With 22 titles since 1926 and eight Czechoslovakian League crowns, the ‘Belasi’ bring European experience and a winning tradition to the table.
Bratislava’s European credentials run deep, with multiple group-stage appearances in the UEFA Europa League preceding their recent UEFA Europa Conference League exploits. The club’s finest hour came in 1969 when they defeated Barcelona 3-2 to claim the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, cementing their status as European champions.”
Slovan will begin their Champions League campaign with a tricky trip to Scotland to face Scottish champions Celtic before making their UCL home debut against former Champions Manchester City.
Girona
In a remarkable breakthrough, last season’s La Laliga surprise package, Girona FC have burst onto the European scene, earning their inaugural Champions League berth. Once overshadowed by Catalan giants Barcelona, Girona have written their own success story, cementing their status as a rising power in Spanish football.
Their 2023/24 campaign was nothing short of phenomenal. Under Michel Sanchez’s guidance, they embarked on an extraordinary run, emerging as surprise title contenders until February where they ultimately fell short but still secured a commendable third-place finish ahead of Atletico Madrid marking their best league finish in history.
The Catalan newcomers face a daunting task in their first appearance, starting with an away match against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday before playing as host in their first home UCL match against 2023 Eredivisie champions Feyenoord.
Brest
French outfit Stade Brestois 29 are poised to make its historic Champions League bow after a remarkable 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign. A third-place finish, behind powerhouses PSG and Monaco, secured the Brittany-based club’s spot among Europe’s elite.
Brest will kick off their debut on Thursday, hosting reigning Austrian champions Sturm Graz at their temporary home. Next, they’ll travel to Austria to face RB Salzburg in Game Week 2.
As the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season kicks off, a fresh wave of newcomers is set to leave their mark on the competition. Teams like Girona, Brest, and others will bring a renewed sense of excitement and unpredictability to Europe’s premier club competition. With their inaugural campaigns underway, these debutants will aim to defy expectations, spring surprises, and etch their names in Champions League history.
