✋ Five things we’re looking forward to in 2025 | OneFootball

It’s been another unforgettable year of football with a wealth of headlines, excitement and narrative.

But what do the next 12 months have in store? Here are five things to get excited about…

The ‘new’ Champions League reaches its business end

UEFA’s decision to reformat the Champions League ahead of the 2024/25 campaign was met with some scepticism and has remained decisive during the league phase.

A complicated initial format means few are entirely clear of the standings at this stage, but the excitement is sure to ramp up in the new year. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are among the big names in danger of missing the cut, as teams jostle for position in the final rounds of the league phase.

From there, we’ll have an all new play-off round before the traditional last 16 takes place. There’s plenty to be excited about.

Gripping title races across Europe

There might be clear frontrunners in England and France so far this season but the rest of Europe’s leading leagues are more tightly poised.

Bayern Munich’s bid to reclaim the Bundesliga has started well, though defending champions Bayer Leverkusen are just four points behind and hunting them down.

La Liga, meanwhile, has the top four separated by just five points. Atletico Madrid are the current leaders, with Real Madrid sat second after early pacesetters Barcelona wobbled of late.

Over in Italy, things are even tighter. Atalanta, Napoli and Inter Milan are just a point apart, while Lazio, Fiorentina and Juventus are not far behind to make things even more interesting. There have been four different Scudetto winners in the last five seasons. Can leaders Atalanta, who have never previously won the title, add to that list this season?

FIFA’s relaunched Club World Cup

As much as FIFA have tried, the Club World Cup has not quite garnered the attention it should. The European champions have won each of the last 11 editions with the tournament often a procession for UEFA’s entrant. In a bid to spice things up, FIFA have relaunched the Club World Cup.

An expanded format will feature 32 teams and take place in the summer, offering up a new spectacle in the absence of an international tournament.

The new format will include 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, four from Asia, four from Africa, four from North, Central America and Caribbean, one from Oceania, and one team from the host nation (USA).

Thomas Tuchel takes over England

For just the third time, England have opted for a foreign coach in pursuit of elusive success.

Gareth Southgate came close to ending a 59-year wait for a major tournament but departed after England’s exit at Euro 2024. In has arrived Thomas Tuchel, the first-ever German to take the reins of the Three Lions. With a proven track-record of success at club level, Tuchel’s task is to turn England’s crop of talent into a tournament-winning side.

Whatever happens, it will be fascinating viewing.

More Angeball

In the words of Forrest Gump, Life Watching Tottenham is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.

Ange Postecoglou is under pressure at Spurs right now with his side consistently inconsistent. It’s a source of incredible frustration for the Spurs supporters, but for neutrals it is a compelling watch.

Perhaps no side in Europe right now fluctuates between the sublime and ridiculous quite like the North Londoners, whose unpredictability is a welcome addition to the season’s narrative. No manager in Premier League history has overseen games with a greater average number of goals than the Australian, with Tottenham’s league fixtures in 2024/25 averaging 3.6 per game.

Are you not entertained?

Read – 🔝 The five biggest football shocks of 2024 😲

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