Our Champions League Awards from the 2024/25 League Phase | OneFootball

The Champions League’s inaugural league phase concluded this week, in a goal-laden (if confusing) end to the new format.

It brought an end to the new-look league phase and following the confirmation of those to have progressed, we’ve reflected on the events in Europe’s top competition to date.

Here are our Champions League Awards for the 2024/25 League Phase.

Best Team – Liverpool

Liverpool eased to an automatic place in the Round of 16, sealing progress with a game to spare. Arne Slot’s side won each of their first seven games, conceding just two goals in the process.

Alongside hard-fought wins at the likes of AC Milan and RB Leipzig, Liverpool sent a statement of their credentials on home soil. Comfortable wins over the champions of Germany (Bayer Leverkusen) and Spain (Real Madrid) at Anfield were a show of strength.

Largely untroubled throughout, Slot’s side’s perfect record only came to an end when a second-string side took on PSV this week with qualification assured.

Best Player – Raphinha (Barcelona)

Raphinha’s remarkable campaign at Barcelona continues to go from strength to strength. Heavily linked with an exit in the summer, the Brazilian is now the first name on the team sheet in Spain. He has been a revelation under Hansi Flick with 23 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.

The winger was directly involved in 12 goals in eight games during the league phase, more than any other player in the tournament. He delivered in big moments too, including a hat-trick in the 4-1 thrashing of Bayern Munich and a last-gasp winner at Benfica.

His turnaround at Barcelona is one of the stories of the season.

Breakthrough player – Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

Though hardly an unknown quantity, Florian Wirtz has been the best of the Champions League debutants this season. Six goals in eight games fired Bayer Leverkusen into the last 16, with the German champions bypassing a tricky playoff tie.

Wirtz was a wonderful watch on occasion, underlining his status as one of the best young talents in the game. The 21-year-old is a star.

Best Goal – Zino Debast

Usually when a centre-back strides forward and takes aim from distance, there’s a collective groan from teammates and fans alike.

Not this time.

Zeno Debast’s blast is our Goal of the Tournament so far.

Best Save – David Raya

All the way back on matchday one, Arsenal required the reflexes of David Raya to bail them out in Bergamo.

A goalless draw at Atalanta was earned the hard way, with Raya the hero after this astonishing double stop. Having saved Meteo Retegui’s initial penalty, Raya sprang back into action to deny the forward a second time.

Razor-sharp.

Best Game – Benfica 4-5 Barcelona

Benfica and Barcelona delivered an all-time classic on matchday seven, a contest that truly had it all. A shock start, three penalties, a red card, some catastrophic goalkeeping and a last-gasp winner to cap a nine-goal thriller, it’s hard to imagine there will be a better game anywhere this season.

Sit back and enjoy a bonkers clash.

Surprise package – Lille

As pre-tournament favourites Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain all failed to make the top eight, sandwiched in among the elite were Lille.

The French side avoided a playoff after progressing straight to the Round of 16, their reward for an unforgettable European campaign. Lille upset both Madrid teams during the league phase and concluded their campaign with a 6-1 dismantling of Feyenoord at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

A side famed for the development and sale of talent might just have attracted more scouts to Northern France, where Jonathan David, Edon Zhegora, Lucas Chevalier and Alexsandro Ribeiro are sure to be in the thoughts of recruiters. Their European run has been a contrast to their domestic form this season, where Lille sit fifth in Ligue 1 after winning just three of their last 10.

Biggest Disappointment – RB Leipzig

Manchester City’s win against Club Brugge on Wednesday saw the Citizens sneak through and Pep Guardiola’s side are fortunate to miss out here.

Our biggest disappointment, however, has been RB Leipzig, who exited Europe without as much as a whimper. Seven defeats in eight games is a poor return from a side stacked with talent, despite an, admittedly, tough draw.

Only Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava collected less points than the Bundesliga side.

Read – Champions League Team of the Week – Rogers, Dembele, Wirtz

See more – A brilliant XI of the Premier League’s best ever January signings

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