The Champions League roared back into action on November 25, 2025, with several high-stakes matches captivating fans across Europe. Among the most anticipated clashes were Marseille versus Newcastle and Manchester City against Bayer Leverkusen.

Marseille vs. Newcastle United

Olympique Marseille hosted Newcastle United at the Orange Velodrome in a match that marked only the third competitive meeting between the two clubs. The previous encounters occurred in the 2003-04 UEFA Europa League semi-finals, where Marseille triumphed 2-0 on aggregate.

Marseille entered the match in twenty-fifth place in the Champions League table with three points, while Newcastle was in sixth place with nine points. In their respective previous Champions League matches, Marseille suffered a 1-0 defeat against Atalanta, and Newcastle secured a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club. Recently, Marseille has been in good form in Ligue 1, demonstrated by a 5-1 victory over Nice. Newcastle also displayed their strength with a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the Premier League.

The match was broadcast in the UK on TNT Sports.

Manchester City vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Manchester City welcomed Bayer Leverkusen to the Etihad Stadium. City was in excellent form, sitting in fourth place with three wins and one draw in the league phase. Bayer Leverkusen, in contrast, was struggling in twenty-first place with only one win, two draws, and one defeat.

Manchester City’s squad depth and fluid possession made them favorites. However, Bayer Leverkusen, despite their difficulties, had the potential to trouble any team. Man City entered the match without Kalvin Phillips and Mateo Kovačić.

According to early predictions, Manchester City was heavily favored to win.

Other Champions League Developments

In other news, the 2025 UEFA Champions League final was held on May 31, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first European Cup title.