The eight strongest teams in this season’s Champions League have secured tickets to the quarter-finals. Among them, four teams still have a chance to win a brilliant treble.
The treble is the term used to describe a club’s achievement of winning all three major trophies in one season: the league, the cup and the Champions League. To date, only eight clubs have achieved this feat: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Manchester City. Bayern and Barcelona have both done it twice. Manchester City were the most recent team to win the treble in the 2022/23 season.
Entering the 2024/25 season, after the Champions League round of 16, only four clubs still have a chance to win the treble: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSG.
Real Madrid: Dreaming of the first time
Real Madrid booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Atletico Madrid on penalties, where they will face Arsenal. In La Liga, Real Madrid are currently second with 57 points, equal to leaders Barcelona but behind on goal difference and having played one more game. The “White Vultures” are on track to reach the final of the King’s Cup, after beating Sociedad 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-final on their opponent’s field.
Despite being the most successful club in the Champions League with 15 titles, Real Madrid surprisingly have never won the treble. With the current squad, coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team is capable of reaching that milestone. In fact, last season, Real Madrid won the La Liga and Champions League double, only lacking the Copa del Rey title to complete the collection.
Barcelona: Waiting for Hansi Flick’s talent
Barcelona beat Benfica 4-1 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and will face Dortmund. They lead La Liga with 57 points, equal to Real Madrid but have a better goal difference and have also played one game less. In the Copa del Rey, Barcelona drew 4-4 with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final. Bara’s ticket to the Copa del Rey final will probably be more difficult than Real Madrid’s.
If they win all three competitions, Barcelona will become the first team to win the treble three times, after 2008/09 and 2014/15. Notably, Barca are currently led by coach Hansi Flick, who helped Bayern Munich win the treble in the 2019/20 season.
Inter Milan: Determined to repeat Mourinho’s feat
Inter Milan beat Feyenoord 4-1 to book a ticket to the Champions League quarter-finals and will face Bayern Munich. In Serie A, they lead with 61 points, one point ahead of Napoli. In the Coppa Italia, Inter have reached the semi-finals and will face AC Milan. Inter hope to repeat the historic treble they won in the 2009/10 season under coach Jose Mourinho.
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