This season the UEFA Champions League is bigger than ever before (literally) as a new format will see eight games per club and a total of 36 teams competing.
American soccer fans know all too well the struggles of trying to watch games in the middle of the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We at The18 are fortunate enough to spectate Champions League games, but we know others don’t have that privilege.
The best we can do is provide these seven excuses/hacks to watch the big games while on the clock in the office this season.
7 best ways to watch Champions League at work
1. Bathroom stall food poisoning
Remember that reealllllllyyyy bad chicken you ate last night? That one is definitely going to do a number on the stomach. For two 45-minute sessions you’re going to be using the office facilities. Little does anyone know that you’re actually watching on your Paramount+ app in the stall.
2. Private zoom meeting with Mr. Richards
Zoom meetings are a perfect excuse for privacy. Simply put on the calendar that you have a crucial 90-minute briefing with Mr. Richards, and you’ll need a quiet space. We doubt your boss knows that you’re really referring to Micah Richards who is bound to have some shenanigans going on with Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Kate Abdo.
3. Suggest a “team building” watch party
Being able to pitch an idea is crucial for this one. That’s because you’re going to pitch to the boss that you’ve noticed office morale a little low lately and you have a brilliant idea to pick up everyone’s spirits. An office watch party.
Simply convince the boss that the company comradery needs a boost and what better way than a little watch party while you work. Just make sure you know how to work a projector.
4. Picking up “the Boys” on your calendar
Working and being a parent isn’t easy. Sometimes you need to leave to pick up the kids from school, band or whatever the case might be. Let everyone know that you need to “get the Boys” on Oct. 1.
Little do your coworkers know “the boys” you’re referring to are Swiss club BSC Young Boys who play Barcelona on Oct. 1.
5. The risky office watch
If you’re laptop isn’t monitored, then this strategy could work for you. The game plan here is to be sure you’ve come equipped with either AirPods or headphones. Then what you’ll do is pull up the stream on your computer and make it as small as possible in one of the corners of your screen. Meanwhile your e-mails, spreadsheets or anything work related will take up the other 90% of the screen.
It’s not ideal, but it gets the job done.
6. “The line at Chipotle was crazy”
One of the few positives for Americans watching the Champions League is that the games are typically around lunch time. Group stage games for the 2024-25 season will be at 12:45 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET. Perfect for lunch.
Simply take off to grab lunch shortly before kickoff and catch a half of the big game you want to watch. Then when you return get ready to put on an Oscar-worthy performance about how the line at Chipotle was wrapped out the door! Must’ve been a free burrito day or something.
7. Burn a PTO day
Option seven is the final resort. We know how precious PTO days are and to burn one on the Champions League is a big ask. With eight different league stage games, here are the days with enticing matchups worthy of your PTO.
- Oct. 22: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund | PSG vs. PSV
- Oct. 23: Barcelona vs. Bayern | RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool
- Nov. 5: Real Madrid vs. AC Milan | Liverpool vs. Leverkusen
- Nov. 6: PSG vs. Atlético Madrid | Inter vs. Arsenal
- Dec. 11: Barcelona vs. Dortmund | Juventus vs. Manchester City | Arsenal vs. Monaco
- Jan. 29: Final matchday of the league phase
