As January draws to a close, the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League have also reached their conclusion.
This season, stadiums across Europe have burst into vibrant displays of noise and enthusiasm as supporters coordinated massive tifos, enhancing the energy before each match.
From stunning imagery to explosive pyrotechnics, fans have showcased their creativity with elaborate displays marking their teams’ European matches. We’ve witnessed enormous banners, historic themes, and significant comebacks from clubs returning to the competition.
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Kudos to Marseille, who have notably elevated their tifo game and arguably emerged as the leaders in this arena over the past few months.
Here’s a highlight of some of the most spectacular tifos observed during this season’s European clashes.
Marseille Fans Earn the Gold Medal
With each passing season, new tifo champions emerge, and this year, Marseille has undoubtedly claimed the title of 2025-26’s finest European tifo creators. The French club has gone above and beyond at every home match with their intricate displays.
Marseille vs. Ajax (Champions League, Sept. 30, 2025)
(Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
In an effort to intimidate their opponents, L’OM fans kicked off with a tifo depicting their defender Jules Zvunka clashing with Ajax legend Johan Cruyff in a memorable 1971 European Cup match.
Marseille vs. Atalanta (Champions League, Nov. 5, 2025)
A striking portrait of reggae legend Bob Marley filled the Virage Sud at Stade Velodrome, accompanied by the lyrics of his anthem “Get Up, Stand Up.” The display featured a vibrant backdrop that transitioned through blue and white colors, the Jamaican flag, and an explosion of pyrotechnics.
Marseille vs. Newcastle United (Champions League, Nov. 25, 2025)
The welcome for Newcastle was highlighted by a serene display featuring vintage L’OM jerseys hanging from a clothesline over a quaint street, with a banner expressing “For my city, for my club.”
Marseille vs. Liverpool (Champions League, Jan. 21, 2026)
In a nod to the visiting Premier League champions, Marseille fans showcased a Beatles-themed tifo that featured the Fab Four huddled together, poring over a newspaper warning against “History repeating itself” — a reference to L’OM’s historic victory over the Reds in the 2003-04 UEFA Cup knockout stage. Below, the lyrics from “Michelle” were altered to represent “Marseille.”
Across the stadium, fans also depicted a dramatic scene featuring a samurai warrior alongside the powerful words “Ready to die for the glory of my banner,” and remembered their former manager Rolland Courbis, who passed away earlier in January.
Historic Displays
Fans have historically drawn from past events to motivate their teams, and this season has featured an impressive assortment of historical references in tifo displays.
Manchester City vs. Borussia Dortmund (Champions League, Nov. 5, 2025)
A tribute to “Erling the Great” prominently featured City’s Norwegian star Erling Haaland, depicted in full Viking attire ahead of his matchup against his former club. While he didn’t actually wear the helmet and cloak on the pitch, Haaland scored during a 4-1 win.
Rangers vs. AS Roma (Europa League, Nov. 6, 2025)
The Copland Stand at Ibrox saw a bold display featuring a gladiator in full armor as Rangers fans welcomed their Roman visitors, transforming their ground into a version of the Colosseum.
Rapid Vienna vs. CSU Craiova (Conference League, Nov. 6, 2025)
At Weststadion, Rapid fans created picturesque scenes by revealing a heartfelt tribute to “Vienna, city of my dreams” — likely intended to attract tourists.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City (Champions League, Dec. 10, 2025)
The lower tier of the Bernabéu erupted with a vivid scene showcasing a fleet of Spanish galleons chasing the three-masted ship featured on City’s crest, as viewed through the captain’s telescope.
Celebrating Past Triumphs
The Champions, Europa, and Conference Leagues are home to many clubs boasting rich histories in European competitions, and many are keen to showcase their past achievements to intimidate their opponents.
Chelsea vs. Benfica (Champions League, Sept. 30, 2025)
The Stamford Bridge trophy room’s security system was humorously depicted with Chelsea’s emblematic lion vigilantly guarding the club’s plethora of European and international trophies.
Real Madrid vs. Juventus (Champions League, Oct. 22, 2025)
Excited young fans at the Bernabéu lifted their scarves high alongside a banner reading “To see the Bernabéu is to see the Champions,” a claim hard to dispute, given Real Madrid’s record number of European Cup victories.
Manchester City vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Champions League, Nov. 25, 2025)
Although City may not possess the same European legacy as Real Madrid, they aptly celebrated their 2023 Istanbul triumph with a banner of Pep Guardiola kissing the Champions League trophy, along with a motto inspired by The Stone Roses.
Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven (Champions League, Nov. 26, 2025)
At Anfield, fans unfurled a grand banner illustrating hand-drawn portraits of the legendary players and managers pivotal to Liverpool`s numerous European triumphs.
Memorable European Nights
During this season, we’ve witnessed some amazing displays from clubs making their return to the European stage after long absences or relishing their rare adventures in UEFA competitions.
Newcastle United vs. Barcelona (Champions League, Sept. 18, 2025)
In remembering their famous 1997 victory over Barcelona, Newcastle paid homage to AC/DC, declaring themselves “Back in black and white” with their Magpie mascot set amidst two stacks of amplifiers.
Aston Villa vs. Bologna (Europa League, Sept. 25, 2025)
Aston Villa celebrated their return to European football with elaborate tifos, like the one against Bologna showcasing a vintage Polaroid camera capturing snapshots from last season’s Champions League matches against clubs like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Nottingham Forest vs. FC Midtjylland (Europa League, Oct. 2, 2025)
A fresh wave of Nottingham Forest fans filled the stands for their first European clash in nearly 30 years against Midtjylland, a historic occasion at the City Ground since their last home match in European competition in 1996.
Racing Genk vs. Ferencvaros (Europa League, Oct. 2, 2025)
Returning to the Europa League, Genk fans featured a stylish “Dragon Ball Z” theme with the character Vegeta urging his Hungarian opponents to brace for “oblivion,” though the Belgian side ultimately lost the match 1-0.
Crystal Palace vs. AEK Larnaca (Conference League, Oct. 23, 2025)
Palace fans entertained the crowd with a creative display referencing the opening credits of the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army” as they prepared for their upcoming match against Leipzig in the 2025-26 Conference League final.