Where to watch the Champions League in Alpe d'Huez

February sees the return of the football

Location: Alpe d’Huez
Featured in: Nightlife Reviews
Author: Rob Wood, Alpe d'Huez Reporter
Updated: 8 February 2017

Europe’s premier club competition returns and you’re spoilt for choice for venues here in Alpe d’Huez.

Next week sees the return of the UEFA Champions League with some mouth-watering matches and there’s always plenty of places to catch all the action here in resort.

The pick of the ties sees English hopefuls, and perennial last 16 qualifiers, Arsenal taking on the might of Germanys Bayern Munich. Poor old Arsenal seem to get to the last 16 every year and then draw either Bayern or Barcelona, which in recent seasons has brought to an end their European dreams, they will be hoping to progress to the quarter finals this year.

Meanwhile 11 times winners and bookmakers’ favourites Real Madrid are up against a tricky opponent in Napoli of Italy’s SerieA. The other plum tie of the round of 16 games sees French Champions Paris St Germain up against the mighty Barcelona. PSG will have a tough job in getting past the 5 times winners who boast the likes of Messi, Suarez and Neymar (but don’t tell anybody in the Freeride Bar that I said that!)

Last seasons’ surprise English champions Leicester City will look for an improvement in their poor domestic form when they take on Sevilla – winners of the Europa League for the last 3 seasons and there’s an intriguing Anglo-France match-up between big-spending Manchester City and French league leaders Monaco, which will no doubt have the bars packed here in resort.

European football’s second tier tournament, the Europa League, also returns next week at the round of 32 stage and features Tottenham and Manchester United against Gent and French outfit Saint Etienne respectively.

There’s plenty of choices were to watch the action – down in the old town area both the O’Bar and L’Indiana Bar show all the live action, and you can grab some great food in both as well.

In the middle of town, and always popular for sport, Smithys Tavern will be showing all the games on their two massive HD screens and with “Smithy” being a massive Arsenal fan, the atmosphere is always great. There’s always great offers on jugs of beer in Smithys, perfect for when there’s a game on! Meanwhile up in the main street (Avenue Les Jeux – by the ice rink) the games will be on in the English run O’Sharkeys bar and also in the popular French bars Freeride and Sphere.

Just remember that when both Spurs and Lyon are in action at the same time in the Europa League games, the French bars will show the Lyon game in preference to the Tottenham match.

Down at the Les Bergers area the games will be on at the Tiger Bar, which has pool tables as well.

Here’s a list of the action (all times local – CET):