News Every Day |

Only Man City’s meltdown has saved Champions League – new format has been an ocean of filler to TV schedules

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
  • Chapters
  • descriptions off, selected
  • captions off, selected

    ONLY Manchester City’s meltdown has saved tonight’s Champions League bonanza from becoming the mother of all damp squibs.

    When Uefa revealed their grand plan for one monster 36-club league to replace the group phase, this was supposed to be a red-letter night.

    Rex
    Man City have struggled in the Champions League this season[/caption]
    Reuters
    The tournament has undergone a revamp this year[/caption]

    With 18 matches kicking off simultaneously, it was a feast of football, enough to melt the remote controls of goggle-eyed supporters across the continent.

    And yet only City’s clash with Club Brugge holds true jeopardy for both clubs.

    Etihad boss Pep Guardiola’s fallen Premier League champions need to win, while their Belgian opponents need a draw to avoid elimination.

    Had this been a normal campaign for City, there would be little English interest in tonight’s proceedings.

    Instead, Pep’s men have lost at Sporting Lisbon, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain while squandering a three-goal lead at home to Feyenoord, so it is ‘game on’ in Manchester.

    This new format — the most-hyped ‘Swiss model’ since Ursula Andress stepped out of the sea in Dr No — was supposed to make it nigh-on impossible for Europe’s richest clubs to fail to progress to the knockout phase.

    Yet City have contrived to make a serious hash of it all and ended up in the elimination zone along with the usual suspects from Eastern Europe and the Alps.

    And the prospect of elimination for the 2023 European champions is the only true intrigue in the mammoth fixture list.

    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

    We’ve had 126 matches and in essence it’s been an ocean of largely meaningless filler content for the TV schedules.

    While adding to fixture congestion, viewer fatigue and player burnout at many elite clubs who face a month-long Fifa Club World Cup next summer.

    How Omar Marmoush helped Pep Guardiola reinvent Man City's tactics in one game
    JANUARY BLUES
    Video Player is loading.
    Current Time 0:00
    Duration 23:50
    Loaded: 0.13%
    Stream Type LIVE
    Remaining Time 23:50
     
    1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected

    FA Cup third and fourth-round replays were scrapped to accommodate this monstrosity — with non-league Tamworth missing out on a rematch with Tottenham.

    And the two legs of the Carabao Cup semi-finals are being played FOUR WEEKS apart — meaning most neutrals will have forgotten the first-leg results before the return matches are played.

    This Champions League format bastardises the whole idea of league football — the idea that every team in the table plays each other.

    And while seeding is meant to balance out the ‘weight’ of clubs’ fixture lists, true sporting integrity has been lost.

    Fans have struggled to grasp the complexities of the format — the top eight go directly to the last 16 in March, while the next 16 face a two-legged play-off, with only the bottom 12 dumped out.

    Three more of tonight’s games — Aston Villa’s Battle of Britain with Celtic, Lille v Feyenoord and champions Real Madrid’s clash at French club Brest — all represent a sort of shootout for a place in the top eight.

    But even that does not bring the jeopardy of elimination from the event, those who fail to gain automatic qualification only face an extra round.

    The most likely result of the night would be a draw between Stuttgart and PSG, who would both progress to the play-offs.

    So what could bring back genuine excitement to Europe’s elite club competition?

    How about a straight knockout competition like the original European Cup?

    As if anyone at the top table would vote for danger when they can grow fat on the proceeds of ever-increasing TV filler instead.

    New Champions League format is a snorefest

    By Dan King

    UEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.

    The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.

    The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.

    Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.

    None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.

    And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?

    Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).

    There is even less jeopardy than before.

    Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink.

    Реклама
    Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

    To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

    ‘Goodness me’ – Former Masters champion Patrick Reed gets drenched in beer after making hole-in-one on famous party hole

    Shamed football manager banned for life for thumping linesman in sickening attack

    ‘I can’t go into details’ – Liverpool boss Arne Slot breaks silence on red card controversy and mystery over ban

    Team India players, including Rohit and Virat, head to Dubai for Champions Trophy

    Ria.city
    Реклама
    • ИП Попов А.П.
    • ИНН: 602715631406
    Ревматолог: "15 февраля 2024 в г.Вашингтон запущена квота"

    Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...






    Реклама
    • ИП Попов А.П.
    • ИНН: 602715631406
    Болят суставы? Артрит и артроз лечатся за 9 дней народным...

    Единственное растение, которое проникает в суставы и восстанавливает хрящи! В народе называется...


    Реклама
    • ИП Попов А.П.
    • ИНН: 602715631406
    Ревматолог: "15 февраля 2024 в г.Вашингтон запущена квота"

    Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

    Read also

    Today in History: February 15, former priest sentenced on child rape charges

    I always wake up to soaking wet windows – luckily cleaning fans offered a handy £4.99 B&Q tip & it reduces draughts too

    Jackson State visits Young and Florida A&M

    News Every Day |

    Ultra-woke parent group prez resigns, blasting officials as ‘fascists’

    The lefty president of a woke Brooklyn parent group resigned last week with a scathing message blasting city officials as “fascists.” Marissa Manzanares, the interim president of the Community Education Council for District 14’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg, submitted her resignation on Monday, according to sources. “Dear FACE and DOE Fascist Administrators,” began her message to...
    Ria.city






    Read also

    Pakistan calls TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan a barrier to Islamabad-Kabul cooperation

    Trolls call me ‘ungrateful’ for moaning about my temporary council house BUT it’s too white & clean…just like a hospital

    San Diego State Aztecs vs. Boise State Broncos live stream, TV channel, start time, odds | February 15, 2025

    News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

    News Every Day

    ‘Goodness me’ – Former Masters champion Patrick Reed gets drenched in beer after making hole-in-one on famous party hole

    Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


    News Every Day

    Shamed football manager banned for life for thumping linesman in sickening attack



    Sports today


    Новости тенниса
    ATP

    Медведев вышел в полуфинал турнира ATP в Марселе



    Спорт в России и мире
    Москва

    Младшая дочь Заворотнюк дебютировала в номере папы с его бессменной партнершей Наоми Ланг — видео



    All sports news today





    Sports in Russia today

    Москва

    “Нет, Наоми — это не наша семья”, – дочь Заворотнюк и Чернышева ревностно отнеслась к бывшей партнерше отца Наоми Ланг


    Новости России

    Game News

    Трейлеры Onimusha: Way of the Sword и ремастера Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny


    Реклама
    Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

    To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

    Реклама
    Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

    To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

    Реклама
    The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

    A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

    Russian.city

    Реклама
    The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

    A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


    Москва

    “Нет, Наоми — это не наша семья”, – дочь Заворотнюк и Чернышева ревностно отнеслась к бывшей партнерше отца Наоми Ланг


    Губернаторы России
    Чемпионат

    Чемпионат Сибирского округа Росгвардии по шахматам завершился в Иркутске


    Кадеты шатурского «Гвардейского класса» посетили с экскурсией ОМОН «Пересвет» Росгвардии в преддверии дня образования подразделений боевой подготовки.

    Ракета SpaceX вывела на орбиту более 20 интернет-спутников Starlink

    Орещук: Филипп получил пожизненную травму руки в "Динамо", застудив нерв

    Кадеты шатурского «Гвардейского класса» посетили с экскурсией ОМОН «Пересвет» Росгвардии в преддверии дня образования подразделений боевой подготовки.


    Всероссийский фестиваль «Моя Россия: музыкальное путешествие» стартует в Уфе в День рождения Федора Шаляпина!

    Учимся с умом: не дайте ИИ задурить вам голову

    Рэпер Тимати поделился снимком с портретом Путина

    Фото: Баста растянул флаг «СКА-Ростов» в Антарктиде


    Депутат Журова объяснила политикой разницу дел Синнера и Валиевой

    Александрова вышла в полуфинал престижного турнира WTA в Дохе

    Карьера Елены Рыбакиной оказалась под угрозой

    Медведев вышел в полуфинал турнира ATP в Марселе


    Реклама
    Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

    To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


    К праздникам «Тануки» запустили лимитированное меню

    Учимся с умом: не дайте ИИ задурить вам голову

    ТОП-3 лучших сервисов доставки готовой еды в Москве

    К праздникам «Тануки» запустили лимитированное меню


    Чемпионат России по волейболу (жен). 23-й тур. «Омичка» сыграет с «Минчанкой», «Заречье-Одинцово» встретится с «Тулицей» и другие матчи

    Собянин: Пожарно-спасательные вертолеты города теперь ремонтируют в Москве

    Посол Израиля в России: Удерживаемый ХАМАС россиянин Труфанов жив

    Учимся с умом: не дайте ИИ задурить вам голову


    Полковника из Москвы обманули на 7,8 миллиона рублей через «замену счетчиков»

    В Москве арестовали пытавшуюся продать младенца за тысячу долларов мать

    Кинотеатр Ереван, 1978 год, Москва

    ТОП-3 лучших сервисов доставки готовой еды в Москве


    Реклама
    The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

    A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


    Путин в России и мире
    Реклама
    Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

    To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



    Реклама
    The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

    A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



    Реклама
    The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

    A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



    Реклама
    The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

    A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

    Персональные новости Russian.city
    Тимати

    Психолог Бурова объяснила, почему Тимати избегает брака



    News Every Day

    ‘I can’t go into details’ – Liverpool boss Arne Slot breaks silence on red card controversy and mystery over ban




    Friends of Today24

    Музыкальные новости

    Персональные новости