The New Champions League Format: Pros and Cons
Before the current season, the format of Europe's premier club competition, the Champions League, was reformed. Instead of eight groups with four teams each, totaling 32 teams, there are now 36 teams that are no longer divided into groups. Instead, there is now a single table with all teams, although not all will play against each other. For the match schedule, the participant pool has been divided into four pots, each containing nine clubs. Each team will be drawn against two opponents from each pot, with specific rules in place. For instance, a team cannot face another club from its own national association in the group stage and can be drawn against a maximum of two opponents from a different association. This results in eight matches in the group stage, with four played at home and four away. After the eighth matchday, a total table will be compiled, determining the top eight teams that qualify for the Round of 16. Clubs finishing in places nine to 24 will play in a playoff round, allowing the winners to secure a place in the Round of 16 as well. Following that, the tournament continues in the familiar knockout format. The teams placed 25 to 36 in the group stage table will be eliminated directly, as there is no longer a path to the Europa League, as was previously the case.
Pros: The Champions League Needed Reform
A familiar scene from the last few years, or even decades, in the Champions League: a cold Wednesday night in December, with a cool drink and snacks ready next to the couch, eagerly anticipating an evening filled with Champions League football. But what unfolds is often a B-team from Real Madrid laboring through a lackluster 0-0 draw against Sheriff Tiraspol, Ludogorets Razgrad, or similar opponents of that caliber. It’s the final matchday of the group stage, and the ticket to the Round of 16 was deservedly secured well in advance. With all due respect to these mentioned clubs – this is not the brilliance that the Champions League should embody. The "new" Champions League promises matchups with semifinal, if not final, intensity right from the group stage. Furthermore, the final placement in the group stage table will be crucial for direct qualification to the Round of 16, meaning games featuring a B-team from a top club will become rare, as the table situation will be significantly tighter than in a traditional group of four teams. The so-called “groups of death” are also a thing of the past, and it can be expected that all top teams will qualify at least for the playoff to the Round of 16, as they will end up somewhere between positions 1 and 24 in the final tally of the group stage. And that’s how it should be: in the Champions League, we should see the kings of football facing off as often as possible and remaining in the competition as long as possible!
Cons: The Champions League is turning into the Money League...
It’s a typical example: the architects of international football can never get enough. It’s all about marketing and money. For years, players from top teams have complained about the high number of matches and the resulting diminishing recovery time, as well as the increasing risk of injury. In the old Champions League format, a maximum of 13 matches were possible before reaching the final; now, there are eight just in the group stage alone. A potential route to the final that leads through the playoff to the Round of 16 would now be four matches longer, meaning players face four additional weeks with games on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and consequently four weeks less for "normal" training and recovery from weekend to weekend. For example, taking the starting eleven of the Spanish national team from the 2024 European Championship final, those eleven players have suffered a total of ten injuries in three and a half months since the final victory, including two ACL tears for Dani Carvajal and Rodri.
Overall, the number of matches per season increases from 125 to 189, which is 64 more matches compared to the old format. That’s 64 more opportunities for UEFA to rake in cash – 64 more matches to squeeze the players for the benefit of their own wallets – though in UEFA's case, it’s probably more like a big safe. At least the European Football Association distributes more money to the clubs, as both the starting fees and performance bonuses for the highest European club competition have been increased, but the portion of the pie that doesn’t go to the clubs is certainly not intended for charity. Ultimately, it’s likely that the already alarmingly high number of injuries will continue to rise, top players may even have to retire earlier, and the competition will become less interesting as a result. The frequency of so-called top matches will lead to them becoming commonplace rather than highlights. But: unfortunately, money rules the world. Thus, UEFA sets the tone, and the clubs sing along obediently. After the initial calls, it won’t be long before a players' strike becomes a reality. Perhaps that’s exactly what’s needed for UEFA to come to its senses...
