Official UEFA Champions League 24/25 Thread

[Cloudy O'Ranieri]

??

Has
VAR
Don't
Watch

 

[Handy Run]

lots of chirping in here from fellahs who belong in the TNCL thread

 

[Rebel CNC]

Arguably the new format will result in more of the games being meaningful - as each time you move up a rung on the league table it has value in terms of your draw for the next round. Much fewer dead rubbers.

It's pure shite and is simply UEFA's panicked reaction to super league proposals few years ago.

You now have 36 teams playing 144 matches to eliminate 12 teams as opposed to 32 teams playing 96 matches to eliminate 16 teams. Boring as f**k and top teams will get through to knockout phase anyway.

Good for clubs balance sheet, bad for their players' welfare and snooze fest for fans until early April or so!!

 

[TheOutdoorThreadmill]

The Champions League: a new dawn, or just the richest winning in more lucrative ways?

Uefa’s new Champions League is less about jeopardy, than its growing desire to supplant sporting integrity with the confected thrills of the TV game show

www.theguardian.com

 

[Handy Run]

It's pure shite and is simply UEFA's panicked reaction to super league proposals few years ago.

You now have 36 teams playing 144 matches to eliminate 12 teams as opposed to 32 teams playing 96 matches to eliminate 16 teams. Boring as f**k and top teams will get through to knockout phase anyway.

Good for clubs balance sheet, bad for their players' welfare and snooze fest for fans until early April or so!!

Did they not say they're reverting back and this is a once off?

 

[Philby]

It's pure shite and is simply UEFA's panicked reaction to super league proposals few years ago.

You now have 36 teams playing 144 matches to eliminate 12 teams as opposed to 32 teams playing 96 matches to eliminate 16 teams. Boring as f**k and top teams will get through to knockout phase anyway.

Good for clubs balance sheet, bad for their players' welfare and snooze fest for fans until early April or so!!

It's a reaction to the super league and it's a cash grab, no doubt. It's also a tool for other top leagues to try to bridge the financial gap with the PL - who pull in far more dough domestically than the rest.

 

[Philby]

Did they not say they're reverting back and this is a once off?

Didn't hear anything on that front.

 

[dukeroyale]

Manchester City: Rodri says players 'close' to striking because of fixture increase - BBC Sport

Manchester City midfielder Rodri says players are close to striking in protest at an increase in fixtures.

www.bbc.com

 

[BettyDoesMallow]

Manchester City: Rodri says players 'close' to striking because of fixture increase - BBC Sport

Manchester City midfielder Rodri says players are close to striking in protest at an increase in fixtures.

www.bbc.com

Fair point. It's death by 1000 increments:
- CL has added 2 matches.
- World Club Championship has gone from 2 matches to 7.
- World Cup 2026 has added a last 32 round

There's 12 Uefa Clubs in the World Club Championship, so for those that are also in the CL, they've potentially 9 extra matches this season.

 

[Philby]

FIFA & UEFA are in a bit of an arms race, which doesn't help.

As much as any player on the planey Rodri has been worked to the bone over the last few seasons. Key man for club & country and his sides tend to go deep in most comps.