We went into this years competition a bit unsure what to expect with the new format - but in my opinion it is really starting to pay dividends and we are set to see an exciting end to the League Phase. And it really starts tonight with Liverpool vs Real Madrid
While Liverpool can extend their winning start to 5 games, and almost secure a top 8 place, Real Madrid could end the night outside the important top 24!
After tonight the Spanish champions face Atalanta (a), Red Bull Salzburg (h) and Brest (a). So while you think they will get enough points, the pressure will really ramp up if they lose tonight.
Another big team in real danger is PSG. The French giants lost to Bayern last night and already sit outside the qualification places in 26th before tonights games. They are away to Salzburg next, in a game you would expect them to win, but their last 2 games are more difficult on paper - Manchester City (h) and away to Stuttgart.
After last nights shocking collapse, Manchester City have a massive hill to climb to get top 8. As well as that game with PSG, they have a trip to face Juventus before completing their campaign against Brugge. On current form that could be a struggle for them.
At the other end, Liverpool and Arsenal should be confident of getting top 8. After Real, Liverpool go to Girona, host Lille and finish with a trip to PSV. Arsenal have Monaco and Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates before a final game away to Girona. Aston Villa are very much in the fight too, and a win tonight at home to Juventus will put them firmly in control. Away games with pointless RB Leipzig and high flying Monaco before a Battle of Britain clash with Celtic are all winnable games for the Villains, even with their current poor run of form.
Still a lot of football to play, with 3 and a half match weeks to go, but there are certainly a lot of stories to keep the interest high until the final kick of the League Phase.
Champions League 24/25
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
Don't feel there is any less jeopardy than the group system. In fact most groups were all but done in 4 games and the last couple were just dead rubbers or the bad teams fighting for the Europa place. As it stands no-one is out, no-one is guaranteed top 8. Still everything to play for.
Not sure about the less exciting games. Had City blow a 3 goal lead against Feyenoord last night! Had a lot of shock results this year too.
Not sure I agree with the last point. Some teams had easy groups (City vs Leipzig, Young Boys, Red Star) and some had tough groups (Newcastle, Milan, PSG, Dortmund). That is the nature of the seedings, when teams without a recent European record - like Newcastle last year and Villa this - distort the seedings a bit.
Not sure Leipzigs draw was really that tougher than Arsenal or Liverpools, Villa in pot 4 had Leipzig, Bayern, Juve, Monaco etc - again not really that different to Leipzig.
When Arsenal were out of the CL I barely bothered with the group stages. Often dull, one sided and little jeopardy. This, in my opinion, gives us better games so the neutral has something of interest.
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
We can agree to disagree tbh, I don't care a great deal, UEFA are always going to try and milk more from this competition.
I just think this format takes more games to achieve less and without adding anything like fairness or excitement.
Maybe it will get more exciting in the last couple rounds of games, but we'll have to wait and see.
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 3 minutes ago
Don't feel there is any less jeopardy than the group system. In fact most groups were all but done in 4 games and the last couple were just dead rubbers or the bad teams fighting for the Europa place. As it stands no-one is out, no-one is guaranteed top 8. Still everything to play for.
Not sure about the less exciting games. Had City blow a 3 goal lead against Feyenoord last night! Had a lot of shock results this year too.
Not sure I agree with the last point. Some teams had easy groups (City vs Leipzig, Young Boys, Red Star) and some had tough groups (Newcastle, Milan, PSG, Dortmund). That is the nature of the seedings, when teams without a recent European record - like Newcastle last year and Villa this - distort the seedings a bit.
Not sure Leipzigs draw was really that tougher than Arsenal or Liverpools, Villa in pot 4 had Leipzig, Bayern, Juve, Monaco etc - again not really that different to Leipzig.
When Arsenal were out of the CL I barely bothered with the group stages. Often dull, one sided and little jeopardy. This, in my opinion, gives us better games so the neutral has something of interest.
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Yes, there is still stuff to play for but it's not as significant as losing to your rival for 2nd place in the group and you could be out. Each game has something riding on it, but hardly any matches have a lot riding on them. It is just the difference between finishing 12th and 19th for most teams.
There may be like one actual crunch game towards the end where PSG need to win to not be eliminated. But that will very much be the exception.
ALSO in the old format you were competing directly against the team you were fighting against for that qualifying spot. Meaning that a lot of matches were effectively 6 pointers. There is almost none of that here. (yes there were some that were 0 pointers towards the end).
BUT many 6 pointers with some 0 pointers is better than no 6 pointers and a load of 3 pointers.
Would you change the world cup to a league format? Your answer is yes if you prefer the new super league.
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
Oh yes!! The World Cup with this format instead of the groups would be immense.
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
So instead of 2nd playing 3rd in a group to decide who qualifies from the group, you have a mash of random teams playing eachother and whoever finishes the highest from the mash goes through? Instead of teams competing directly against eachother, like in you know, SPORT?
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
2nd and 3rd both qualify in 80% of groups anyway.
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 6 minutes ago
2nd and 3rd both qualify in 80% of groups anyway.
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FFS is the next world cup doing this garbage?
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
48 teams, 12 groups.
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
So DJ if no teams went out in the groups, they all went into play offs, would that make it better cos then even more matches are meaningful? Finishing 31st instead of 32nd would still very much be on the line on the last day and mean something
posted 2 days, 21 hours ago
Isn't the Scottish Championship the most competitive league in the world because up until the final day all clubs are playing for something?