The most esteemed event in domestic football resumed last week, and it is more expansive than ever – But can its quality truly improve?
The Champions League underwent a revitalisation with an increased number of clubs competing for greater prize money through additional matches against a wider array of opponents.
Club executives have consistently urged UEFA to enhance the premier event in club football, resulting in the adoption of a new single-standings league phase to supplant the conventional group stage.
The inaugural new Champions League model, the competition’s first major change since 2003, guarantees nearly all the desires of Europe’s most affluent and powerful teams.
Four more positions exist in a 36-team configuration; a minimum of eight matches per club instead of six; Champions League fixtures are slated for January for the first time; and a prize fund increase of at least 25% to a minimum of 2.5 billion euros.
What is the functionality of the new format? The Champions League’s conventional group-stage structure, which Has Been used for 21 seasons, is being discontinued. It may not have the bells and whistles, but true footy fans know this is the Super League we dreaded without the name change.
Let’s examine the new format in more detail and try to better understand who it really benefits!
How has the UCL format changed?
Previously, 32 teams were allocated into eight groups of four, each participating in six matches. Teams competed against each group opponent both at home and away from September to December. The leading two progressed to the round of 16. A distinct draw was conducted for each knockout round of home-and-away matches, leading to the single-game final.
Now, the new format (AKA the Super League in disguise) single-standings league is introduced. It includes 36 clubs, each competing in eight matches against eight distinct opponents until January. Teams receive a balanced schedule, competing against two adversaries from each of the four seeding pots.
The first eight teams in the standings advance directly to the round of 16 in March. They will be placed in a tournament bracket without distinct draws for each round leading to the final.
Teams positioned ninth to twenty-fourth will participate in a knockout playoff round in February. The lowest 12 teams are disqualified.
During the playoff round, clubs ranked Nos. 9-16 are designated to host the second leg matches against unseeded teams Nos. 17-24.
Who really benefits from the all-new UCL format?
I suppose we could take an unconventional view and suggest that some fans benefit from the new format, especially bettors who will have more UCL games to bet on than ever.
Let’s be honest: The trusted online bookmakers will receive more action than ever regarding Champions League betting, which for some is a positive result.
However, as the old saying goes: ‘Don’t fix what isn’t broken,’ so what is the rationale for altering a successful competition? Easy… The concise explanation is that clubs want increased revenue.
It’s all about the mullah!
The Champions League exemplifies the pinnacle of excellence in global football. It has enabled UEFA to allocate billions in prize money generated from international television and sponsorship agreements to teams that provide the greatest transfer fees and wages.
Those clubs sought to engage in additional matches that they considered prestigious against a broader array of high-calibre adversaries.
How did major clubs have so much pulling power over UEFA? Well, the old-fashioned method way… threats!
UEFA Threatened by the Super League
Clubs complained that the group stage became very monotonous, with just three opponents, and was devoid of excitement. Increased competition against formidable adversaries would be more esteemed by broadcasters, audiences, and prospective fans globally.
Their influence over UEFA was the prospective establishment of a rival tournament. In early 2021, the prominent leaders of the European Club Association were engaged in negotiations with UEFA over Champions League reform while also devising their own Super League.
The Super League was initiated by 12 clubs from Spain, England, and Italy in April 2021 but collapsed within 48 hours due to fan outrage in England and concerns about governmental intervention.
One year later, UEFA widely approved the new Champions League structure we’re discussing today, which was mostly influenced by the dissident Super League teams. Therefore, while fans aren’t technically dealing with a Super League by name, they are by nature.
Benefits & Negatives
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the new format?
● The 36 teams are assured increased financial compensation and more brand visibility to a worldwide audience. To expedite their progress, players should engage in a greater number of high-quality games.
● The additional games – 189 for the competition compared to 125 over the preceding two decades – affirm the Champions League as the apex of club footy.
● Adding two more match rounds in January gives the Champions League a renewed presence in the increasingly congested football schedule. Could it overwhelm players, given that many were exhausted during the 2024 European Championship and with FIFA set to begin its month-long Club World Cup next June?
● Eight clubs in the Champions League round of 16 will have completed ten matches to qualify, in contrast to only six in the previous version. Europe will dispatch 12 teams—11 participating in the current Champions League edition—to the forthcoming FIFA club event, with each side competing in a minimum of three and a maximum of seven matches in the United States next summer.
● Will the additional prize money be allocated judiciously? Although the rapid increase in expenditures on player transfers has decelerated this European summer, the salaries of elite players continue to rise.
● Perhaps the biggest concern is that Mid-tier teams in premier domestic leagues and those in lower-ranked nations caution that the Champions League exacerbates the income disparity in European football and fosters more competitive imbalance.
Who benefits most? It’s clear as day that the big clubs, such as Real Madrid, PSG, Barcelona, Man City, etc., are the biggest beneficiaries.
Final Thoughts: The Super League has arrived
Concerningly, most of the aforementioned, which could be categorised as ‘positive,’ can also be viewed as negative. It’s all about perspective, and I suppose only time will tell how this pans out.
However, one fact is certain: Although the new Champions League structure remains uncertain, the Super League has undeniably transitioned from mere speculation to reality. Last Tuesday night, it indeed materialised.