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Champions League’s New Era: A Comprehensive Overview
Paris Saint-Germain’s triumph marks a new chapter in Champions League history.
This season witnessed the most significant format overhaul since the 1991-92 introduction of the group stage.
Historically, the competition featured groups of four, with home-and-away matches preceding a knockout phase (exceptions being the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons).
This year’s expanded 36-team tournament saw each team play eight different opponents—four home, four away—in a single league phase.
Concluding in late January, this league phase preceded the traditional knockout rounds. But was it a success?
PSG’s maiden Champions League victory in Munich, after finishing 15th in the league phase and navigating a play-off, suggests a resounding yes.
PSG’s Sensational Champions League Victory
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Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha lauded the new format, citing its success.
“I enjoyed it,” Onuoha told BBC Sport. “The group stage delivered many compelling matches and significant moments, not just from clashes between top teams.”
“The most impactful change was the single-match format within the league phase. This prevented teams from being defined by a single result, and the energy from the lesser-ranked teams was noticeably different.”
“Aston Villa’s victory over Bayern Munich exemplifies this. Bayern lacked a second chance for redemption, highlighting the format’s impact.”
Champions PSG lost three of their first five games before a late surge secured a play-off against Brest, which they won. Their knockout journey continued against league-phase winners Liverpool.
“PSG’s journey underscores the importance of peaking at the right time,” Onuoha added. “Their late surge, after initially being outside the top 24, emphasizes that even a less-than-stellar league phase performance doesn’t preclude a title run.”
Journalist Nicky Bandini highlighted the new format’s contribution to PSG’s success.
“Without this format, we might not have witnessed PSG’s development,” Bandini stated. “Their progression offers a more engaging narrative.”
“Champions League success often hinges on late-season form. However, the expanded schedule and PSG’s journey allowed for real-time observation of this development.”
Gianluigi Donnarumma played a crucial role in PSG’s penalty shootout win over Liverpool in the last 16.
Beyond Liverpool’s early exit, the seeding system proved effective, with Barcelona (second), Arsenal (third), and Inter (fourth) reaching at least the semi-finals.
Inter’s fourth-place finish yielded favorable matchups, including Feyenoord in the last 16, before facing Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Unlike previous seasons where qualification/elimination was often decided before the final round, this year’s league phase provided an unpredictable, thrilling conclusion.
Last season, 13 teams secured last-16 qualification before the final group games. This year, only Liverpool and Barcelona had guaranteed spots, highlighting the increased competition.
With 27 teams still vying for position, an exciting finale was guaranteed.
The league phase included rematches of four of the last five Champions League finals, with Arsenal’s Declan Rice noting, “These games usually occur in the quarterfinals or semifinals.”
Manchester City’s league phase journey involved a nail-biting final match before their play-off loss to Real Madrid.
UEFA’s decision to implement a format with eight different opponents and 64 goals in the final 18 matches addresses concerns about repetition in the previous group stage.
UEFA emphasized that the new format ensures every match’s significance: “Every game counts.”
While only two matchday eight games were inconsequential, the vast majority had high stakes. However, nine teams were eliminated before the final matchday, limiting genuine jeopardy for many.
With 24 teams advancing directly or via play-offs, the overall competitiveness could be questioned. Even Manchester City, despite losing three of four games, progressed.
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