Championship Upside-Down: Traditional Champions League Formats Overturned
Ready for a shakeup in Champions League? UEFA might rework the legendary tournament
The UEFA is mulling over the next overhaul of the Champions League, before the newest iteration with 36 teams and no group stage is even done. Right now, they're gathering opinions from clubs, and three points are shaping up to be the main focus:
Penalties straight away, bye-bye extra time?!
In the knockout phase, a draw after 90 minutes might soon lead directly to a penalty shootout. The classic 30-minute extra time could be consigned to history. The aim is to decrease the workload for the players. This would be a big move that would particularly benefit top clubs juggling tight schedules.
Top dogs enjoy more home advantage
Currently, only the top 8 of the league phase have the luxury of playing the return leg at home in the round of 16. The UEFA seeks to extend this perk to the quarter-finals and semi-finals - irrespective of the draw. The reasoning is to give extra rewards to the best teams of the preliminary round.
Some background: Arsenal were unhappy after their quarter-final against Real Madrid. Despite a better league phase standing, the English team had to play away - but still managed to win (3:0 and 2:1).
National protection making a comeback?
Currently, teams from the same country can only meet as early as the quarter-finals. With the new format, that's different: For instance, this season, Bayern and Leverkusen clashed in the round of 16, as did Real and Atlético. PSG faced Brest in the playoffs.
The UEFA is contemplating a return of the old principle. The reasoning: Earlier national duels reduce international tension - and are less appealing for broadcasters.
The UEFA's proposed changes in the Champions League may see the introduction of penalties immediately following draws in the knockout phase, potentially phasing out the traditional extra time. This change aims to alleviate the workload of players, particularly top clubs managing busy schedules.
Additionally, the UEFA considers extending the home advantage for the best teams in the tournament, making it possible for them to host the quarter-finals and semi-finals regardless of the draw, a decision that could reward teams with superior performance in the preliminary rounds.
