I don’t think I like it. It’s a plus having 8 different opponents so there’s that. But it never feels like you’re in a competition - just random friendlies until the business end. I mean , sure you’re competing with other teams but like as not you aren’t even playing them. And I miss the away goals rule - don’t even have home and away fixtures any more for that matter.Is this new format playing out as designed? I’m wondering what was the expectation for points to finish top 8. Atlético will likely win its last match, which means they’ll finish between 15-18 points and perhaps finish outside of top 8 with 15 points. I wonder if the thinking was 5 wins would be enough to be top 8.
I hated that 3rd place teams got parachuted into the Europa, I'm sorry, you sucked, you should be eliminated. I think having all the final day matches running simultaneously will be entertaining, and I think there will be stuff to play for for most teams (either avoiding the playoff round or qualifying at all).*I think it was for a Europa League spot. It’s one of the reasons I preferred the old format. There were usually many groups with something to be decided going into that last game (either getting into the knockout stage or getting into the Europa League). There will obviously be a few games with high stakes at the end of the league stage this year, but not nearly as many.
That was pure genius except the last 6 inches.And Mo missed a breakaway - mind you he was running at top speed
Honestly, I get your point of view on this and to some degree I share it as it relates to the big clubs. But for smaller clubs who make the UCL and overperform a bit by finishing 3rd, it was a nice reward. With 8 games now, I think the new format won’t be as rewarding to the lower level clubs, and that is the idea behind the change. Ensure that the biggest clubs get the most money. I liked it as well for the lower level big league clubs (4th in La Liga, for example) to get some extra cash to use for next year, it was useful. Even as a Betis fan, I thought it was great that Sevilla could qualify for the Champions League and make a run at the Europa League. There were a couple of seasons, one in particular, where they gave Real Madrid a proper challenge. Look at what Leverkusen did the following season after finishing 3rd. That extra $$$ can go a long way.I hated that 3rd place teams got parachuted into the Europa, I'm sorry, you sucked, you should be eliminated. I think having all the final day matches running simultaneously will be entertaining, and I think there will be stuff to play for for most teams (either avoiding the playoff round or qualifying at all).
and now they're losingDortmund winning, but holy shit it's some grim looking hoofball. Borussia Stoke type shit.
I think Barca can still catch themLiverpool top the group with a game to spare. Cool. Gives them a chance to rest players. Wasn't a great performance tonight but - job done.
Edited my original post a few mins ago.I think Barca can still catch them
He’s such an idiot. He scores a sitter and a goal he has to on the weekend, but he’s still a shit #9. There’s no excuse in the world to be offside in that situation. He’s ball watching.Darwin looking directly down the line of the Lille defense for a good 5 seconds and doesn’t realize he’s off and should move into an onside position
PSV ends the match day in 17th on 11pts. A draw sees them thru to the knockouts and a point allows Liverpool to top the table. Let’s see how these two sides approach the last match. Could be a snoozefest…LFC did secure top-8, so no playoff to advance. That’s some schedule relief
A point at PSV will secure the top spot. PSV are sitting on 11pts through 7 matches, good for 16th today but could be as low as 22nd after tomorrow. They’ll be desperate for a win next week.
Just read up on the draws for the KOs and there's no country protection for the R16 and the 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 teams are also drawn. IOW, Liverpool doesn't automatically get the winner of a specific game nor does Liverpool automatically play the lowest seed to progress. Each club that earned a top 8 bye will be drawn against the winners of 2 matches. e.g., Liverpool and Barca will play 2 of PSG, Brest, Monaco, or Benfica, and there's no country protection.Draw for the first knockout has been completed. Good News- at least one of Real Madrid and Manchester City will be out.
View: https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1885290196029014189?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
It's the same thing that makes me crazy about the grand slam draws for Tennis. It's never fair and they just keep doing it. I'm not even asking for reseeding I'd just like to see 1 get the lowest seed to make it through the knockouts even if that is Man City.It's crazy that they don't have the winners matched up with the 1-8 seeds in this draw. I guess it's UEFA's way of creating drama for a second draw later. If you're not giving higher ranked teams the lowest seed left, just match them up now. 1 plays 16/17, 2 plays 15/18.
I love how they drew half of all the ties today and then came back and drew the other half of the ties. Maybe we can draw them Wheel of Fortune style letter by letter next time.But an extra draw means an extra television broadcast which means extra ad revenue. UEFA will never turn that down.
I don't understand then why Brest plays PSG, but Juventus can't play Milan and Feyenoord can't play Eindhoven. That is how the seeding should work, I would think.Just read up on the draws for the KOs and there's no country protection for the R16 and the 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 teams are also drawn. IOW, Liverpool doesn't automatically get the winner of a specific game nor does Liverpool automatically play the lowest seed to progress. Each club that earned a top 8 bye will be drawn against the winners of 2 matches. e.g., Liverpool and Barca will play 2 of PSG, Brest, Monaco, or Benfica, and there's no country protection.
Just some interesting data to me, of the top 8: 3 EPL (Pool, Arsenal, Villa), 2 La Liga (Barca, Atleti), 1 Germany (Neverlusen), 1 France (Lille!), 1 Italy (Inter).
It is seeded, but in pairs.I don't understand then why Brest plays PSG, but Juventus can't play Milan and Feyenoord can't play Eindhoven. That is how the seeding should work, I would think.
Danke!It is seeded, but in pairs.
so for the playoff round, the 8 seeded pairs are
9/10
11/12
13/14
15/16
17/18
19/20
21/22
23/24
Then top pair plays bottom pair and so on, so
9/10 vs 23/24
11/12 vs 21/22
13/14 vs 19/20
15/16 vs 17/18
They then did a draw to figure out which of each pair played each other.
Juve could’ve played Milan, since they were 13 and 20, but the draw went the other way.
I'd watch Juve-Milan Home and home for UCL KOs! What I mean by that is, while I'm still not sure how I feel about the new format, this playoff round of the KOs should be pretty exciting. We know through results that these teams are all at least resilient to very good/contenders. Other than Feyenoord, no KO team has conceded more than 14. And Feyenoord seem to employ a 'we score more than them' approach too, as they tallied 18 goals for in the Swiss phase. At the top end of the playoff, Atalanta, Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Bayern all had very strong GD and were 1 measly point from earning a top 8 spot.It is seeded, but in pairs.
so for the playoff round, the 8 seeded pairs are
9/10
11/12
13/14
15/16
17/18
19/20
21/22
23/24
Then top pair plays bottom pair and so on, so
9/10 vs 23/24
11/12 vs 21/22
13/14 vs 19/20
15/16 vs 17/18
They then did a draw to figure out which of each pair played each other.
Juve could’ve played Milan, since they were 13 and 20, but the draw went the other way.