Olaleye Idowu
For the first time in the history of the UEFA Champions League, there were Round of 16 play-off ties this midweek.
The competition underwent a big revamp ahead of the 2024/25 season, with the total number of teams increased from 32 to 36.
The biggest change saw a change from the usual group stage to a single league phase.
Every club was guaranteed a minimum of eight league-stage games against eight different opponents (four home games, four away), rather than the previous six matches against three teams, played on a home-and-away basis.
The top eight sides qualified automatically for the knockout stages, while the teams that finished in ninth to 24th place were drawn in a two-legged play-off to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition
“I think this new format is more competitive,” Ope Adebari, a sports analyst, reporter and producer with News Central tells Urban Express News Online.
“It gives unlikely teams like Lille and Aston Villa a chance to compete and possibly win Europe’s most prestigious club league/knockout tournament.
“This season, we have seen the regular dominant teams in past seasons like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern and Dortmund struggle with teams like Brest, Feyenoord and Club Brugge.
“In a nutshell, this season has been highly competitive and entertaining which the fans have enjoyed.”
The pick of the bunch in the playoffs was Manchester City hosting Real Madrid in the first leg.
In previous seasons, this could have easily been either a semi-final or final.
Erling Haaland struck twice on either side of a scuffed Kylian Mbappe volley, with City appearing to take an advantage into the second leg.
But Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham scored in the dying minutes to turn the tie on its head.
“Due to the new format, the playoffs are necessary as we have seen that it has given a lifeline to the regular big boys who were unable to secure a top-half finish,” Adebari adds.
“To be honest, as a fan, the midweek games are no longer special and sometimes, fans even forget that Champions League games will take place.”
The new format has left a lot of fans confused. Will it get better in subsequent seasons?
Adebari is confident.
“I think so. This season was a test run for all teams.
“Next season, every team will come prepared and determined to finish in the top half from the start of the tournament,” he adds.
So, which teams will join Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atleti, Barcelona, Inter, Leverkusen, Lille and Liverpool in the last 16?
“PSG, Dortmund, Juventus, Real Madrid, Atalanta, Bayern Munich, Benfica and AC Milan,” Adebari predicts.
