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The iconic Champions League trophy – UEFA could introduce major format changes next season, reshaping how Europe’s top football clubs compete.
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If you thought the Champions League was already full of surprises, get ready—UEFA might be about to shake things up even more.
According to Sport BildThe Football Association is examining some bold ideas that could have a major impact on the top European competitions such as the Champions League.
What is one of the most important proposals? Get rid of all extra time. That’s right—if a knockout match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it could go straight to penalties. No more tense extra 30 minutes. What is the reasoning? The clubs are complaining, the players are exhausted, and their calendars are full. It’s still not decided because TV broadcasters don’t want to lose those dramatic moments.
UEFA may award top 8 Champions League teams home advantage
Another idea that has been put forward is giving a small boost to the team who performed best during the group stage. If this plan goes ahead, the top eight teams would always get to play the second leg of the knockouts at home—a nice little edge in tight ties.
Barcelona, for example, would have hosted Dortmund in the second crucial leg this year. And Arsenal might have avoided that return trip to the Bernabéu. It is a change which would give teams an extra incentive to compete in the early rounds.
UEFA plans to delay same-nation clashes until quarter-finals
UEFA is also keen on keeping clubs from the same country apart—at least until the quarter-finals. That means matches like Real Madrid vs Atlético or Bayern vs Leverkusen wouldn’t happen until later in the competition.
UEFA believes that keeping the early matchups international and varied will boost interest around the world. The fans might miss out on some of the local matches that are a lot more intense in the early stages, but this could lead to a more varied lineup as the tournament advances.
Right now, none of these changes are final—but they’re clearly being taken seriously. UEFA is rethinking how Europe’s most important competitions will be played, as the football calendar has reached its limits and clubs are asking for reform.
Do not be surprised when the next Champions League has some unexpected twists.
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