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Fifa awarded Donald Trump a football award, but the person who took the initiative to revolutionise Uefa’s Champions League deserves even more.
The final round of elite European matches will only have one dead rubber.
Two years ago, several games could have been written off as meaningless because of the group format.
The top eight teams are automatically qualified; those in the ninth to the 24th place will be required to enter a play-off.
Only Arsenal and Bayern Munich can relax without worrying about a knockout match. Four of the 36 teams are aware that they will not be advancing. Only one match is not in doubt: Kairat’s game against Arsenal.
As the “Swiss League”, has been designed, every team must go all out in every match – goal-difference can be crucial at the end of the day.
Real Madrid’s ruthlessness has certainly paid off. They have beaten Monaco six times, which means they only need a single point to win at Benfica. José Mourinho knows that only a win will do if his Portuguese team is to be one of the chosen ones for the knock-outs.
Barcelona is among eight clubs with 13 points. Three teams are better at goal differential, meaning Hansi Flick must be merciless against Copenhagen.
Atlético Madrid are in that same 13-point bracket after a failure to see off Galatasaray. When the draw was made, a final date with Bodø/Glimt would have appeared kind, but the team from the Arctic Circle gave Manchester City a rude awakening this week; now City are just a place ahead of Atléti on goal difference.
Athletic Bilbao has a disappointing domestic season. However, they still have a chance to go on a continent adventure thanks to an impressive 2-3 win against Atalanta in Italy. This means that they are 23rd and would be eligible for the knockout stage. They need to defeat Sporting Club Lisbon in order to continue. A draw would be sufficient, but the club’s number crunchers might have to do some calculations.
Next Wednesday, I’ll be commentating that game. One eye on pitch, the other on the changing table.
Athletic Club is one of the unfashionable clubs that are bringing romance into the competition. Qarabag has put Azeri Football on the European Map! They are comfortably 18th and will be playing Liverpool at Anfield.
I’ve mentioned Bodø/Glimt above – the great disruptors who face Atlético. Pafos barely gets a mention yet the Cypriot team is still in the mix.
The top twelve are elites, so there’s no “magic” to the FA Cup. But the European atmosphere is still romantic.
Do not try to solve the puzzle. Just sit back and enjoy.
