Among the early losers in this “regular season” of the Champions League, Real Madrid sits at a disappointing 18th position, but the real shock is Paris Saint-Germain, languishing in 25th. The Parisians are temporarily on the brink of elimination.
And what if the seemingly imminent demise of club football turned out to be a false prophecy? Dismissed for its barely concealed resemblance to the Super League, which it officially opposes, the new format of the Champions League championed by Aleksander Ceferin is gradually winning everyone over. Certainly, UEFA has made things easier for itself by interrupting the autumn with international breaks dedicated to the undesirable Nations League, which only serves to highlight everything that can distract us from it, including Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
But now, halfway through the group stage of the C1, it must be acknowledged that the doubts raised by the inexplicable draw and the varying paths of the teams have been dispelled, making way for a currently enjoyable spectacle. Especially when viewed through the lens of the excellent performances by French clubs, with the exception of PSG, who are already fighting for survival in Munich, but more like Brest, who are set to travel to Camp Nou tonight.
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Marked by an overwhelming victory for Bayern against Dinamo Zagreb (9-2), clearly still on a roll, the opening day did not bode well for the smaller clubs. Yet, as is often the case in well-crafted series, the first episode sets the scene, and one had to wait for the next to enjoy the delights of the storyline. Brest crushing Salzburg, Lille cooling down Real Madrid, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa taking down Bayern in a reminder of PSG’s past, Benfica demolishing Atlético 4-0… Unprecedented since the days of purple weddings. Let’s not forget the teams capable of resurrecting from one match to another: Zagreb, unplayable since the drubbing against Bayern, the Bavarians perhaps not as strong as feared, and a hopeless Stuttgart waking up to seek three points at Juventus. Who knows, even Marseille could one day score points in this competition.
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Champions League Matches Today, Tuesday, November 26: Who’s Playing, Results, Times, and Where to Watch
Initially deemed as the major flaw of the format due to its impact on fair competition among teams, the abolition of the home-and-away match system actually adds an unparalleled flavor to the clashes. In the case of victory, the supporters gain an unlimited right to taunt the others until further notice. For instance, in just two matches, Lille’s supporters have earned a ticket to mock the entire city of Madrid while waiting to cross paths with Real and Atlético again. The Brest fans are already eager to join the circle on January 29, after hosting the Merengue at Roudourou.
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De Zerbi – OM: Guardiola Almost Ruined It All
A 36-team format that guarantees qualification for 24 of them, created by the powerful, for the powerful. In such a configuration, it seems impossible for a top club to miss out at the end of the league phase. Impossible, except for the entertainment kings of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain. After four matches, Luis Enrique’s men find themselves on the brink of elimination unless they wake up quickly. The problem is, they travel to Bayern and will host Manchester City in their last home game. Will January be the new March in Paris?
January 29, 2025. Mark this date. No, it’s not the new deadline for humanity as per the Mayan calendar, although given current events, it could very well be. In this case, it’s the date for the final group stage multiplex of the Champions League. EVERYONE plays at once, with 18 matches that will be absolutely impossible to follow simultaneously, tickets for the round of 16 and playoffs up for grabs, drama, essentially a spectacle worthy of the grandest Super Smash Bros finales. Truly, we take back what we said, Aleksander. Thank you for the show.
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Unai Emery Positions Himself to Solve a Manchester United Enigma
Don’t be fooled by the 18th place of the Merengue; they will secure a spot in the round of 16 by the end of January and nab the trophy as usual come spring. And while the heavier schedule of the new C1 format may be testing Vinicius’s hamstrings, who is complaining about the “infernal rhythms”, it won’t change a thing. Nice try, Aleksander. Perhaps Gianni Infantino and his new foam cup will deal the final blow, who knows?
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