The article critiques the previous structure of the Champions League, highlighting its lack of excitement with predictable outcomes in group stages. It praises the Swiss model for introducing a fresh and fair format, where significant matches occur weekly and there’s a greater potential for surprises among teams. This new format not only showcases the favorites but also allows underperforming giants like Manchester City and Real Madrid to feel the pressure. The piece suggests that this innovative approach could inspire similar changes in international tournaments, making them more engaging for fans.
The Swiss-style model ticks all the boxes. There are big games every week, and those fixtures are one-offs—no returns here.
The rationale for the first round of any competition is simple: it's there to build excitement, establish the favourites and provide minor shocks.
Whether it's the X Factor or the Champions League, the rationale for competition is to keep big names while allowing for the possibility of surprises.
It's been fresh, simple to follow and provided us with crunch clashes in January to get into the next round.
Collection
[
|
...
]