Three ways the Champions League format could be fixed

"We're midway through Year 2 of the revamped UEFA Champions League, and already we've witnessed the dramatic impact of the 2024 switch to a 36-team, Swiss-model league phase unlike anything seen in Europe before. To take one example, the final matchday of the league phase this year featured Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin delivering an iconic moment, as he scored a 98th-minute header against Real Madrid to stave off elimination and push the Portuguese club in the knockout rounds."

"On the flip side, the competition's format is now so confusing that Trubin himself didn't know how vital his goal was for Benfica's Champions League hopes. It's clear that there's no perfect solution, but that doesn't mean we can't try! With the knockout playoff round taking place Tuesday and Wednesday, we decided to ask our writers: How would you fix the Champions League format, within the bounds of what might be possible?"

"That's part of the problem UEFA must overcome, because no matter how many times they reboot the group stages, those early rounds will never have the jeopardy and excitement of classic two-leg, winner-take-all encounters. The only reason Matchday 8 of the league phase was so enthralling was because it had a knockout feel to it, with Benfica's 4-2 win against Real Madrid -- courtesy of goalkeeper Trubin's stoppage-time goal -- as good as any knockout tie."

The 2024 switch to a 36-team Swiss-model league phase has transformed the Champions League, producing dramatic late moments and increased complexity. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header against Real Madrid on the final league matchday, rescuing qualification and illustrating the new format's high stakes. The format's complexity left players uncertain about the implications of results, exposing confusion alongside excitement. Proposed fixes aim to preserve knockout drama while improving clarity, including concepts such as paired mini-leagues and a large playoff knockout round. Proposals recognize trade-offs and seek balance among jeopardy, fairness, and spectator engagement.

Read at ESPN.com