Before the 2024-25 season begins in Europe, From UEFA they announced that the format of the Champions League was going to have a radical change. Far from the classic eight groups that contained four teams each, with instances of round of 16, quarterfinals, semis and final, since this year a league system of 36 participants was established.
The controversial decision to change the playing system of all European tournaments has brought divided opinions. Some have been in favor and others against, since there have been matches of a lower general level than in previous editions of the Champions League. In this second group we find Mariano Closs.
The renowned ESPN journalist released a harsh criticism directed towards the format of the European competition and, of course, linked it with what is happening in Argentine soccer with the way in which the tournament will be played in 2025.
In his daily midday strip on the sports channel, ESPN F12, Closs expressed: “The Champions it’s not funny. Until we get to the round of 16 it’s not fun. Now it has a bit of excitement because you are seeing if Real Madrid gets involved, if Atlético gets involved and so on. The other day I made a team that here, in Argentina, comes 26th: Bratislava. Here they compare it with the Champions League in a mischievous way, and in a mess, because there are no similar levels there.“.
Going deeper into the comparison with Argentine soccer, the journalist added: “It’s the same thing that happens here. Argentine soccer does not have the big stars from Europe that make the difference, so it is even. Here it is even because those at the top are good, but not that good, and one at the bottom can lose 1 to 0, or even tie. But don’t say in a courteous way that this is similar to the Champions League, because it is a disaster.“.
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In detail: what the Champions League is like with the new format
The first novelty was the number of teams, which went from 32 to 36. In addition, the group stage was eliminated: They all make up the same general table, called “league phase”.
Each team faces eight different opponents (one-way only) and will have four home games and four away games.. The rivals of each club were chosen randomly and not by balls, but by new automated software.
Those who finish from 1st to 8th place in the table will go directly to the round of 16. Those who make it from 9th to 24th will play a round-trip repechage (called the playoff round), where the eight winners will qualify and the losers will go to the Europa League. Those who finish the league phase between 25th and 35th place will be eliminated.
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From the round of 16 onwards, the format will be the same as always, with round-trip eliminations in the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. The final will be on May 31, 2025 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
This is the 2024-25 Champions League table after date 6
| # | Equipment | Pts | PJ | PG | PE | PP | GF | GC | DIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 18 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 15 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 7 | +14 |
| 3 | Arsenal FC | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | +9 |
| 4 | B. Leverkusen | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | +7 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 |
| 6 | Inter | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | +6 |
| 7 | Brest | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 |
| 8 | Lille | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 |
| 9 | B. Dortmund | 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 9 | +9 |
| 10 | Bayern Munich | 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 8 | +9 |
| 11 | Atletico Madrid | 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 10 | +4 |
| 12 | Milan | 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 |
| 13 | Atalanta | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 4 | +9 |
| 14 | Juventus | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 |
| 15 | Benfica | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 |
| 16 | Monaco | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 10 | +2 |
| 17 | Sporting Lisbon | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 |
| 18 | Feyenoord | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 15 | -1 |
| 19 | Brugge | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 |
| 20 | Real Madrid | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 |
| 21 | Celtic | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 22 | Manchester City | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 |
| 23 | PSV | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 |
| 24 | Dinamo Zagreb | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 15 | -5 |
| 25 | PSG | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 26 | Stuttgart | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | -3 |
| 27 | Shakhtar | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | -8 |
| 28 | Sparta Prague | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 18 | -11 |
| 29 | Storm Graz | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -5 |
| 30 | Red Star | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 19 | -9 |
| 31 | Salzburg | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 18 | -15 |
| 32 | Girona | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -6 |
| 33 | Bologna | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -6 |
| 34 | RB Leipzig | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 13 | -7 |
| 35 | Bratislava | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 21 | -16 |
| 36 | Young Boys | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 22 | -19 |
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