Champs Lg Champions League 2024/25 (Knockout Round) - On Stan

[And_ROOS]

That last CL match day is going to be a neutrals dream. I hate the extra matches, but definitely prefer this format over the group stage format.
City, Zagreb and Shakhtar need wins and in some cases need other results to go their way to qualify.
PSV, Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting and Stuttgart need either draws or wins because a loss could see them drop out of the top 24.
And depending on results you have 14 teams that could potentially finish in 5th/6th/7th/8th.

As of right now only Pool and Barca are 100% going through to the Rd of 16 via top 8,
and only Sturm Graz vs RB Leipzig and Young Boys vs Red Star Belgrade are dead rubber games.
Every other games result either affects who finishes top 8, who is seeded in the games between 9th-24th, and which 3 teams will be unlucky to miss out on progressing.

 

[Frank Bunn]

I think if City win their last game they are almost guaranteed a play off spot.

 

[jod23]

Irrelevant as PSG play stuttgart, so either one of them will miss out in that situation.

How so, if PSG beat Stuttgart, then Stuttgart finish on 10 points. City currently have 8 points so a draw to Brugge leaves them on 9 points and still outside the top 24.

 

[Mr Meow]

Really poor performance. And many of the problems we've seen over the past few months.

Once PSG got their first we just didn't seem capable of stopping the run.

Win against Brugge and we should get through to the knockout game.

8 points from 7 CL games is a disgraceful campaign so far. The new format means you can be absolutely terrible and still make it to the next round though, so that's good.

 

[Zidane98]

That last CL match day is going to be a neutrals dream. I hate the extra matches, but definitely prefer this format over the group stage format.
City, Zagreb and Shakhtar need wins and in some cases need other results to go their way to qualify.
PSV, Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting and Stuttgart need either draws or wins because a loss could see them drop out of the top 24.
And depending on results you have 14 teams that could potentially finish in 5th/6th/7th/8th.

As of right now only Pool and Barca are 100% going through to the Rd of 16 via top 8,
and only Sturm Graz vs RB Leipzig and Young Boys vs Red Star Belgrade are dead rubber games.
Every other games result either affects who finishes top 8, who is seeded in the games between 9th-24th, and which 3 teams will be unlucky to miss out on progressing.

9 teams are already eliminated with absolutely nothing to play for before the final matchday. In the old format there was a Europa place to chase for 3rd placed teams. More often than not 3rd place was up for grabs in most groups going into final group games IIRC.

 

[Hamingja]

Celtic made comically hard work of it. Can now accept our beating from Villa and still qualify for the next stage.

 

[bradfisher14]

Unreal performance from Paris. Felt like they were the better team for the whole game. I was particularly impressed with the way we played through and around the city press. Enrique once again getting the better of Pep. Looks like city need more legs in the midfield to get back to their best.

 

[SC_Power]

 

[And_ROOS]

I think if City win their last game they are almost guaranteed a play off spot.

City win puts them into the knock out phase at the expense of Brugge due to goal difference, and then Brugge would be needing one of Benfica/PSG/Sporting/Stuttgart to lose to keep their spot.
But a draw or a loss and City are out.

9 teams are already eliminated with absolutely nothing to play for before the final matchday. In the old format there was a Europa place to chase for 3rd placed teams. More often than not 3rd place was up for grabs in most groups going into final group games IIRC.

True but thats on UEFA for removing the drop to Europa League, which I am all for if I am honest. If City aren't good enough to be top 24 in this comp why should they be able to drop down and likely dominate the EL?

And there are 9 teams eliminated, but only 2 dead rubber games. I can't see teams who can't qualify like Girona at home to Arsenal putting out a weak team, they will want the win in front of their fans because they may not be in the CL next season.

 

[moomba]

Bit ridiculous that were not only in with a chance of progressing but a win will guarantee us a spot in the playoff round.

At home against Brugge we should be OK. But the way things have gone for us I won't take anything for granted.

And certainly won't feel comfortable with any lead less than 4 goals.

 

[jod23]

I dont like the new format, it just protects the big clubs. If this was old format you'd suspect City would already be out of the CL.

 

[SM]

I dont like the new format, it just protects the big clubs. If this was old format you'd suspect City would already be out of the CL.

What an awful take. If it was the old format they'd have beaten up on two shit teams four times and already be through. The big clubs have been in far more jeopardy in this format.

 

[moomba]

I dont like the new format, it just protects the big clubs. If this was old format you'd suspect City would already be out of the CL.

I don't like it either. 11 points from 8 games shouldn't qualify you for the next stage, but if we win tomorrow night it will.

 

[And_ROOS]

What an awful take. If it was the old format they'd have beaten up on two shit teams four times and already be through. The big clubs have been in far more jeopardy in this format.

Thats only if they get the luck of a weak group, which they did last year but isn't a guarantee each season.

If we look at who City have played, its been
Inter Milan (0-0 home draw), Slovan Bratislava (0-4 away win), Sparta Prague (5-0 home win), Sporting (4-1 away loss), Feyenoord (3-3 home draw), Juventus (2-0 away loss), PSG (4-2 away loss).

Last year they copped an easy group, so based on this years teams they could have had;
Brugge/Prague/Bratislava.
You would think a group like that even with their form drop this year they finish top 2 in that group comfortably and likely 1st. Spanked 2/3 teams already, and I suspect they beat Brugge this week to help my argument. Even with poor form they would beat Prague away and Bratislava at home to get the 4 wins they need in the group.

But last year in the CL groups some teams copped bad groups, so City could have have;
Juvetus/Sporting/Feyenord which as we have seen this year has been some very poor results for them. The only saving grace for City is that Sportings form has fallen off a cliff, so getting out of this fictional group would rely on finishing 2nd with help from Juve dominating the group and leaving the door open for them. That said on current CL form Feyenoord and Juve likely go through while Sporting started well and plummeted.

 

[jod23]

What an awful take. If it was the old format they'd have beaten up on two shit teams four times and already be through. The big clubs have been in far more jeopardy in this format.

What jeopardy? All the big clubs will go through.

 

[Zidane98]

What an awful take. If it was the old format they'd have beaten up on two shit teams four times and already be through. The big clubs have been in far more jeopardy in this format.

When did that ever happen in the old format?


Never more than one weak team per group in the old format from what I can remember.

 

[SM]

Thats only if they get the luck of a weak group, which they did last year but isn't a guarantee each season.

If we look at who City have played, its been
Inter Milan (0-0 home draw), Slovan Bratislava (0-4 away win), Sparta Prague (5-0 home win), Sporting (4-1 away loss), Feyenoord (3-3 home draw), Juventus (2-0 away loss), PSG (4-2 away loss).

Last year they copped an easy group, so based on this years teams they could have had;
Brugge/Prague/Bratislava.
You would think a group like that even with their form drop this year they finish top 2 in that group comfortably and likely 1st. Spanked 2/3 teams already, and I suspect they beat Brugge this week to help my argument. Even with poor form they would beat Prague away and Bratislava at home to get the 4 wins they need in the group.

But last year in the CL groups some teams copped bad groups, so City could have have;
Juvetus/Sporting/Feyenord which as we have seen this year has been some very poor results for them. The only saving grace for City is that Sportings form has fallen off a cliff, so getting out of this fictional group would rely on finishing 2nd with help from Juve dominating the group and leaving the door open for them. That said on current CL form Feyenoord and Juve likely go through while Sporting started well and plummeted.

Yes they could have got a hard group or an easy group but the whole point of this new format is taking the luck out of it and everyone gets hard games.

Jod liking this post shows his ability to read the full post fails.

 

[SM]

What jeopardy? All the big clubs will go through.

City, Leipzig, PSG, Sporting, all a big chance or potential to miss out. What table are you looking at?

 

[Sozabarus]

When did that ever happen in the old format?


Never more than one weak team per group in the old format from what I can remember.

Last season City had Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys in their group.

People getting nostalgic over the old format is crazy, it had been dull for about 20 years! The new format isn’t perfect but it’s definitely been better.

 

[SM]

When did that ever happen in the old format?


Never more than one weak team per group in the old format from what I can remember.

Arsenal had Lens, PSV and Sevilla last season, Bayern had Galatasaray, Copenhagen and United, Real had Braga and Berlin, Atletico had Feyenoord and Celtic, City had Young Boys and Belgrade. And that's just last year's tournament. Your memory can't be great if you couldn't remember any of those groups.

 

[jod23]

So what everyone is saying is the new format is better but still gives zero chance for any big teams to actually not qualify.

Erm.. ok I guess.

 

[Jatz]

I prefer the old format.

The only thing I think is better is that the teams aren't moved to Europa etc.

 

[Zidane98]

Arsenal had Lens, PSV and Sevilla last season, Bayern had Galatasaray, Copenhagen and United, Real had Braga and Berlin, Atletico had Feyenoord and Celtic, City had Young Boys and Belgrade. And that's just last year's tournament. Your memory can't be great if you couldn't remember any of those groups.

Just about every example here doesn't involve teams "beating up on shit teams 4 times". You've quoted Atletico who actually lost to Feyenoord and drew a game with Celtic. Obviously your memory isn't that good.

 

[Zidane98]

I prefer the old format.

The only thing I think is better is that the teams aren't moved to Europa etc.

I actually rate that system. Gives something for teams to play for right up until the last match day.



We have 9 out of 36 teams already eliminated in this format going into the last match day.

 

[SM]

Just about every example here doesn't involve teams "beating up on shit teams 4 times". You've quoted Atletico who actually lost to Feyenoord and drew a game with Celtic. Obviously your memory isn't that good.

I don't watch much Champions League so I don't particularly care about the results, the point was teams can comfortably get through a group of three other teams when they get three of those games at home. In all those examples those teams topped their groups comfortably with very little if any jeopardy. This new format is quite clearly much more competitive.