All that the new format of the UEFA Champions League set in 2025-26 promised at the time it was announced has come back to haunt it. The second season confirms that now it is theory – that was seen in 144 league phase games, those last weeks that delivered nail-biting moments and the knockout stage that provided shocks and one underdog to the others, and some knocked off into heartbreak and a platform to underdogs like Norway and Azerbaijan. In other words, it is now time that the competition is as competitive as ever, and it only feels so.
The Format Works
Before the 2024-25 season, the old format of group stage was done away with by UEFA in favour of a 36-team league table. Each team has eight different opponents (four home, four away). The top eight teams are assured a automatic place in the Round of 16, while the teams finishing ninth to 24th must battle it out in a two-leg knockout playoff round to join them. And no safety net to you 25th and down, see you.
This has changed and is a genius. The feared dead rubbers have almost become extinct. Instead, we were experiencing the battles of quality and the battles of elimination down to the wire with so many teams and the points table being very close, all the way to the end. It is true, however, that some of you were already before the last round down and out, before, indeed, the kick-off was drawn.
Arsenal Make History, Giants Stumble
In the league phase of the tournament, Arsenal secured eight out of eight matches as we won our group with 24 points, something never accomplished by any other team. Two automatic qualifiers (Liverpool, Spurs, Barcelona and others) made it to the last 16, but the second was Bayern Munich.
But it was the heavyweights who pranked out that furnished the greater part of the real drama. After a dramatic last matchday which saw them defeated by Benfica in the playoff round, Real has the most expensive squad on the field. There is another one that PSG was guilty of as well when they were sent away as the defending champions. Meanwhile, Tottenham showed incredible spark during the league phase to navigate the new system, even if their journey ultimately ended in a fierce Round of 16 battle. It was a book drawing of how out-of-date reputations might not be of much service in this new climate.
The Playoff Round Came With Surprises
This was made even more so in the playoffs. Bodø/Glimt also took up their fairytale ride again, and once more, they proved that they can fit into the high and mighty lifestyle as they got rid of Inter. Panic rating: Real Madrid and PSG have barely scraped through with their draws to be alongside their local rivals, Atlético, in the last 16, due to similar reasons. At least Qarabağ put a footprint in history, being the first-ever Azerbaijani club to be in such a high competition.
The Knockout Stage Caused Havoc
Goals and drama like wine followed as the knockouts commenced. That left the remaining three ties with one of them PSG crushing Chelsea by a total of 8-2 over the two matches (perhaps the most one-sided tie), and the other in which Bayern Munich crushed Atalanta in the same 10-2 margin. Real Madrid, in their turn, compensated for some of their historic failures in the Champions League by walloping their way to the final eight, 3-0, in this particular game on Tuesday, and Arsenal sailed into the last eight, winning the tie with Bayer Leverkusen, 3-1. Barcelona was stalwart in their way through, too.
The semifinals provided some true classics with Bayern Munich defeating Real Madrid (6-4) in a crazy tie in both directions, in which the former gave up late goals, drama and red.
Semifinals and Final
The semifinals were wire-to-wire exciting. The sensational trip of Arsenal to the Metropolitano by academy graduate Bukayo Saka, who did not cost the club one cent in transfer fees, stunned the Atletico Madrid defence with an utter rocket, propelling the Gunners into their first final in the Champions League since 2006. In the other semi-final, PSG prevailed over Bayern Munich in an exciting super tie of 6-5.
We give the showcase of the conclusion of May 30 in Hungary, where PSG, as champions in the same arena last year, will be playing against Arsenal, in a mouth-watering clash against the newly crowned Premier League champions.
What This Season Results In
In many ways, this season has shown that indeed it is so that a re-energising of a competition can occur when changes are made to its structure. The days when one can sail up and turn up in large clubs and even each game of the league phase are now. You have one Norwegian half and one Azerbaijani half ripping in the last 16, and some of the mighty engines of football have to go to battle playing off and then keeping their head above water.
While the new format has not conjured miracles out of thin air, it has set the stage for them. This is exactly what European football has been shouting.
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