The third Champions League matchday in the new league mode is coming up. So far, victories have been significantly higher than before. This means that the UEFA reform could miss one of its goals.
They were actually hoping for more excitement from the new Champions League mode. During the draw, the clubs received two opponents from each pot, which should ensure even games in the league phase before the knockout round. Recently, however, a different development emerged.
Highest victory in German Champions League history
Two German clubs were already gaining momentum at the start of the current Champions League season. FC Bayern demolished Dinamo Zagreb at home 9-2 on matchday one. It was the biggest victory in German Champions League history.
League competitor and rival Borussia Dortmund achieved a similar goal festival two weeks later in a 7-1 home win against Celtic Glasgow. The Scots had previously won 5-1 against Slovan Bratislava. And the reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen also clearly prevailed in their first game with a 4-0 win at Feyenoord Rotterdam. The list could be continued.
These results in the Champions League are not normal, states the “Kicker”. At least not with this frequency. The new league mode could be responsible for this. If two teams are tied on points in the table, the goal difference is the first criterion to determine the better team.
The current season significantly exceeds the last one
Because of the new system, it’s worth playing for a bigger win in the final minutes instead of just managing the lead. Every goal could decide whether they reach the round of 16. A look at the preseason solidifies the theory that the new mode is a special incentive for the players.
According to “Kicker”, in the 2023/24 Champions League season there were only nine wins with a difference of at least three goals with 32 instead of 36 teams in the group phase. And only two with at least four. The new Champions League had already exceeded this mark after 27 games, which corresponds to one and a half match days.
However, so far no coach has admitted to playing particularly offensively. A reporter asked Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola after the Sky Blues’ 4-0 win at Slovan Bratislava that the goal difference could be crucial in the new mode. However, he was unimpressed. The 53-year-old explained that he had heard about it, but didn’t think about it. “It will be enough if you win the games,” said Guardiola.
Spanish top-class players for FC Bayern and BVB
The third Champions League matchday will show whether the high-scoring trend continues. However, the German teams are unlikely to score as many goals as they did at the start of the competition. Because the upcoming games are tough.
Borussia Dortmund is a guest at Real Madrid (Tuesday, 9 p.m.) and Bayern are a guest at FC Barcelona (Wednesday, 9 p.m.). While BVB is traveling with confidence after big victories against Bruges and Glasgow, FC Bayern has to make up for the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on the last matchday.
VfB Stuttgart will also travel to Turin on Tuesday and face Juventus there at 9 p.m. On Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Bayer Leverkusen will be guests at Stade Brest. And on the same day at 9 p.m. RB Leipzig welcomes Liverpool FC.
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Source: Stern
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