Champions League, Europa League & Europa Conference League 23/24

[6ft Kerplunk]

I'm hoping for the second leg there's a response saying "The queen gave better blowjobs than your mum does".

[From Despair To Where?]

Given that Brighton is the gay capital of England, queens giving blowjobs probably isn't quite the insult the Roma fans think it is.

[Winston Biscuit]

Champions League bringing in seeding for the knockout stages from next season so top 2 ranked teams can't play each other until the final

[Hendo]

Champions League bringing in seeding for the knockout stages from next season so top 2 ranked teams can't play each other until the final

Urgh, that's really shit.

[NathStPaul]

Oh good I can hate the Champions League more than I already do.

[NathStPaul]

Although this Arsenal v Porto game has been a barnstormer.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Congratulations to @juventusfc on qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025!

As a result of @sscnapoli's elimination from the @ChampionsLeague, Juventus are now assured of a spot via Europe's ranking pathway and become the 10th team from Europe to qualify for the tournament.

I've obviously missed something. Wtf is this?

[Sutekh]

Congratulations to @juventusfc on qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025!

As a result of @sscnapoli's elimination from the @ChampionsLeague, Juventus are now assured of a spot via Europe's ranking pathway and become the 10th team from Europe to qualify for the tournament.

I've obviously missed something. Wtf is this?

Think it's the CLUB WORLD CUP mess that FIFA have decided to "encourage" every 4(?) years starting in 2025 as their current mid season world club cup game tournament is such a flop. Clubs from around the world are invited to play (on a ranking basis) a World Cup type tournament to determine the best club side in the world (though it won't as I think the ranking is over several years and a load of cr@p as Chelsea are deemed in the running to qualify for 2025 while Liverpool are not). Given the tournament is slated to be played in the close season there might be some TV interest but whether big sides want to play another load of tournament games when they can "coin it" on pre season friendly jollies remains to be seen.

[Sanguine]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... new-format

New Champions League format is so complex that the draw will be made by a computer, as doing so manually would take four hours.

Whilst teams will all start in the same 'league' in the new format, they will only play a selection of other teams from other seeded pots, whilst also avoiding teams from their own country.

No fan of the seeding, but I do quite like the tennis style complete draw at the R16 stage, so teams can plot their route to the final.

[6ft Kerplunk]

[Sutekh]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/12/champions-league-draw-to-be-made-by-computer-due-to-complex-new-format

New Champions League format is so complex that the draw will be made by a computer, as doing so manually would take four hours.

Whilst teams will all start in the same 'league' in the new format, they will only play a selection of other teams from other seeded pots, whilst also avoiding teams from their own country.

No fan of the seeding, but I do quite like the tennis style complete draw at the R16 stage, so teams can plot their route to the final.

Looking forward to the complete mess it'll turn out to be.

[From Despair To Where?]

Having played it numerous times on FM (yes, I know), I actually quite like the new format. Yes, the big teams have to do spectacularly shit not to progress from the group stage but having 24 teams progress to the knockout stages does open it up a bit for other teams.

There's also none of this finish 3rd and drop into the Europa League bullshit either.

36 teams in 4 pools of 9, play 2 teams from each pool, 1 at home, 1 away. Top 8 qualify for the last 16, 9-24 have 2 legged play off to reach the last 16.

Pretty sure the seeding is done on UEFA Coefficient points.

[Winston Biscuit]

Premier League now near certain to get an extra CL spot for next season

If West Ham win the Europa League they will also go into the CL as a 6th PL team (as they won't make top 5 in PL)

[Winston Biscuit]

Arsenal v Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Paris St-Germain v Barcelona

Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund v Paris St-Germain or Barcelona
Arsenal or Bayern Munich v Real Madrid or Manchester City

[Winston Biscuit]

I am going to (almost certainly incorrectly) predict a Barca vs Man City final

[Winston Biscuit]

AC Milan v Roma
Liverpool v Atalanta
Bayer Leverkusen v West Ham
Benfica v Marseille

Benfica or Marseille v Liverpool or Atalanta
AC Milan or Roma v Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham

[Winston Biscuit]

I am going to (almost certainly incorrectly) predict a Liverpool Vs Bayer Leverkusen final

[Winston Biscuit]

read a thing the other day that said they have serious concerns in Dublin over whether they can cope with hosting this Europa League final if Liverpool are in it due to the numbers of people that will come over

[Sutekh]

read a thing the other day that said they have serious concerns in Dublin over whether they can cope with hosting this Europa League final if Liverpool are in it due to the numbers of people that will come over

They were getting really jittery if they got a Rangers v Liverpool final, esp. if Rangers fans had started walking round Dublin singing "God Save the King".

Rangers, of course, got knocked out last night to save everyone's concerns.

They won't be too concerned if West Ham make the final as they know those that miss out can still get to see the second half after the West Ham fans have left.

[Sanguine]

Arsenal v Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Paris St-Germain v Barcelona

Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund v Paris St-Germain or Barcelona
Arsenal or Bayern Munich v Real Madrid or Manchester City

If ever PSG were to make another final, it's surely now.