Is Winning the Champions League This Year Devalued? Soccer

[Geezer]

Four second legs of last 16 ties might be played in Portugal instead of the club's home ground, effectively nullifying home advantage.

The quarter finals & semi-finals are set to be one-off games in Portugal.

In front of empty stands presumably and all this after the leagues have ended.

Will it be less of an achievement to win the Champions League in 2020?

 

[Dylan]

I've far less interest in the new format as so many of the best moments in the last few years are second leg turnarounds and key away goals. When it's a single-leg the games will be more cagey, the second legs to be played there is no real advantage for the home team in them either and with sides like Bayern and especially PSG not playing for a while, it won't help matters. Looking at the fixtures a team could be asked to play 3 games in 8 days if you play the last quarter-final which is a clear disadvantage.

 

[Steve]

I think most people will understand the difficulties the virus has brought about. I feel it would be a much worse scenario if there was no winner. Just get the competition sorted and move on.

 

[Tom]

Of course it's not devalued.

The format has changed but it still up to the best team to go and win it. Competition formats change all the time.

The Champion's League used to be The European Champions' Cup with only league winners. Are either set of winners devalued in any way? No.

The FA Cup: All drawn games would go to multiple replays (Liverpool v Arsenal in 1980 semi-finals had 3 replays). Did scrapping replays devalue it?

World Cups and European Championships also always change formats.

So I don't see how it's devalued as there's a competition to win and I think the new format could be a spectacle.

 

[Bandit]

I think the biggest thing for me is the lack of second legs. Teams do not have the chance to overturn a first-leg loss or freak result.

Every team sets out the season knowing that in Europe, you will also get a second chance playing against a team and can make it right and beat them on aggregate. Up until the final of course. That chance is now removed.

At least when leagues restarted, without fans, teams knew that they would still be playing all their home games and all their away games. They can prepare for the 10 games as a batch of an overall 34-38 game season. In a league season, a one-off freak result can be rectified over the course of time. Generally speaking, if you are fretting over one referee decision or poor sub and lose a game, well you have 37 other games to ensure you win and make up for it. That is not possible in a one-off game with no second leg. And the home advantage issue is also more prevalent in this cup format compared to the leagues.

Clubs such as RB Leipzig will be missing key players now too. I know clubs have injuries etc at different times but he is actively choosing to not play in the competition because of a transfer agreed after the last game. And then you have the French clubs dilemma.

 

[Birdman]

It's a different challenge, not a devalued one. The same calibre of opposition is in the way of winning it as ever.

 

[David76]

It's different and unique. Crowds not being there would have robbed the two-legged format of its intensity anyway.

I think the main weakness is the fact that the two French teams will be entirely unprepared. That is unfortunate, and will likely make those two-quarter finals very lob sided affairs.

But it's still going to be amazing and very difficult to win.