re: Champions League to resume on 7 August

quote:

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This compressed tournament format is going to have an awesome world cup feel to it

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11 matches total (4 R16 second legs + 7 Lisbon) is a tall order to match the magic of that magical 2 weeks of the Group Stage, but I am intrigued at the concept of a complete neutral site competition over the course of a month+.

The magic is also going to be somewhat hurting by quality, this league imbalance is crazy:


- 8 sides (Barca, Real, Atleti, Juve, Napoli, Atalanta, City, Chelsea) will prepare with between 9-13 league matches plus 0-3 cup matches that conclude right before the tournament restarts

- The 2 Bundesliga sides (Bayern, Leipzig) are going to have 40 days between league-end and CL restart

- The 2 Ligue 1 sides (PSG, Lyon) have ZERO competitive matches before. ZERO.


If Bayern could bottle what they have today I would fancy their chances, but that's a tough order given the 40 day pause (excluding cup final July 4th).

PSG also had a real chance before, but I simply can't imagine them going 154 days between competitive matches and jumping straight into the Quarterfinals and making it out alive. The French govt screwed them so bad.

I think City takes it. League is out of reach and worst case they still aren't slipping past 4th. They'll be able to keep the first team fresh in the condensed schedule and dedicate more prep to finishing off Real.