The anti-soupper champions goals in emotions, but with imbalances to solve

One of the arguments of the promoters of the Super League is to be able to witness matches among large Europe from the beginning. The new Champions has offered them almost without exception, as evidenced by the meetings between Liverpool and Madrid, PSG and Atlético, and Barça and Bayern, only in regard to the colossi of the Spanish League. The Girona has also faced them, which received Liverpool and Arsenal in Montilivi, although in his case very penalized for his position in the drums. More level from the start, more games, more goals, more money in the cast, which has been a real manna for Barcelona, ​​and more emotion in the outcome, but also more wear for teams, at a critical moment for the number of injuries, and more imbalances in matches. The formula, which requires adjustments, is the UEFA counterweight to the threatening superliga of Florentino Pérez.

The goals have always been decisive to solve drawing in the phases of groups, but being for the first time of a unique group, of 36 teams, its value increased exponentially, even in the ‘top 8’, those classified directly for the round of 16 that positions determine future matches. Three teams ended up tied at 19 points; three others, 16; five, 15; Five to 13, and four, to 11. The number of goals could, then, to assume five differences in any of the cases. Although it did not affect the ‘Top 8’, closed with 16 points by Aston Villa, he left out to the dine of Zagreb, with the worst difference of goals (seven against) that the witches, last classified for the ‘playoffs’ of sixteen.

This caused this first phase of the Champions League to be the best scoring average (3.26 per game) since UEFA changed the European Cup format in the 1992/93 season. On the last day, with 64 goals in 18 games, he overcame it (3.55).

Barcelona, ​​second classified, was the most scoring team, with 28 goals, 11 more than Liverpool, first. It is not strange, then, that Raphinha Be the player with more interventions in goal actions and Lewandowski, pichichi With nine goals, the same as Guirassy. However, the Barca team is also the ‘Top 8’ team that has fit the most goals (13). The duality reproduces the league, where it is also the top scorer (59), but the most thrashed (24) of the four located in the Champions area.

Lever for Laporta

The goals determine positions but also millions in this new formula with which UEFA increased by 400 million euros the endowment in prizes for clubs. For Barça, a great ally of Madrid in the Super League, the 54.5 million are like a new ‘lever’. Madrid stays at 37.27, which can be increased by 11 if the eighths play their profits for ticketing. Even Girona, despite its elimination, exceeds 20 million.

An oxygen ball for Joan Laportain whose circle there are those who suggest getting off the Super League and approaching UEFA with the ‘Negreira case’ on the horizon. When the judicial process ends, for long after the change of the investigating judge, it will be time to pronounce for the European agency.

No conditioning for countries

Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, champion and finalist of the last edition, do not enter the ‘Top 8’, where there are no Bayern, PSG and Manchester City, in the worst crisis of the era Guardiola. Not even the AI ​​predictions had planned, but football usually defeats algorithms. The Madrid penalized his defeat in Lille and one of his worst games of the season, against Milan at Bernabéu. The points achieved by the rivals of the Spanish teams show imbalances that will be inevitable, because the starting point of the configuration does not always coincide with the states of form.

The conditions that avoid duels between teams from the same country in this phase also complicate it. Eliminate them would contribute to a greater balance in sports and bring this Champions more to the Super League, why not with a classic already in the appetizer.