United sign midfielder Pappoe on loan from Hungarian champions
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The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Champions League makes major change for 2025/26 season with new-look knockout phase
UEFA are reportedly planning yet more changes to the Champions League - just a year after the implementation of the tournament's new format. The 2024/25 season marked the introduction of the new 36-team competition, which was formatted like an actual league. 2 2 Teams finishing in the top eight receive a bye into the last 16 as seeded sides. The following 16 teams competed in a knockout play-off round, in which the losers no longer had the safety net of dropping into the Europa League. Teams finishing from 25th to 36th place missed out on the play-offs altogether and were immediately dumped out of the tournament. Footie fans worldwide are still getting to grips with the Swiss-system tournament format. And they'll reportedly have to wrap their heads around some additional changes to the competition. According to reports, clubs finishing higher in the league stage will be guaranteed home advantage for the second leg of their last 16 tie. The teams finishing first and second will retain home advantage in the semi-finals should they make it through. The benefit of home advantage for the second leg will be transferred if a lower-ranked team beats a higher-ranked side. New Champions League format is a snorefest By Dan King UEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement. The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet. The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four. Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed. None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet. And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn? Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games). There is even less jeopardy than before. So if a side which seals qualification to the last 16 through the play-off dumps out the table-toppers, they'll take their associated benefits. With the new format, last season's winners Paris Saint-Germain, who finished the league phase in 15th place, would've received all the benefits of finishing top of the table with their last-16 triumph over first-placed Liverpool. Uefa are said to be implementing the changes, which have been reported by Calcio e Finanza, to give more value to and increase the stakes in the group stage.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Pitch invasion STOPS Celtic trophy presentation in Cork
Brendan Rodgers' side won the pre-season friendly encounter 2-1 thanks to goals from Luke McCowan and a late header by Colby Donovan to score the winner. In the Irish sun, a packed-out crowd watched on in anticipation to see the Scottish Premiership champions in action. But after the full-time whistle had sounded, some young, eager fans could not contain their excitement, as they invaded the pitch to get up close with their heroes. Hundreds of youngsters streamed onto the field as the match organisers prepared to hand the trophy to Hoops skipper Callum McGregor. It was all taken in good spirits by the Celts stars and staff, with Rodgers & Co. happy to pose for photos and high-fives with the kids. However, it soon became clear that the trophy presentation had been cancelled as a result of the mass pitch invasion. And so, Celtic's players and staff continued to mingle with those who had made their way onto the pitch before heading for the away dressing room in Cork after another productive pre-season workout.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Pitch invasion STOPS Celtic trophy presentation in Cork
Brendan Rodgers' side won the pre-season friendly encounter 2-1 thanks to goals from Luke McCowan and a late header by Colby Donovan to score the winner. In the Irish sun, a packed-out crowd watched on in anticipation to see the Scottish Premiership champions in action. But after the full-time whistle had sounded, some young, eager fans could not contain their excitement, as they invaded the pitch to get up close with their heroes. Hundreds of youngsters streamed onto the field as the match organisers prepared to hand the trophy to Hoops skipper Callum McGregor. It was all taken in good spirits by the Celts stars and staff, with Rodgers & Co. happy to pose for photos and high-fives with the kids. However, it soon became clear that the trophy presentation had been cancelled as a result of the mass pitch invasion. And so, Celtic's players and staff continued to mingle with those who had made their way onto the pitch before heading for the away dressing room in Cork after another productive pre-season workout.
