Expanded Champions League Set For Big Kick-Off
A new era in European club football begins this week when the first games are played in the expanded Champions League amid curiosity about the rejigged format as well as growing concerns over an ever-increasing number of matches. UEFA, the European game's governing body, sensed the need for change at a time when the traditional group stage was becoming more predictable and the continent's biggest clubs were threatening to break away and form their own Super League. The result is a league phase featuring 36 clubs -- four more teams than in the past -- with everyone playing eight matches against eight different opponents, two more games than previously.
