Champions League to ‘copy Super Bowl’ with radical changes to UEFA competition

UEFA are reportedly considering major changes to the Champions League which would see the semi-finals and final held in the same week to create a ‘Super Bowl’ style event.

Last season’s competition saw a significant tweak to the format with the quarter-finals, semi-final and final all held in Lisbon over the course of 11 days, due to the impact of Covid-19 around Europe.

Both the quarter-finals and semi-finals were played over a single-leg at a neutral stadium instead of taking on the usual two-legged home and away format.

That was expected to be a one-off event, with this season’s tournament reverting to its regular format during the knockout stages.

But according to the New York Times, UEFA will reveal its new plans for a season-ending mini-tournament ahead of this weekend’s showpiece final between Chelsea and Manchester City in Porto.

Under the new format, which could be called ‘champions week’, fans can look forward to watching the semi-final and final in the same week.

The final would remain in its now traditional Saturday night slot, having moved from its original midweek billing in 2010.

UEFA’s aim is to create a Super Bowl style end-of-season finale with events throughout the week building towards the final on the Saturday.

According to the New York Times, the changes are under serious consideration and could come into effect during the 2023-24 competition.

That could see it coincide with UEFA’s new Champions League format, when the tournament adopt a new ‘Swiss model’ throughout the group stages.

Early concerns have been raised over a potential loss in TV revenue if two-legged semi-finals are removed.

But it could also ease fixture congestion, with clubs expected to play four extra group games once the competition’s new format begins in 2023.

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