As football fans, we are programmed to hate change. More games? No thanks. Scrapping FA Cup replays? How dare they. Introducing the Europa Conference League? Absolutely not… hold on, unless your team can win a long-awaited trophy… then it’s excellent, actually.
Because of this mindset, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin – he’s the guy with a skinhead trim you always recognise at the draws but never remember where you know him from – was met with ridicule when he announced the new-look Champions League format.
But whisper it quietly, going into matchday eight, the new regime is going down a treat. Or to use UEFA’s own words headlining an article on their official website, it has ‘hit the mark’.
Of the 18 matches all kicking off at once on Wednesday, 16 have something riding on it, 27 of 36 teams still have uncertain futures. What is not to like?
Many questions remain unsolved: if Manchester City win, they are through – draw or lose and they are out. Can Aston Villa get into the top eight or will they have to settle for a play-off spot? Will Liverpool make mass changes or try to top the table? Where will Arsenal and Celtic finish?
Aside from the British teams, there are plenty of engaging stories, too: Paris Saint-Germain, despite playing City off the park last week, could still crash out if they lose to Stuttgart who, in turn, would climb into the play-offs.
There was scepticism about the new Champions League format when it was introduced
Man City must win their final group game against Club Brugge or face tournament elimination
Real Madrid are looking to secure a place in the top-eight, which guarantees a last-16 position
The Parisians join big-hitters Real Madrid, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in the ‘middle section’ and thus will likely have an unwanted play-off to contest, while lesser-ranked teams Feyenoord, Atalanta, Monaco, Lille and Brest will fight to make the top eight.
So although it is not the popular view, this new format has been excellent. Maybe not if you’re a fan of one of the big boys who have faltered – only three of the eight top-seeded teams are currently in the top eight – but certainly for entertainment value.
In terms of goals per game, we are on for the highest-scoring Champions League campaign yet with an average of 3.22 every match.
It must be said that this invention was just another ploy for UEFA to make more money, of course.
Quite funny, then, that many of the established elite are stumbling while the so-called minnows are thriving.
Fans of Brest, Villa and Co will be loving every minute of their adventures. The French club host the mighty Real Madrid tonight with nothing to fear, Villa toppled Bayern Munich, Club Brugge – unbeaten in 20 games – travel to Manchester confident they can pull off an almighty scalp.
These fixtures, of course, could have happened in the old format. But the jeopardy of climbing the table, fighting for play-offs and no safety-net of the third-placed sides dropping into the Europa League, it feels like the drama has been amped up.
For fans, four away trips might be harder to sign off with the family and it will slim your wallet.
Aston Villa have claimed statement wins in the competition this season but need a result against Scottish giants Celtic on Wednesday to give themselves a chance of a top-eight finish
But many supporters will cite European ventures as the best days of their lives – football or otherwise. It gives them an extra trip to potentially tick off a new foreign city and stadium.
The new format certainly has its flaws but 16 of 18 games having something riding on them is unheard of. In yesteryear, the final matchday of the six-game groups would be rather inconsequential.
Now it is a football feast worth tucking into. One match on your TV, maybe also fire up the laptop and/or tablet if you can for additional watching as goals go in all around the continent. Someone somewhere is surely pondering an 18-fold bet – picking all the bookies’ favourites is 13,000/1.
It is not perfect, but it is better than anyone expected. So pour yourself a drink – or if you’re doing Dry January, relax with the UEFA official partner Heineken 0 per cent – and enjoy the blockbuster action tonight.