Football

Champions League Resumes with Key Injuries Sidelining Star PlayersThe UEFA Champions League resumed on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, with a wave of injuries casting a shadow over the competition. Kylian Mbappé's hamstring injury is expected to keep him out beyond Wednesday, when defending champion Real Madrid faces Lille. Manchester City midfielder Rodri is out for the season with a serious knee injury, while Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen will miss most of it. Inter Milan's Nicolò Barella, who impressed against Rodri on September 18, will miss at least one Champions League game due to a thigh strain.These injuries have reignited the debate about player workload in a congested calendar. The expanded Champions League format, which was pushed by influential clubs, has resulted in 18 games this week, leaving each team with six more to play through January.Rematches and Crowd SizeThe first week of the new Champions League format featured two repeats of past finals. Manchester City and Inter drew 0-0, while Liverpool defeated AC Milan 3-1. Another rematch is scheduled for Wednesday when Aston Villa hosts Bayern Munich, a giant of the European Cup era that was shocked 1-0 in the 1982 final.Crowd size and fan fervor have varied in the opening week. Celtic Park witnessed a pulsating atmosphere for a rare European win by the Scottish champion, while the attendance was lower for the Inter-Manchester City game. Milan-Liverpool was far from sold out, with fewer than 60,000 fans at San Siro.Key MatchupsDespite Mbappé's absence, Real Madrid is expected to have too much firepower for Lille. Premier League leader Liverpool hosts Bologna, while Girona's first European visitor to the Montilivi stadium is Feyenoord. Dinamo Zagreb fired its coach after a drubbing at Bayern and brought back Nenad Bjelica for a second spell. He starts in the Champions League hosting Monaco.Tuesday's Games* Celtic vs. Borussia Dortmund* Bayer Leverkusen vs. AC Milan* Inter Milan vs. Red Star Belgrade* Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain* Barcelona vs. Young BoysWednesday's Games* Real Madrid vs. Lille* Liverpool vs. Bologna* Girona vs. Feyenoord* Dinamo Zagreb vs. Monaco

The Champions League, Europe's premier club football competition, embarks on a new era with an expanded format and increased matches. UEFA, the governing body, has introduced a 36-team league phase, with each team playing eight matches against different opponents.The expanded format aims to address the predictability of the traditional group stage and prevent the formation of a breakaway Super League. The top eight teams from the league phase will advance directly to the last 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in a play-off round for the remaining berths.The opening week of the competition features several high-profile clashes, including Real Madrid vs. VfB Stuttgart, AC Milan vs. Liverpool, and Manchester City vs. Inter Milan. The draw has also produced intriguing matchups such as Paris Saint-Germain vs. Arsenal and Manchester City, and Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, and Milan.While the expanded format promises more excitement and unpredictability, concerns have been raised about the impact on player workload. The additional matches come at a time when top clubs are already facing a congested schedule, including the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.Global footballers' union FIFPro has expressed concerns about the lack of rest and recovery time for players. The union argues that the increased number of matches could lead to injuries and burnout.Despite the concerns, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin believes the new format will benefit the competition and make it more interesting. The expanded Champions League promises a fresh start, but it remains to be seen whether the increased workload will ultimately prove beneficial or detrimental to the players and the sport as a whole.