Champions League sets new goals record as debate over new format continues

The Champions League, UEFA's top club football competition in Europe, has set a new goals record under its revised format, BBC Sport reports. The format has been in use since the 2024-25 season, and its effect on matches has been widely debated ever since. The central question is whether reduced jeopardy in the early rounds pushes teams to play more openly and attack more.

What has changed

The Champions League as it is known today dates from 1992. The tournament began in 1955-56 as a six-team invitational event and became a 32-team knockout competition in 1967. A group stage was later added, with the last 16 forming the knockout phase. There was a brief spell with two group stages, but the competition returned to a single one for 2003-04.

The group stage used to feature 32 teams in eight groups of four, with the top two from each group going through. It has now been replaced by a 36-team league phase in which each side plays eight one-off fixtures, rather than six games against three opponents. The top eight go directly to the knockout stages, teams from ninth to 24th enter a two-legged play-off, and the bottom eight are eliminated. After eight matches, 24 sides remain in the competition.

Entertainment versus quality

Some argue this creates a lack of jeopardy that encourages more expansive play. Tom Arnott, football writer at The Times, told BBC Radio 5 Live that entertainment has risen, though he is unsure about quality. He called the games thrilling to watch but questioned what they mean. In his view, teams needing five wins from eight games have some margin, so a defeat is not damaging and the format lets sides loosen up.