This should happen every year.
UEFA's desired format to conclude this year's Champions League could be the best idea they've ever had. The plan is to host the final in Lisbon on August 23rd, capping seven games in a 12 day tournament style window in Portugal's capital.
With the remaining last 16 fixtures due to be played before any of this can happen, it still needs to be ratified and officially announced by UEFA, who will host a meeting in Lisbon tomorrow.
Paris Saint-Germian, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig are already in the last 8 while Man City Vs Real Madrid, Bayern Munich Vs Chelsea, Juventus Vs Lyon, and Barcelona Vs. Napoli all need to be completed.
Those 2nd legs are due to take place at the respective home venues, pending confirmation by UEFA, on 7th and 8th August.
According to Sky Italia, The 12 day Lisbon event will then start on 12th August, with Quarter-Finals happening over the next four days. The semi-finals would then be played on Tuesday and Wednesday the 18th and 19th August, with the final scheduled for the 23rd, a Sunday at the Stadium of Light.
The Europa League is also set for a tournament style event in Western Germany, with Cologne hosting the final, while the Women's Champions League will conclude in Bilbao.
Straight knockout, neutral venues, accessible and desirable location - isn't this how the Champiosns League should be played off every year?
Once (hopefully!) crowds return and international travel returns to normal, a Champions League two week tournament to finish every club football season would be an incredible.
Perhaps losing out on "Famous European nights under the lights" at home grounds wouldn't be ideal for clubs but for neutral fans, or for fans willing to travels, an extra festival of football on the calendar would only be a good thing.
Not to mention, the games would be amazing and would elevate the importance of the Champions League even more, if possible.
What do you think? Would you prefer the Champions League to stay as it is in the long run or adopt this new tournament approach. Let us know in the comments.
