UCL 'set for ANOTHER change to format' as players' unions complain to UEFA

UEFA are considering another change to the Champions League format after only introducing a major revamp of the competition this season.

Europe's premier club competition ditched group stages this season in place of a league phase for the first round.

This change added two matchdays to the European calendar with clubs facing eight different opponents across as many matches in an attempt to try and qualify for the round of 16 by finishing in the top eight of 36 teams. Teams ranked ninth to 24th battle it out in a knockout round to join the other eight clubs in the final 16.

The additional matches have added strain to an already congested club calendar and now, according to the Guardian, UEFA are considering ways to lighten the burden.

The governing body are exploring the idea of scraping extra time from Champions League knockout matches with drawn ties going straight to a penalty shootout.

Players' unions have long argued in favour of scrapping extra time and, with the new format making burnout worse, UEFA are seriously considering the proposal.

Concessions have already been made to the domestic calendar - FA Cup replays were scrapped from this season - and cutting the additional 30 minutes from two-legged Champions League ties would go a small way towards alleviating the problems caused by late-season fixture congestion.

The proposal will surely be welcomed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola who, only last week, complained about his club's packed fixture list.

City failed to qualify automatically for the Champions League last 16 and now face holders Real Madrid in a two-legged play-off on February 11 and 19.

'The schedule is what it is,' said Guardiola.

'In the Premier League everyone has to play everyone but what normally happens is we have tougher schedules for the (Premier League) teams in Europe. It’s tough playing against Real Madrid, the problem is in the middle playing Newcastle.'

He sarcastically added: 'They are always so kind with the calendar, for many years it always happened that way.'

Any change to the Champions League format would have to be ratified by UEFA's executive committee and is unlikely to happen midway through this television rights cycle, which runs until 2027.