Sunday, September 27, 2009

Europa League reaplaces UEFA Cup

It is called now Europa League, the new UEFA competition that brings to Europe more quality matches and more money for the winning clubs. The new format that replaces UEFA Cup continues to be a valid alternative for those who can´t be present at Champions League. Teams like Ajax, Valencia, Celtic, Sporting CP, AS Roma, Galatasaray, Villareal, SL Benfica, Shakhtar, PSV or Werder Bremen ensure quality to a Cup that even though isn´t good enough to be compared to CL, has also good players. In this new format the group stage is expanded to include 12 groups of four teams each and each team plays the other three sides on a home-and-away basis, with the top two teams in each of the 12 groups progressing to the Round of 32. This system is similar to CL and much better than the one used in UEFA Cup.


In addition to the number of teams involves and the huge diference between both competitions quality, there is another important subject that should be highlighted: the probable winners. As we all know, the millionaire league is used to be won by english, italian and spanish teams, what doesn´t happens with UEFA Cup/ Europa League. This tournament is usually won by many teams that come from Ucraine, Russia, Portugal, Netherlands, Turquey, Germany etc. This fact contributes to the competitiveness I have referred before. It´s hard to name a favourite because unlike Champions League there isn´t three or four teams much better than the others.

Europa League is then a Cup in which all clubs are invited to win money and visibility in a continent where football assumes the role of most important sport. Who will win it? Wait until May...






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