Soccer-Champions League prepares for final feast after UEFA reforms hit the mark Story by Julien Pretot • 1d • 2 min read

By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) - The Champions League and Europa League reform drew criticism because it added to an already packed calendar, yet the European competitions' league phase finale is set to be a memorable blockbuster next week.

After seven rounds, only two teams - Liverpool and Barcelona - have secured direct access to the last 16 in the Champions League while Lazio are the only side having claimed their spot in the Europa League knockout phase.

The draw, with teams also facing sides from their own pot, meant that some top clubs played each other as early as the initial phase, as Liverpool manager Arne Slot noted.

"If I look at Paris St Germain, every week I think they have the hardest team to face, so they are quite low on the table, which is not their quality, but they are low," Slot said.

The previous format, with four teams in each group and the top two advancing into the knockout phase, was a quasi-guarantee for the privileged and featured numerous dead rubbers on the final day.

It will not be the case this year, with only Sturm Graz v RB Leipzig and Young Boys v Red Star Belgrade the only encounters with nothing at stake in the Champions League, just like in the Europa League, with Dynamo Kyiv v Rigas FS and Slavia Prague v Malmo the two dead rubbers on Thursday. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)