The new format implemented by UEFA has brought new dynamics in both UCL and UEL competitions this season, not only in UEL, even we see in UCL many favorite teams actually have to struggle to qualify for the next round, without the Home Away system, making every match more challenging and there is no longer an advantage to play at home, So that requires each team to perform optimally in each of their matches and of course indirectly improves the quality and intensity of the current UEL and UCL competitions, the new format has provided greater opportunities for teams that are usually considered underdogs to make surprises, so we can say that it seems that indeed the format change was made to deliberately provide difficulties for the team team that has dominated so far.
At the beginning of the season, many said that this new format would benefit big teams because they have a complete squad. Because there will be many matches to be played, it will make small teams overwhelmed in rotating players. Some even said that the league format would benefit big teams, Man City will top the standings every season but in reality they are now struggling to qualify for the play-offs. Underdog teams will never be able to succeed, big teams will find it easier to play against small teams, and small teams will return to their rightful place at the bottom of the standings and will never reach the big round again, will never make a surprise again.
However, in reality so far it is very different from what many people have predicted, now there are many underdog teams both in the champions league and in the European league, small teams are actually making surprises. And yes, it cannot be denied that with this new format, apart from producing exciting matches, it also produces surprises, with this new format it will be difficult to predict because small teams have the same opportunity to compete for the trophy.