The big clubs drooling after the Super League have embarrassed themselves in the Champions League, writes Janne Palomäki.
The Barcelona players looked the truth in the eyes: the Champions League season is over. PDO
Who still remembers the Superliga?
In April 2021, 12 major European clubs announced the establishment of a new closed league. However, the fans’ reception was so overwhelming that the English teams dropped out after just a couple of days, and in the end only Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remained in the Super League.
After that the trio has patiently blown the Super Liiga embers waiting for the time to turn favorable to the idea.
It seems difficult.
The group stage of the Champions League, which ends this week, has at least treated the super clubs rudely. Of course, Real Madrid continues to the spring playoff round as usual as the group winner. But the path of both Barcelona and Juventus rose up already at this point.
On Wednesday, Juve might even miss out on the Europa League consolation prize if Haifa’s Mackabi surprises Benfica, who have already secured their place in the next round.
The Superliga was marketed as a series where the best teams would constantly face each other.
– For example, in tennis, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have played against each other 40 times in 15 years. Nadal and Novak Djokovic have met 59 times in 16 years, Real Madrid boss Florentino Pérez, who took over the role of league chairman, told ESPN.
– In futsal, Real Madrid has faced Liverpool nine times in 67 years. We have played against Chelsea four times in the Champions League. What is the point of depriving the fans of all these matches, he asked.
Shared by Pérez, Barcelona boss Joan Laporta and Juventus colleague Andrea Agnelli the vision has been that the euro giants would no longer have to waste time and energy with small clubs.
According to them, fans and television viewers would just like to watch the titans fight each other, so they could also grab all the prize money for themselves.
The past autumn has very carefully spoiled the Superliiga dream.
Juventus has lost to both Benfica and Makkabi during the Eurofall. Neither was considered a tough enough team for the elite league of the money-rich.
The story continues after the picture
Florentino Pérez (right) discussed football at the Olympic Stadium with, among others, Sauli Niinistö (center). PDO
Barcelona has only been able to beat Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League. Bayern Munich, who decided to stay out of the Superliga themselves, stormed to victory in Group C.
Based on the game performances, the Germans chose the tougher league.
A total of 12 teams had already secured a further place before this week’s final round. Among them, Napoli, Club Brugge, Porto, Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Benfica would all have been left out of the planned Superliga.
As incredible as it may seem, however, the Superliga will not die. The idea is still alive and well in the management boards of the three big clubs that are still flying the flag.
Barcelona fears that its entire house of cards will collapse if it does not receive additional funding quickly. For this season, Laporta tried to put together a credible team with debt money, which through its success would attract more sponsors and better television contracts.
On Tuesday, the project celebrated its funeral in Bohemia at the home field of tiny Viktoria Plzeň. The club management has to record a calculated loss of up to 30 million euros for relegation in the Champions League.
The Super League team Atlético Madrid dropped out of Group A, even though its budget is several times that of Club Brugge and clearly bigger than Porto and Bayer Leverkusen.
The level of Arsenal and Manchester United was not enough even for the opening round of the Champions League. Their fate is to focus on the matches of the lesser Europa League.
Barcelona’s deadlock is so tight that it can’t be opened by just turning your eyes. Juventus’ performances on the field are substandard, and the Old Lady must really hope for a perfect posture in order for the team to be seen in any Eurocup competition next season.
This autumn has shown that European football is more united than the men who lead it. Pérez and his partners are allowed to dream of the Superliga, but right now it lacks both the support of the people and the sporting foundation.
Although it looks good now, the defense should not be counted out. The Superliga will still be remarketed at some point, because the business model of some clubs requires it.
That’s when you should dig out this fall’s Champions League tables.