The Champions League's latest format is an exercise in football fatigue, a never-ending marathon of matches that leaves viewers feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from the actual game.
This week's 18 games on the final matchday showcased the unpredictable nature of football, with upsets galore and a plethora of goals. From Viktor Gyökeres' stunning strike to Benfica's dramatic comeback against Real Madrid, it was an evening that had something for everyone – except perhaps those looking for subtlety or depth.
The sheer volume of matches can make the game feel like a content machine, churning out events and storylines with little time for introspection or analysis. Gone are the days when a single game could spark meaningful conversation; now it's all about keeping up with the latest scores and updates in real-time.
Even the commentary was bombastic this week, with Ukrainian commentator Anatoliy Trubin bringing an extra layer of excitement to proceedings – albeit occasionally veering into cringe-worthy territory. The TNT crew, meanwhile, did a great job of capturing the moment when Benfica's goalkeeper scored a stunning header against Real Madrid.
As we struggle to keep up with this endless stream of football, it's worth taking a step back and appreciating the simple things – like a beautifully struck goal or a well-executed piece of defending. In an era where every match is seen as an opportunity for drama and excitement, sometimes the real joy of the game can get lost in the noise.
The Premier League's staggered schedule during COVID-19 was a welcome respite from this type of relentless footballing activity. The "product" benefited from having more time to breathe, allowing viewers to appreciate each match without feeling overwhelmed by too much information at once.
So as we navigate this brave new world of 24/7 football coverage, it's worth remembering that sometimes less can be more. Perhaps one day we'll get tired of the constant barrage of matches and be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy a quiet evening with the footy – without the need for an event calendar or social media updates.
This week's 18 games on the final matchday showcased the unpredictable nature of football, with upsets galore and a plethora of goals. From Viktor Gyökeres' stunning strike to Benfica's dramatic comeback against Real Madrid, it was an evening that had something for everyone – except perhaps those looking for subtlety or depth.
The sheer volume of matches can make the game feel like a content machine, churning out events and storylines with little time for introspection or analysis. Gone are the days when a single game could spark meaningful conversation; now it's all about keeping up with the latest scores and updates in real-time.
Even the commentary was bombastic this week, with Ukrainian commentator Anatoliy Trubin bringing an extra layer of excitement to proceedings – albeit occasionally veering into cringe-worthy territory. The TNT crew, meanwhile, did a great job of capturing the moment when Benfica's goalkeeper scored a stunning header against Real Madrid.
As we struggle to keep up with this endless stream of football, it's worth taking a step back and appreciating the simple things – like a beautifully struck goal or a well-executed piece of defending. In an era where every match is seen as an opportunity for drama and excitement, sometimes the real joy of the game can get lost in the noise.
The Premier League's staggered schedule during COVID-19 was a welcome respite from this type of relentless footballing activity. The "product" benefited from having more time to breathe, allowing viewers to appreciate each match without feeling overwhelmed by too much information at once.
So as we navigate this brave new world of 24/7 football coverage, it's worth remembering that sometimes less can be more. Perhaps one day we'll get tired of the constant barrage of matches and be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy a quiet evening with the footy – without the need for an event calendar or social media updates.
. The Champions League format is getting out of hand. I'm tired of constantly checking my phone for scores and highlights. It's like they're trying to exhaust us with all these games. Remember the good old days when we could just sit back, watch a match, and talk about it afterwards without feeling guilty? Now it's like we need an FOMO (fear of missing out) meter 
. I wish they'd take a cue from the Premier League and slow down a bit. Less is indeed more 
all these matchdays are exhausting me i mean who needs 18 games in one week lol? can't we just have a normal season again where we don't have to stress about every single game? 
and btw the commentary was so extra 
this week i love Anatoliy Trubin but some of his reactions were LOL-worthy 
I feel like we're losing touch with what makes football special... it's not just about the winning or scoring goals, but about the strategy, the teamwork, and the thrill of competition. With all these matches, it's hard to appreciate any one game in depth 
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! The Champions League format is getting out of hand. I mean, 18 games in one week? That's just too much football. It's like they want to turn us all into die-hard fans who can't even take a break from the action. And don't even get me started on how it affects the actual gameplay 
. Sometimes you just need to watch a match, not follow every single score and update in real-time. It's like they're losing sight of what football is all about – the love for the game itself 
. Bring back some sense of balance, please!
18 games in one day?! It's like they're sucking all the excitement out of football and replacing it with a never-ending marathon 
The TNT crew did alright though 
at least they could focus on the actual game for once. What's wrong with slowing it down a bit? We can appreciate the beautiful goals without feeling like we're drowning in information 
, it's like they're trying to burn out the fans. I mean, 18 games in one week? That's just crazy talk! And don't even get me started on the commentary, Anatoliy Trubin is all over the place 
. But you know what really gets my goat? The constant need for updates and scores 24/7. Can't we just take a break from it all for one second without needing our phones to tell us what's happening? I miss the old days when we could watch a game, relax, and not feel like we're missing out on something. It's like they're trying to suck every last bit of joy out of watching football 
I mean what happened to just being able to sit back and watch the match without having to refresh the page every 5 seconds?! And don't even get me started on the commentary – sometimes I feel like I'm watching a soap opera with all the over-the-top excitement 
where every match is a major event and every goal is a game-changer 
I swear, sometimes I just want to watch a team play for the sake of playing, without all the hype and pressure 
Remember that? When you could just chill with friends, watch a match, and then move on with your life without checking the scores every 5 seconds?! Ahhh those were the days 
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. I miss the Premier League schedule during COVID-19, that was a breath of fresh air! Now we're stuck in this never-ending cycle of matches and updates... let's just take it easy for once 
. And don't even get me started on the commentary - some of that stuff was just cringeworthy 
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. Anatoliy Trubin might be hyped, but sometimes it's too much 
. And who needs that extra layer of excitement when you're already watching 18 games in one night? 
. That was a breath of fresh air! And I totally feel like we need to take a step back and appreciate the little things – a well-executed tackle or a sick goal 
18 games in one week? It's madness! Back in my day, they used to play like, 2-3 games a season, and we loved it that way! 
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It's like they're trying to drain our energy 
. Remember when we used to love football just for the sake of it? Now it's all about the FOMO (fear of missing out) 
and who's going to get upset if they miss a match? I mean, can't we just slow down a notch? 
. Maybe one day they'll find a better balance between excitement and calm 
. And don't even get me started on the commentary 
... some of it was just cringeworthy!