When the UEFA Champions League’s new format was revealed, there were reservations about the group stage being replaced with the league phase. But at the end of match-day three, fans of the Premier League’s representatives may be having second thoughts and enjoying the new arrangement.
That’s as a result of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa enjoying an unbeaten start to the competition, with three of the four teams – Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City – taking the top three spots in the standings in that order.
Not only that, all four teams have conceded just one goal combined – a third-minute Christian Pulisic goal for Milan against Liverpool in a match the Reds went on to win 3-1 on MD1. Arne Slot’s side have gone on to win their other two matches to be one of two teams left with a 100% record.
Although one can argue Arsenal have been a bit fortunate in that aspect, as PSG hit the crossbar against the Gunners at the Emirates on MD2 while Atalanta saw a penalty saved by David Raya on MD1 in Bergamo.
After all said and done, it’s the results that matter and Aston Villa has gone about getting them – crucially taking advantage of home turf to beat Bayern Munich 1-0 on MD2. The Villans got that win after Bayern had put nine past Dinamo Zagreb on MD1.
The new UCL format requires teams to put their best foot forward in all games in order to seal a spot in the automatic qualifying positions and Unai Emery’s side has gone about the games in business-like manner.
While Liverpool and Manchester City are in expected positions, Arsenal as well given the nature of how they have gotten their points, Villa’s approach in their return to Europe’s top club competition has seen them put themselves in a good place to make the next round of the Champions League.
The top eight teams qualify automatically for the next stage while teams from ninth place to 24th will go through a one-off play-off to determine the other eight teams that will join the top eight in the Round of 16.
There are five games left to play before the end of the league phase, but with an experienced coach in Emery and a set of talented and hardworking players, it will be no surprise anymore if Villa finish in the top eight.