The Arrival of Champions League Parity

By: chris | March 18th, 2010

The brilliance of Lionel Messi, and of Stuttgart allowing him space, has ushered us into the Champions League quarterfinals.

Only it doesn’t look like the Champions League quarterfinals we’re used to. Poor seasons by big clubs, rises to prominence by lesser knowns, difficult first round draws and the occasional curse have offered up a quarterfinal campaign unlike any since four knockout rounds were implemented in 2003. Six countries represented, which hasn’t happened in the last seven years, and no dominant country with more than two teams. In a word: parity.

The Champions League in the modern knockouts era:

03-04

Two: Italy, Spain, England
One: Portugal, France

04-05

Three: Italy
Two: England
One: Germany, France, Netherlands

05-06

Three: Italy
Two: Spain
One: Portugal, France, England

06-07

Three: England
Two: Italy
One: Spain, Germany, France

07-08

Four: England
One: Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain

08-09

Four: England
Two: Spain
One: Germany, Portugal

09-10:

Two: England, France
One: Spain, Germany, Italy, Russia

Countries by submissions:

England – 18
Italy -12
Spain – 9
France – 6
Germany – 5
Portugal – 2
Netherlands, Russia, Turkey – 1

With so many big names dropping out either early or late – Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, etc – this year’s competition has done nothing but compare itself to the 03-04 season since the group stages ended. There’s arguably more history in the spectators than in the participants. In fact Real Madrid has won as many titles as the whole of the quarterfinals combined (9) – and this before tabulating Milan (7), Liverpool (5) and Juventus (2).

The current tournament is lacking some of its glitzy, big checkbook names, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s lacking the quality. It’s just not your typical Champions League. England’s participation has been cut in half and what was last year billed as “the best league in the world” has a solitary submission (arguably the favorite, but a lone ranger none the less).

Now the question: is it a good thing?

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Category: Champions League

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Shane

I would hardly call Bayern a smaller less popular club than Fiorentina, not that I think there was a conspiracy to get them through. Just a tragically bad bit of officiating.
lefutur

^^ exactly how does FIFA benifit from have the smaller, less popular clubs advance in the CL?

sometimes these conspiracy theorists get on my nerves.
Luke

You'd think the strings on Al's violin would have worn out by now..
Luke

I don't know that parity is really the word, as much as diversity. It will only be a good thing if the trend continues in succeeding editions of the competition. Otherwise, it will just be written off as an aberration.
Al

This year's 'parity' or the whole of the Champions' League is only good if you like a fix. The taint of Bayern Munchen's theft with background applause from FIFA putting in another crooked ref for the second leg makes this year filty and stinks of an infected Blatter.
Danni Ketju

Of course it's a good thing. Just like in leagues, when four maybe five teams control the Champions' League, it turns reatively dull.
The fact that most people have a hard time figuring out how well will Girondins and CSKA perform (even Bayern Munich, which is a sleeping giant)is a good sign for everybody. That translates in a better experience watching the game, more people tuning in (which means both the UEFA and the sponsors are happy), and an increase in chances of actually having a major shock this season.
Depending on what goes on this friday, when the UEFA draws names to decide who plays who, we could all be in for one of the most exciting editions of the decade.
Now, those who are really bitter are the English and the Italian. England went from landing three semifinalists last season, to have just two teams in QF. Italy is in what could be a turning point in Calcio. Of seven teams qualified for European competitions, just two remain. AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina, Genoa, and AS Roma have all bitten the dust, and rather early in the season too.
The other big league in Europe (Spain) can't complain. Usually it's Real Madrid and Barcelona who have made it this far (with an occasional Villarreal and Valencia), but havn't been able to seed three of their own in QF.
The big winner: France. and if you count the Europa League, Germany too.
They're allowed to have six teams, and yet four are still active. What's even more astonishing, is that all four teams from both countries have great chances on making it to the next round. Europa Leaguers define who makes it to QF today, and Marseille, Lille, Hamburg, Wolfsburg and Bremen have the upper hand in their games.
Maybe this could be the begginning of some new trend in European football...
Laurie

Definitely a good thing for fans of smaller leagues. (Ligue 1 fans are still pinching themselves.) And good thing for those who like underdogs.

Less good for those who are counting on many big teams to get big ratings to bring more big money to make the bigger teams bigger to get more big ratings to bring in more money to...

Wait. Yeah. Good thing. Very good thing.