Paris (AFP)

Quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in 11 days: rescheduled because of the coronavirus, the Europa League, from Monday, and the Champions League, from Wednesday, will end with unprecedented knockout tournaments ("Final 8") . So, "exciting" format or devalued cut?

The introduction of confrontations on "dry match", behind closed doors and on neutral ground, in four cities of Germany for the C3 (Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne) and in Lisbon for the C1, constitutes an upheaval in the landscape of European club football.

So, without the traditional format of home and away matches and without the support of their home crowd last year in the semi-finals, Liverpool would probably not have managed to overthrow Barcelona (0-3, 4-0) to get to the final and impose itself there. And in the same way, all the twists and turns that have made the legend of the C1 in recent years, starting with the "comeback" of Barça against PSG in 2017 (0-4, 6-1), seem excluded with this new format.

But the formula has its supporters: it "will be fascinating and rich in emotions", wants to believe Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of Paris SG and boss of the group beIN sports, one of the main broadcasters of the competition.

Same opinion for Zinédine Zidane, triple winner of the test on the bench of Real Madrid (2016-2018). "I find it not bad to do the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final in one match. Especially to do it in one place, there will be 15 days where everything will be decided", summed up the coach French, eliminated in the round of 16 by Manchester City.

- Unity of time and place -

These “Final 8” desired by UEFA, which resemble the final phase of an international competition like the Euro or the World Cup, combine a unity of time and place which leaves the clubs no catch-up session.

"Today's form will be decisive," said Hansi Flick, Bayern Munich coach, who outscored Chelsea 4-1 on Saturday in the round of 16 second leg after winning the first leg 3-0 in England.

The German technician has for him the advantage of having already experienced these very particular tournament atmospheres, as assistant to coach Joachim Löw, especially during the 2014 World Cup won by Germany in Brazil.

But for most clubs, this is something new to understand.

At the strategic level, do the looming matches without a net encourage greater defensive caution or more offensive daring?

"The big clubs are not going to deny their style because it is a chopping match," said AFP Jacques Santini, former coach of the Blues. "The strongest and most confident of their potential will still have an advantage."

- Trophies devalued? -

Another unsettling aspect: the public will not be there to ignite the meetings. Due to the health crisis, the matches will be played behind closed doors, a situation now familiar since the resumption of elite football in Europe in mid-May.

The usual scenes of celebration between players and communion with supporters will give way this year to the stadium sound system which will resonate in the stands left empty.

And at the end of the two continental finals, scheduled for August 21 in Cologne for the C3, and on August 23 in Lisbon for the C1, the trophies risk, for the first time, escaping the laps of honor and the usual showers of Champagne...

Under these drastic conditions and given the sporting uncertainty generated by matches without a net and without benchmarks, is there a risk that the Europa League and the Champions League give birth to surprise winners? It would not take more for some to qualify these two editions of trophies at a discount ...

"The winner of the Champions League will have to take advantage, he will be recognized, even if it will be a bizarre championship. But the winner will savor his title", slice the ex-star of Real Predrag Mijatovic, winner of the Champions League in 1998.

© 2020 AFP