We’ve been quite critical of the new-fangled Champions League here and a lot of that criticism still stands, but…did anyone else watch that draw and think, “Well…it’s not perfect. It might not even be good. But it does look a bit more fun than the old way.”

Plus, how did Chelsea get on against Servette? And what on earth happened to Real Madrid when they went to the Canary Islands?

Got something to say? Post it on the app or send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.

Need something to read? Try Jack Pitt-Brooke on the new era of Lee Carsley at England.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5728690/2024/08/29/england-carsley-gomes-grealish/

Presenter: Iain Macintosh

With: Liam Twomey, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Aleksandr Čeferin

Producer: Steve Hankey

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Is the new Champions League really all that bad?