Former Manchester Metropolis defender Nedum Onuoha was complimentary of the brand new format and believes it has been a hit.

“I’ve loved it,” Onuoha advised BBC Sport. “There have been a number of good video games within the group stage and many huge moments, and never simply when the massive groups have performed one another both.

“The largest change for me was that groups solely performed one another as soon as within the league stage. It meant no-one lived or died by that end result, and likewise the power from the lesser groups was very completely different to when groups knew they might play one another once more in a couple of weeks’ time.

“Aston Villa beating Bayern Munich was instance. Bayern didn’t get a second probability towards them, after they in all probability wouldn’t have slipped up once more – however they have been nonetheless in a position to claw again the factors they dropped.”

Eventual champions PSG misplaced three of their opening 5 video games, earlier than a late resurgence noticed them win their subsequent three matches to safe a play-off tie with fellow Ligue 1 facet Brest.

After successful that, Luis Enrique’s facet met Liverpool, the crew who completed prime of the league part, within the final 16.

“Whereas PSG are clearly a top-quality facet, their journey exhibits that discovering kind on the proper time is what issues,” added Onuoha. “They have been out of the highest 24 till they gained their penultimate sport, after which bought by means of the play-off stage.

“That is one other factor I like concerning the format, as a result of PSG have proven that sooner or later, it would not matter should you do not make the highest eight.”

Journalist Nicky Bandini made a positive level concerning the new format benefitting Luis Enrique’s facet.

“With out this format, we might perhaps not have seen this PSG crew that has developed throughout the season as a result of they might have gone out,” mentioned Bandini. “This manner we get to see them progress, and it looks like a extra entertaining journey.

“All the time a lot within the Champions League has been about coming good on the proper time – it has at all times been about what’s your kind like within the spring somewhat than your kind at first of the event.

“However I do suppose with the additional video games this yr, and with the very particular journey we have now seen PSG go on, you actually have been in a position to observe this improvement in actual time.”