Sports丨Continental shift: UCL enters a new era

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A new era in European club soccer begins on Thursday when the draw takes place in Monaco for an expanded UEFA Champions League with a radically changed format.    European soccer's governing body is selling what it describes as "a thrilling new future" for the game on the continent, with more teams playing more matches, and more prize money on offer.    UEFA needs to generate hype around the new format, because there is a risk — in the beginning at least — that fans will find it confusing compared to the old model.    For the last 21 years, the Champions League has consisted of a group stage in which 32 clubs were split into eight groups of four, each playing six games. The top two in each group qualified for the knockout phase.   ▲ Sparta Praha striker Albion Rrahmani celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Champions League play-off second leg soccer match against Malmo at the Letna stadium in Prague, Czech Republic, on Tuesday. AP The new version will fe ………………………………