Champions League: UEFA may consider a group phase of 16 clubs, instead of 32, in 2018-19

UEFA may consider changing the format for the Champions League from the 2018-19 season, including a group stage with 16 clubs instead of 32, according to the British daily The Guardian, on 23/03/2016.

"The move is being driven by continental clubs’ concern that they are being left behind by huge revenues generated by the Premier League and the revised format could mean smaller teams having a reduced presence in the group phase." says," reported The Guardian.

In the format suggested by the British newspaper, the 32 teams qualified for the Champions League would first compete another, added knockout round, with two-legged home and away matches, and a seeded system so that top 16 European clubs do not face each other. The 16 winners would then advance to the group stage: two groups of eight teams, with home and away matches, for a total of 14 games per team.

The Champions League final would then pair the winners of each of the two groups. The finalists would thus compete in a total of 17 matches, against 13 in the current formula. And above all, the fourteen non-finalists would still…