Were Juventus and Liverpool Terrible Or Has The Champions League Improved?

Juventus and Liverpool have been banished to the second tier European competition, The Europa League. With two of the many favorites out, I really think the Champions League is getting better for so many reasons.

In the Champions League in recent times, we already have a fixed second round bracket with a few teams who surprise. Last season Panathinaikos were the surprise package of the season, topping their table that featured Inter Milan. Villarreal who have had a mixed season this year, getting to the Quarter Finals.

This season has been way different as "small' teams didn't read the script about "big" teams progressing. There were no teams who came here just to be in the competition. The draw for the next round features teams like Fiorentina, CSKA Moskow,  Bordeaux, Olympiacos and Stuttgart who defiled odds and survived groups that contained Liverpool, German Champions Wolfsburg, Juventus, Dutch Champions AZ and Rangers respectively.

Which makes you think, why did the suprises all come at once this season?

Underestimation and Complacency

The French, Russian And Romanian League have been taken for granted as their teams have always seemed to make up the total number with only Lyon and CSKA Moskow only doing reasonable damage in the past years. Also UEFA Cup winners (now Europa League) Zenit St. Petersburg didn't bring anything to the table last season and maybe it wasn't time for the Russian League to make its name in Europe.

All that changed this season when Rubin Kazan beat Barcelona AT HOME. The current Russian Champions stunned the World and maybe didn't stun themselves because they believed that they could do it ( with help from their outstanding  keeper Sergei Ryzhikov who saved 11 shots that day) or Barcelona were complacent and underestimated the Russian team.I think it is the later because Barcelona and the players to dispose of the side but just lacked luck that is needed when a "small" team stuns you and you are struggling to crawl back into the game.

The same aspect could also have affected Liverpool who had Lyon in the bag, twice but let the game slip and now Europa League beckons. Rangers lost to debutant FC Unirea Urziceni( who were looking to be the first debutant to qualify following Rubin Kazan's loss to Inter) , who scored four in Scotland. Manchester were very lucky to draw when CSKA Moskow raced ro a 1-3 lead at Old Traford. Arsenal were lucky to have escaped, when Wenger's experiments left Arsenal 2-0 down away to Standard but a late goals

What is my point exactly? There are no more any small teams.

Ambition

Most of the "big" teams come into the tournament wanting to win it obviously, but what about lesser teams who play in weaker leagues? They shockingly want to win it too. But they know they can't, but have to give it their all, then we have upsets like mid-class Bordeaux thrashing Juventus, FC Zurich beating AC Milan. Its not that lesser teams can't win the Champions League(let's face it, they can not win the competition), it is just that no one wants to play for the draw any more.

Upgrade You

The quality of the champions League has improved every year the goal per game ratio has dropped from two seasons ago(2.64), last season(2.63), so far this year 2.48, so far defences have improved greatly.

Individual Geniuses

The Champions League discovers talent, so far we have seen a hand full of players who have not been afraid to strut their stuff and have therefore lit the stage.

Hugo LLoris has been key for Lyon so far, he has conceeded 3 goals in 6 games, by far the least for anyone who has played all 540 minuted of Champions League so far, has some outstanding save against Liverpool.

Alan Dzagoev might not be know to many but the young Russian has combined with Krasic to form the lethal attacking midfield that CSKA Moscow have fielded so far, with 3 goals and 1 assist to his name, Dzagoev has all but established himself as one for the future.

Milos Krasic is more of a direct player, always looking to find the net, he has found the net 4 times so far and only Ronaldo stands in his way. He scored a nice goal against Manchester and should be key to CSKA Moscow in every single game. WE will also like to see him in action for Serbia in the World Cup next summer.

Tomas Necid has also been great for CSKA Moscow with four assists, so we know who provides Krasic with those nice goals.

Juan Vargas has been immense for Fiorentina , defence troubling crosses , darting runs have led him to be the assist leader for Fiorentina and to show this is not a fluke, he also has 4 assists in 15 games for the Florence based club. Scored a crucial penalty against Lyon that sent the to the top of their group.

Miralem Pjanic has not been talked about the way he has played so far, scored on the opening day, scored home and away to Debreccen, has three assists two his name. For me, he should be the pick of Lyon players to watch next round.

Christiano Ronaldo has been immense so far, no one, I mean no one predicted such an explosive start to his Madrid career, he has six goals, this being the pick of them all.

Honorable Mentions

Obertan

Stevan Jovetic

Hulk

Falcao

In all, I hope the Champions League brings excitement every year, trust me, it will.