GENEVA (AP) — There could be a surprising team from each of Europe’s “big five” leagues when the new-look Champions League debuts next season. Aston Villa, Bologna, Brest, Girona and Stuttgart are all, remarkably, on course to qualify for Europe’s elite competition going into the final few rounds of their national league. Bologna, Stuttgart and Girona have perhaps the best chance of earning a place in the 36-team Champions League lineup when the lucrative tournament switches to a new format next season. For Spain’s Girona and French club Brest, it would be a particularly remarkable achievement — neither has ever played in any European competition. But this kind of challenge was not expected from any of the provincial teams, which have had little or no recent success — even if Aston Villa was the European Cup champion in 1982 — and mostly have coaches who are in their first full season. |
Xi Orders Curbing Repeated Occurrence of Safety Accidents After Deadly Street Shop FireXi Replies to Letter from Representatives of Kenyan Students, Alumni at Beijing Jiaotong UniversityEmission capping in focus as scientists predict hotter 2024Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 33,729: ministryBoat found adrift with over 10 bodies in northern BrazilMOC criticizes US' move against Chinese companiesNortheast China launches first crossInsights丨 Literature works bridge for communications between China and Brazil: Brazilian professorMOC criticizes US' move against Chinese companiesAttacks on civilians amid Gaza conflict condemned