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Football
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As the Champions League begins once again, Lawrence Ostlere is joined by Miguel Delaney and Richard Jolly on the latest episode of Copa Independent to debate the reduced jeopardy in the league phase, the value of finishing in the top eight, and how the format can benefit smaller clubs while packing the calendar. They discuss quirks of the draw and standout fixtures including Manchester City vs PSG, Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United, and José Mourinho facing former clubs, plus interest in Cesc Fàbregas’ Como.
The panel then explores why Premier League spending hasn’t translated into European dominance, citing domestic competitiveness, fatigue, turnover and coaching context.
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"Why the Premier League's financial might still can't bully Europe's giants in the Champions League" is an episode of Copa Independent. Runtime 47 min. Published September 8, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.