To counter that argument, the old group stage offered home and away matches against three opponents, with the rivalry that could deliver.
Uefa’s hopes of ensuring every game counted in this format has largely been met, but its stated aim of a loss or win in the final match making the difference between reaching the last 16 or being eliminated did not come to fruition.
Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava were resigned to their fate for some time prior to Wednesday, having lost their first seven games.
Bologna, Sparta Prague, Leipzig, Girona, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz and Salzburg also found themselves without anything to play for and, unlike in previous years, there is no consolation prize of Europa League football for anyone leaving the Champions League.
By the time the league phase ended 144 matches had taken place as opposed to the 96 played 12 months ago.
And despite the inclusion of four extra sides and 48 more fixtures, just 12 clubs have actually dropped out.
With another 16 games in a play-off knockout round to follow, some argue it feels like a long and drawn out process to get to the business end of the competition.
“No matter what happened, you are still going to have the big hitters later on in the competition,” added former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen added: “I’m not sold on this new format yet. I need a season to get my head around it, to feel it out and make my judgement.
“There are pros and cons. I am a sucker for the old format I watched growing up, the groups of four, the home and away games, going into the round of 16, quarter-finals and so on.”
In the event of a team competing in the play-offs going on to win the Champions League, they will have played 17 main-draw games in total, up four from last season.
