Bologna, 25 April 2024 – There is the superstitious fan, who strikes wood, and the dreamer, who already has the map of Europe in his hand. The one who would gladly take a walk at the foot of the Eiffel Tower; those who, in defiance of Brexit, can’t wait to enjoy a hot Punch in England or a Whiskey in Scotland; the Pretzel and beer lover; who has never seen bullfighting.
Kylian Mbappé, current striker of Paris Saint Germain. In the circle, Enrico Postacchini
Bologna is just over one step away from a historic qualification in Champions League and the rossoblù people begin to imagine legendary ones European away games. This is also thanks to the centrality typical of a crossroads like Bologna and the well-equipped connections of the Marconi.
The new Champions
First of all, a premise: anyone who is convinced they know everything about how Europe’s top football competition works should clean the slate. The format in force from next season turns everything upside down: no longer 32 teams, but 36, and goodbye to the group stage as we know it. Rather, the teams will face each other in a sort of single group and each will participate in 8 challenges. The matches will be decided on the basis of a draw, calibrated on a band system. The brackets, however, will be decided on the basis of the UEFA ranking by club. There will thus be 4 brackets of 9 teams each, from which each team will ‘draw’ two opponents. Hypothesis which will therefore not exclude a match between clubs in the same bracket – until now it hasn’t happened – or from the same country. Then off to the direct elimination phase: the top 8 in the single group qualify directly for the round of 16, the next 16 will start a preliminary round. And the scoreboard will already be pre-established, as happens for example in tennis.
Possible intersections
But let’s go back to Bologna: the new European format means that the rossoblù can face practically any team. This is why Marconi’s direct connections with many destinations become fundamental. PSG practically has the French championship in its pocket, and the flights to Paris are there. And again: London (between Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham), Manchester, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon (whether Sporting or Benfica), Eindhoven. In summary, whichever team were to be drawn against a Champions League Bologna, finding a direct flight would become the least of the problems for the fans. Then there is Germany, a separate chapter: although there are no direct flights to Leverkusen, the national champion, or to Stuttgart and Leipzig, please note that the 2025 final will be played in Munich. And four flights depart from Marconi every day to Bavaria.
The airport
“We are absolutely one of the Italian airports best connected to many European destinations – he comments the president of Marconi, Enrico Postacchini –. And we are equipped for all types of customers: from team management to low cost services for fans. Obviously the related activities would be very important and we would be very happy about a possible qualification”. Always touching wood, there are already those who are sifting through the list of the various routes. Bologna dreams.
