What if the European Cup had not been turned into the Champions League, and had maintained its old format - that of a knockout tournament between the winners of their respective national tournaments - to the present day? Well, stop wondering, because here is a vision of what could've happened. Our tale begins midway through the OTL 1991-92 European Cup: no group stages are formed, and the knockout bouts continue.
1991-92 European Cup
Quarterfinals
Anderlecht 0 - 0 Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos 0 - 2 Anderlecht (a.e.t.) (OTL result: 0 - 0)
Anderlecht wins 2 - 0 on aggregate; I based the ATL result on the teams' point difference in the OTL group.
Sampdoria 2 - 0 Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade 1 - 3 Sampdoria
Sampdoria wins 2 - 0 on aggregate.
Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 0 Benfica
Benfica 5 - 0 Dynamo Kyiv
Benfica wins 6 - 0 on aggregate.
Barcelona 3 - 2 Sparta Prague
Sparta Prague 1 - 0 Barcelona
Sparta Prague wins on away goals.
So far, the results are all OTL, except the matches took place in the group stages.
Semifinals
Anderlecht 3 - 2
Sampdoria![]()
Sampdoria 2 - 0
Anderlecht![]()
Sampdoria wins 4 - 3 on aggregate.
Benfica 1 - 1
Sparta Prague![]()
Sparta Prague 2 - 1
Benfica (a.e.t.)![]()
Sparta Prague wins 3 - 2 on aggregate; I based the ATL result on the teams' point difference in the OTL group.
Final
Sampdoria 2 - 0
Sparta Prague![]()
Sampdoria is the ATL champion of the European Cup; I based the ATL result on the teams' point difference in their respective OTL groups.
Last edited: