The first Hungarian team to reach the group stages of the Champions League in 14 years visit Anfield on Wednesday night. How many will follow is another matter. In a domestic league currently ranked the 34th strongest in Europe, with the attendant financial paucity implied, one club, Debrecen VCS, are to receive a payment from UEFA in the region of £12million. Michel Platini, president of UEFA, has successfully expanded the reach of the Champions League competition to some of the smaller countries in Europe this season but at what price? As often happens with his organisation, his plan does not seem to have been thought through.The germ of Platini’s idea remains commendable. It is right that the premier club competition in Europe be attainable for as many national champions as possible, and even if Debrecen go down heavily against Liverpool their presence should not be dismissed. Besiktas, of Turkey, lost 8-0 at Anfield in 2007. There will always be mis-matches and last season’s results demonstrated that the smaller clubs often possess the familiar fighting spirit of the underdog. BATE Borisov drew home and away with Juventus, while CFR Cluj, of Romania, drew with Chelsea and beat AS Roma in Italy.
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