It’s been only 16 days since Manchester City lifted the Champions League trophy after beating Inter Milan in the exciting Istanbul final. Two and a half weeks later, however, the new (2023/24) season of Europe’s elite competition has already started!Only with not-so-elite representatives, to put it politely. Andorran side Atlètic Club d’Escaldes’ dreams of Champions League glory are over 340 days before the final at Wembley on June 1, 2024. pic.twitter.com/Cllr7wDFEY— Paul Watson (@paul_c_watson) June 27, 2023 In an opening game, the very maiden fixture of the Champions League preliminary round, Andorran champion Escaldes lost 3-0 to Montenegrian Buducnost. It was a single leg, a semifinal of the preliminary round, with the eventual winner booking a spot in the first round of the UCL qualifiers. Yep, it’s a long, long way before you even see a glimpse of the best club competition in the world of football and its group stage.##NAJAVA_MECA_7342265##And for charming Escaldes it’s already over. Balsa Sekulic’s brace, along with Miomir Djurickovic’s goal, secured the win for the favourites, who’ll face the defeater of the Tre Pene – Breidablik second semifinal clash. There are exactly 340 days left until the next UCL showdown, but the dream of eternal glory dies here and now for Escaldes. But it was never about the trophy for them, wasn’t it?
