Perhaps the Champions League has, inadvertently, found the right formula for the Netflix era.
Rather than having to wait two weeks for the second episode of two-legged knockout games, allowing for distractions and loss of attention, fans have been binge watching the action every night.
The Covid-enforced final eight mini-tournament in the Portuguese capital has delivered real drama, with unexpected plot twists in every instalment.
The only pity is that the four single-leg knockout games have been played out in empty stadiums in front of only a handful of team staff, medical officials, security guards and a few, very fortunate, journalists.
With fans barred, however, UEFA has put on a made-for-TV production and the all-star cast has truly delivered.
The most shocking 90 minutes came on Friday at the Estadio da Luz — it might not have been a surprise for Bayern Munich to eliminate a fading Barcelona but to humble them 8-2 was certainly unexpected.
The Germans face Olympique Lyonnais next face tomorrow, after the French side pulled off the biggest upset by beating big-spending, pre-tournament favourites Manchester City 3-1 on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola, regarded as the greatest tactician of the modern era, headed out of Portugal to mass criticism of his formation and selection, which backfired to leave his team out in the quarters for the third straight season.
On opening night, unheralded Atalanta from Bergamo, the Italian city worst hit by the pandemic, looked set to continue their unlikely run in the tournament before Paris Saint-Germain struck twice in the final minutes to seal a 2-1 victory.
PSG, with Brazilian Neymar and French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe in attack, will today face RB Leipzig, the Red Bull-owned club from Eastern Germany who have risen from the regional leagues to Europe’s elite in just 11 years and who knocked out Atletico Madrid in the quarters.
The form book suggests a Bayern-PSG final, but after this week, which has generated the kind of buzz and narratives normally reserved for a World Cup or European Championship, predictions are far from certain.
What has been clear is that German coaching and tactics have proved to be the cutting edge of the modern game. Three of the coaches in the last four are Germans, with former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel in charge of PSG.
It is more than likely that this improvised format is a one-off and once health conditions allow, UEFA will return to the tried and tested, two-leg home and away fixtures for next year’s quarters and semis.
While the new structure has worked, it has reduced the number of games broadcasters can generate revenue from and the logistics of having eight groups of supporters in one city, in a single week, would probably make a repeat impossible.
So enjoy it while you can — there might never be a sequel to this thriller.

Mbappe could start against Leipzig: Tuchel

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe could start today’s Champions League semi-final against RB Leipzig, as the French club target their first appearance in a Champions League final.
Mbappe came off the bench for the last half hour against Atalanta last week to set up the winning goal, and Thomas Tuchel told a news conference the France World Cup winner had suffered no reaction to his injured ankle.
Asked whether Mbappe could start in attack alongside Brazilian Neymar, Tuchel said: “Yes, he played 30 minutes against Atalanta and had no problems with his ankle.” 
“Since then he has had six days to recover, he will train and if there is the possibility for him to start we will see if can play the 90 minutes. We’ll decide if it starts or if he comes into play (from the bench),” he added.
Mbappe’s introduction shifted the momentum against the Italians with PSG trailing by a goal before two late strikes booked their place in the last four.
Until the 21-year-old injected speed and invention into the left side, Neymar had carried much of the responsibility for the PSG attacks on his own shoulders.
Tuchel said the Brazilian’s performance had shown qualities that are not always acknowledged.
“Since I arrived he has always been a leader. A different leader, not as everyone understands him, but with his qualities, his confidence, his courage in the field, his will to win. He loves competition and you need that to be a leader,” he said.
“We also created a group with players like Ander Herrera, Pablo Sarabia, Keylor Navas and others, guys who know very well how to live together, created a collective atmosphere. Perhaps this is the key to seeing Neymar on another level,” he said.
PSG had never previously reached this stage of the competition.
“We live in the present moment, we deserve to be here, we have had an extraordinary journey and season,” Tuchel said.
“If we got this far, it’s because we worked for several months, at the highest level. We are ready, we are hungry, but we do not think about the historical side, because we are in the semi-finals and we are there to win,” the German added.