One more point regarding the CL.
Even though teams in the CL are far, far superior to tbe teams in the FA Cup, the FA Cup is harder to win. (Oh f*** off, jrb!)
1 defeat in the FA Cup and a team is out. There are no 2nd chances. Yes, the draw is vital as any team can get easy draws up to the final. The same can apply to the CL. United being a prime example 1 season.
In the CL teams can lose 3 games and draw 2 games in the group stages and still get into the knockout stages. Atalanta being the example this season. And even in the knockout stages the matches are 2 legs, meaning a defeat in the 1st leg doesn't automatically mean a team will be knocked out, as long as they overturn the 1st leg deficit in the 2nd leg.
I can't be arsed going into the pots, seeds, fixed draws, etc. We all know how UEFA *openly manipulate* the CL. Sorry, the European League.