Paris Saint Germain against Manchester Citythat sounds like the semifinals. But that Champions League-The duel on the 7th group game day is actually a real thriller for both of them.
Pep Guardiola is in a better mood these days. Recently, the successful Spanish coach was plagued by self-doubt. “I’m the boss. I have to find a solution, but I can’t find a solution. I’m not good enough, it’s that simple”he said just a few weeks ago. He was there with his team Manchester City in an autumn and winter depression with just one win in 13 games. This was an unprecedented crisis for the club, which was used to success.
City only in 24th place
Now they seem “Skyblues” to have gotten the curve. At home Premier League They have been undefeated for five games and recently celebrated a 6-0 win against Ipswich Town and climbed onto one again for the time being Champions League-Place.
Speaking of the Champions League. City continues there on Wednesday and at least on paper it is still clearly visible – this autumn and winter depression. Because in the premier class there is only one point from the last three games. The Henkelpott winner from 2023 is in 24th place in the table of the reformed league with just eight points. At least for them Playoffs are sufficient. The top eight in the table move straight into the round of 16. The teams in places nine to 24 will play the eight other round of 16 in an additional knockout round.
Paris is even worse off
However, the next opponent doesn’t exactly belong to the walk-in customer category. It’s Paris Saint Germain and in the event of a defeat in Prinzenpark, City would be out of the playoffs before the last day of the group match and would then be at Showdown under enormous pressure against FC Brugge.
However, the French top team is themselves in acute danger of elimination. At home Ligue 1 The capital city club is still unbeaten and is safely leading the table, but things are different in the premier class. Only seven points and 26th place would currently mean elimination. Against the top opponents could PSG don’t keep up. There were defeats against FC arsenalAtletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, that doesn’t bode well for the duel with Man City. In the event of a defeat, the game on the last matchday at VfB Stuttgart would be a final for Paris.
Bayern and Real are also not in the top eight
That fits the picture. Anyone who thought that the new league system would be a sure-fire success for big clubs was mistaken. Of the really big ones playerswho have been regulars in the knockout rounds in recent years, are currently only ahead of FC LiverpoolFC Barcelona, Arsenal FC and Inter Milan are on track. Even the great FC Bayern Munich is currently lagging a little behind in tenth place. And Real Madrid is currently only number 20 in the table.
Eleven points are probably enough for the playoffs
It’s no surprise that people are already starting to lose their minds with all the arithmetic games. In the end, eleven points will be enough for the top 24, probably ten. With only nine points it could be close, eight would probably be too few.
Top-class players in the playoffs among themselves?
Pep Guardiola doesn’t know either. “We have two games left and maybe we need a point? A win? The last game is at home”he says confidently. But it probably won’t be easy after that. Even if Manchester, Paris and Real Madrid make it into the playoffs, there is a threat of high-caliber players there.