Paris St. Germain keeps the chance of the knockout round in the Champions League alive. Opponents Manchester City, on the other hand, have to worry – and absolutely need a win on the last matchday.
Manchester City is threatened with an early exit from the Champions League. The team around star striker Erling Haaland lost a wild away game at Paris Saint-Germain 2:4 (0:0) on the penultimate matchday of the league phase.
After seven of eight games, the English champions are only in 25th place in the table with eight points, which would not be enough for the play-offs. Ousmane Dembele (56th), Bradley Barcola (60th), Joao Neves (78th) and Goncalo Ramos (90th + 6) turned a spectacular game in favor of the French in the second round. Substitute Jack Grealish (50th) and Haaland (53rd) had previously shot the Citizens into the lead.
Man City needs a win against Brugge
City is now under severe pressure in the final home game against FC Bruges next Wednesday (January 29, 2024). Directly ahead of City are Paris (22nd), Sporting Lisbon (23rd) and VfB Stuttgart (24th), two points ahead of the English.
Real Madrid safely in the play-offs
Meanwhile, Real Madrid is certainly qualified for the play-offs. The Royals defeated Red Bull Salzburg 5:1 (2:0). Rodrygo (23rd/34th), Kylian Mbappé (48th) and Vinicius Júnior (55th/77th) scored for the Spaniards, Mads Bidstrup (85th) was successful for Salzburg. With twelve points, Real can no longer fall out of the top 24. The best eight, who even reach the round of 16 directly, are now only one point away for Madrid. On the last match day, the team around German national player Antonio Rüdiger travels to Stade Brest.
Havertz scores for Arsenal against Zagreb
National striker Kai Havertz and Arsenal FC meanwhile took a big step towards the round of 16. The Gunners won 3-0 (1-0) against Dinamo Zagreb. Havertz made it 2-0 (66th) and added another goal. Arsenal are third in the table with 16 points.
Donetsk keeps chance of play-offs alive
Shakhtar Donetsk keeps the chance of the play-offs alive. The Ukrainians, who play their home games in Gelsenkirchen, won 2-0 against the French team from Stade Brest. Kevin (18th) and Georgiy Sudakov (37th) scored for Donetsk.
In their first final for progression, the Ukrainians were significantly more awake and active than the clumsy and harmless French. The hosts’ Brazilian offensive in particular repeatedly put Brest’s vulnerable defense under pressure, so that the victory was well deserved in the end.
Brest is in 11th place in the table with 13 points and still has the best chance of moving forward. Donetsk ranks 27th with seven points.