Brest and Monaco at full tilt, PSG under pressure, Liverpool untouchable… Where are we halfway through the Champions League?

Nothing is decided, but trends are emerging. Four of the eight days of the league phase of the Champions League have already been played. Despite their good ranking, Monaco and Brest are not yet guaranteed to finish in the top 8, synonymous with direct access to the round of 16. And PSG, 25^ecan still largely finish between the 9^e et 24^e place, which would send it to the play-offs, a sort of round of 16. Overview before the fifth day of C1.

Liverpool, the only flawless

«Non»this is not “no way” easy to train Liverpool, swore Arne Slot after the Reds' last victory in the Champions League, against Bayer Leverkusen (4-0). The Norwegian nevertheless gives the impression of it. The English club, leader of the Premier League, sits alone at the top in C1, being the only team to have won all of its matches. But a big piece is coming to Anfield this Wednesday: Real Madrid. If he wins, Liverpool could, depending on the results, be assured of finishing in the top 24.

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Monaco and Brest have one foot in the play-offs, at least

Behind Liverpool (12 pts), four other teams keep pace (10 pts). Sporting Portugal, AS Monaco, Stade Brestois and Inter Milan are still undefeated in the Champions League. ASM and especially Brest were not expected at this level. “To have 10 points with four matches is surprising, obviously exceptional and a lot of pride to coach these boys”confided Finistère coach Eric Roy. But for Brest, the hardest part is perhaps to come: trip to Barcelona on Tuesday (9 p.m.) and reception of Real Madrid for the last day on January 29.

PSG, Real and Bayern under pressure

If Brest and Monaco are also on track to play the C1 again in February, it is because they are six points ahead of the first non-playoff, namely… Paris Saint-Germain (4 pts). Bayern Munich (17^e6 pts), which welcomes PSG this Tuesday, and Real Madrid of Kylian Mbappé (18^e6 pts) are also not up to their status. They are even behind Lille (14^e7 pts). Is PSG's qualification for the play-offs, at a minimum, in danger? “Without a doubt”responded bitterly, Luis Enrique after the narrow defeat against Atlético de Madrid three weeks ago (1-2). Paris almost no longer has the right to lose to keep its destiny in its hands.

SEE ALSO – The goals of PSG's victory against Toulouse on November 22 (3-0)

Five teams with zero points

If there are some who smile, there are also some who are depressed. Five teams have lost their four European matches this season: Sturm Graz, Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade, Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig. So many teams who have already given up on the top 8, and who will have to work hard to get through to the play-offs. It's a surprise for Leipzig, 8^e finalist of the C1 last year, where the French defender Castello Lukeba plays. The German club is not at the end of its surprises with a trip to Inter Milan on Tuesday.

David in the race for the title of top scorer

Last season, in the colors of PSG, Kylian Mbappé finished joint-best in the Champions League with Harry Kane (Bayern Munich). A first for a Ligue 1 player in twenty years (Fernando Morientes, AS Monaco 2003-04). What if Jonathan David was added to the list? The Lille striker has 4 goals, like Vinicius (Real Madrid) who has just been injured.

He is on the lookout behind a formidable quartet with 5 goals: Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Raphinha (Barcelona) and Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting). There is nevertheless hope for the Canadian, scorer against Real (1-0) and Atlético de Madrid (1-3). The LOSC is 14^e and has a chance of qualifying for the play-offs. The Mastiffs' next two opponents, Bologna (Wednesday) and Sturm Graz (December 11), are not insurmountable.