Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Thursday November 7, 2024 at 10:08 a.m.
After four days of the new first phase of the Champions League, two French clubs play the leading roles, Monaco and Brest, Lille is also off to a good start while PSG is virtually eliminated.
Few could have bet on such a scenario… After four days, out of eight, of this new first phase of the Champions League, certain French clubs are (very) well on their way to qualifying, even if they are not necessarily those that we expected… Honor first of all to Brest, which never ceases to amaze for its first participation in a European competition. The Bretons, already winners of Sturm Graz (2-1) and Salzburg (4-0) and who then shared the points with Bayer Leverkusen (1-1), won 2-1 on the Sparta pitch Prague on Wednesday evening, and they now occupy 4th place in the standings with 10 points which could be enough for them to reach at least the play-offs for the round of 16.
Monaco is ahead of Brest in the number of goals
Eric Roy's men, who can aspire to the Top 8 and direct qualification, have a goal difference of +6 and are only ahead of Monaco in the number of goals scored (9 against 10). Rock players firmly established in 3rd place and also winners of their third match this week, Tuesday in Bologna (1-0), after having brought down Barça (2-1), future opponent of Brest, and Etoile Rouge of Belgrade (5-1), they who had snatched a draw at the last minute against Dinamo in Zagreb (2-2). Having passed through the third qualifying round and the play-offs, Lille, beaten from the start on the Sporting pitch (0-2), then continued their exploits against the two Madrid clubs, dominating Real 1-0 before going win on the pitch of Atlético (3-1), and held Juventus in check on Tuesday (1-1). 14th in the ranking with 7 points on the clock, the Mastiffs also have the cards in hand for qualification.
PSG, what a disappointment
For PSG, on the other hand, it will be more complicated. Semi-finalists of the last edition, the Parisians recorded their second loss in four matches, Wednesday against Atlético de Madrid (1-2). Already beaten at the Emirates Stadium by Arsenal (0-2), Luis Enrique's men, tough winners over Girona at the opening of this first phase (1-0), did not, however, manage to beat PSV Eindhoven ( 1-1) and find themselves in 25th place, the first qualifier. We will have to react during the last four meetings, with three trips on the program, including one in Munich against Bayern, while the French champions will host Manchester City. Among the other greats of Europe that the French teams will face, we find Liverpool, author of a full box and which Lille will challenge on the penultimate day. Monaco will end with an Arsenal-Aston Villa-Inter Milan triptych, while Brest will therefore go to Barcelona in three weeks, and will conclude against Real Madrid.
