After a failed start to the campaign, PSG travels to the lair of Bayern Munich, this Tuesday (9 p.m.), during the fifth day of the Champions League. In difficulty in the rankings, Luis Enrique's players will have to achieve positive results between now and the end of the league phase to hope to secure at least one play-off place. Even if the top 8 remains mathematically playable.
The new formula of the Champions League is not working for PSG for the moment. The semi-finalist of the last edition has had a series of disappointing outings and poor results since the start of the competition. After an extremis success against Girona (1-0), a draw against PSV Eindhoven (1-1) and two defeats at Arsenal (2-0) and against Atlético de Madrid (1-2), the Luis Enrique's players are currently twenty-fifth in the ranking, which now includes all the teams involved. Halfway through, the French champions are virtually eliminated, knowing that the first eight will qualify directly for the round of 16 and that the teams finishing between ninth and twenty-fourth place will compete in the play-offs.
Enough to put pressure on Bradley Barcola's teammates, who travel to the Bayern Munich den, this Tuesday (9 p.m.), during the fifth day. With the objective of bringing something back from the Allianz Arena: ideally a victory or at worst a draw. Even if it would not be crippling, a defeat in Bavaria would complicate PSG's affairs a little more.
Between 8 and 10 points to hang the dams
With four points on the clock, the Parisians are in a very poor position to aim for direct qualification via one of the first eight places. According to forecasts and statistical models, it will probably take between 13 and 16 points to finish in the top 8. Mathematically, it is still possible for the leaders of Ligue 1, provided they achieve almost a flawless performance, knowing that They will then travel to Salzburg (December 10), before hosting Manchester City (January 22) and concluding their group stage in Stuttgart (January 29).
The dams seem more reasonably accessible. It will probably take between 8 and 10 points to finish in the top 24. A total within reach of PSG, who would be well advised to win at least two matches by the end of the first round, even if one victory and several draws could also be enough. During its first four outings in C1, the capital club cruelly lacked efficiency in the opposing area, despite numerous opportunities. He was also weighed down by the lack of experience of his young players, his defensive errors and the feverishness of his goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. So many areas to improve quickly so as not to find yourself without a European meeting in the spring.
“We made it complicated on our own”
“We have already played four Champions League matches, including three at home. Is the result fair or not? I have already said it, for me, it is unfair. But it is what it is”, explained Luis Enrique on the eve of facing Bayern Munich. “So now we have to have good results to qualify. We don't yet know how many points it will take to get there, but we have made it difficult for ourselves. Football only knows one thing , these are the goals scored and for that, we still have room for improvement.”
