The Champions League has received a facelift this season. The group stage that for so many seasons has defined who made the cut and advanced to the playoffs on the way to the grand final has disappeared and, in its place, a new format has come into force in which each team has eight rivals and There is a single classification for the 36 participants.
This new way of proceeding guarantees, in addition to a scoring ratio never seen in the previous group stage, excitement until the last breath of the last match. With the first five days already played, The first round of the Champions League enters its final sprint… with big surprises and several of the theoretical favorites in a compromised situation. Real Madrid, Manchester City and, above all, Paris Saint-Germain, are clear examples of this. Next, we will go on to find out what is left for the four Spaniards and the other 'bogeymen' of the Champions League to play.
Let's start with Barcelona. The team led by Hansi Flick has achieved enough income (twelve points out of a possible fifteen) to reach the final stretch of the league phase with quite a chance of finishing it among the top eight. However, he will have to successfully solve three encounters that will require him to give 100%.. On the next day, the culés have a Very complicated start against Borussia Dortmund (December 11). Then, another complicated game: Benfica at Da Luz (January 21). Finally, they will face the last day in Montjuïc against Atalanta (January 29). The +13 that he has right now in the goal average could be decisive in the final position that Barça occupies in the table.
Real Madrid does not have such a rosy outlook. The European champion is having a hard time defending his throne and, After losing against Liverpool, they are left with six points out of a possible fifteen. Some figures with which it is almost impossible to avoid the playoff round. Furthermore, their next meeting will not be easy either: will visit Atalanta (December 10). Afterwards, Ancelotti's men will receive at the Bernabeu Salzburg (January 22) and they will close the first house by visiting the Brest Stadiumthe great revelation of the Champions League (January 29).
By beating Sparta Prague 0-6, Atlético de Madrid took a giant step towards advancing to the next round. With nine points, with the goal average positive (+2) and with a favorable schedule, the Colchonero team has a very good chance of reaching at least the playoff and It even has options to sneak into the top-8. Their next match will be at the Metropolitano against Slovan from Bratislava (December 11)which counts its matches by defeats. Afterwards, he will receive in Madrid the Bayer Leverkusen (January 21) in what will be the toughest match yet. Finally, he will travel to Austria to close the league phase against the Salzburg (January 29)another team that is starring in an unfortunate Champions League.
The fourth Spanish in the running is Gironathe worst unemployed of all. As long as the math doesn't say otherwise, The Catalan team still has options to advance to the next round in his debut in the Champions League. But there is no longer any margin for error. He has only added three points In the first five rounds, he has a particular goal average of -5 And, to make matters worse, he has a hellish calendar left. First, you will receive Liverpool at Montilivi (December 10). Afterwards, they will visit San Siro to play against Milan (January 22). Finally, they will play at home against Arsenal (January 29). Míchel's people appeal to a miracle to delay their European dream a little longer.
Bayern almost have it, trouble for City, PSG, to the limit…
Going to the international levelthe pattern of surprises everywhere is repeated and that is why there are several of the European football transatlantics with great difficulties and with the obligation not to fail in the three remaining days. It is not trivial that, at this time, PSG is outside the top 24.
The case of the French champion is the most dramatic of the great Europeans. It has only added four points in the first five days and, at this time, they would be eliminated from the Champions League. However, although it is practically impossible to reach the top eight places, the team led by Luis Enrique There are still plenty of chances to play in the round of 32. But you will have to overcome important obstacles to do so. First, the Parisians will visit the Salzburg (December 10)although they will have the big test on the seventh day: they are visited by a Manchester City also with emergencies (January 22). They will close the league phase at the home of Stuttgart (29th year).
Let's move on to Manchester City. It was not in the current Premier League champions' plans to let two points slip away against Feyenoord in just fifteen minutes. But the team led by Pep Guardiola suffers one of the biggest crisis of results that can be remembered and that is why it reaches the final stretch of the league phase with eight points out of fifteen possible and in a delicate situation, since they will have to be really right in the rest to sneak into the top-8 and avoid the playoff round. The 'Citizens' then have two very difficult exits: Juventus (December 11) and the stellar duel against PSG (January 22). The league phase will close at the Etihad against Bruges (January 29).
With much more optimism he faces this final sprint andl Bayern Munich. And it is already raining less for the Bavarian giant after beating PSG. His defeats against Aston Villa and against Barcelona put him in a tough spot, but His latest wins put him back in a comfortable position to reach the next round and keep him alive in the fight for the top-8. Besides, the calendar accompanies to the troop commanded by Vincent Kompany. On the sixth day they will visit the Shakhtar Donetsk (December 10) and to Feyenoord in the seventh (January 22). They will close the first round at home against Slovan de Bratislava (29 de enero).
Finally, we highlight the good situation of the Inter Milan. The current Scudetto champion is looking forward not only to advancing to the next round, but also to be part of the select tandem of teams that will advance directly to the round of 16. Simone Inzaghi's men have 13 points out of 15 and have not yet conceded a single goal (his particular goal average is +7). On the next day they have to visit the Bayer Leverkusen (December 10). Afterwards, they will face the Sparta from Prague also at home (January 22). Finally, they will receive at the Giuseppe Meazza the Monaco (January 29).
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