There are already eight Champions League qualifiers, only one Spanish one, and Luis Enrique’s PSG are in disarray | Relief
The new Champions League has just passed the halfway point. Four days out of eight have already played with the same feeling as the first day: how much of what we see corresponds to reality, does the general classification correspond to the real level of competition or are these just calendar arrangements? Of course, there are opinions to suit every taste. This format has somehow proven that it captivates the viewer and binds him to the screen.. Every match is a world, there are many never-before-existent confrontations, victories, surprises and infiltrators at the top of the classification.
With all the pros and cons, at this stage it is not possible to make a single classifying conclusion.. Well, yes, football. Liverpool are a plane, Barcelona are already contenders and City don’t seem to be at the same level as in previous years. Not to mention Real Madrid, whose feelings are far from the team proclaimed champions of last season. At the moment almost You can be sure that eight teams will be in the next stage: the aforementioned Liverpool and Barcelona, Sporting, Monaco, Brest, Inter, Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa. The fact that this is directly in the second round is another story.
The PSG crisis is the most discussed. They must add at least three points, and their schedule is difficult. Atlético have reappeared, although they are not as comfortable as Real Madrid. Much smaller than Girona. Meanwhile, Barça continues the trend of the season: victory after victory and unrivaled sensations.
Truths and lies of the new Champions League
After four days there are fewer lies. Brest are still there, fourth in the standings with ten points in the bank. Are the French the discovery of this season? Not really. They played against Leverkusen and three simple opponents. And he still has Real Madrid or Barcelona left. The most natural thing is that this does not add more, but given what we have seen… Let them take away what dance. His presence at least in the 1/8 finals is practically guaranteed.
Let’s talk about Monaco. Another case to study. Ten points out of a possible twelve is a great success, but on the account of Bologna, Red Star and Dinamo Zagreb. Only Barça achieved resounding success. Sporting Portugal may be the exception to the humble ones that shine.: They beat City, they outlasted PSV, they beat Lille and also beat Sturm Graz away. It is starting to add sensations as a team in the 1/8 finals, but this is still a real unknown.
From which not the slightest merit can be taken away is Liverpool, which defeated Milan, Leverkusen or Leipzig. It will be strange that he is not among the best. The duel with Real will really put them in their place. And watch out Inter: they beat Arsenal and drew with City. Another great team like Barca who paid the price for sending Eric Garcia off early from Monaco. These are two easy wins and a win for Bayern, so their scoreline can still be considered a bit of a lie.
The middle of the table already reflects the real situation of most teams: what about City – the truth is like a templebecause even with a relatively affordable calendar, it doesn’t even come close to the ones listed above. Countless teams are tied to equal opportunity and this will cause a queue. That’s why every goal matters: it’s worth remembering that in the event of a draw, goal difference will be decisive.
Dramas are little dramas… thanks to sixteenths.
This Champions League is a gift for the greats. In previous episodes, some of them were up to their necks in water, begging not to fail anymore. Now no one has any reason to worry. These are the rules and format. It’s a miracle that a good team gets eliminated even if it loses five times. To make matters worse, after a four-day dispute, There are five teams that favor a history of complete defeats: Sturm Graz, Young Boys, Red Star, Slovan Bratislava and Leipzig.. Bologna are also not an example of good football: they have one point in the penalty area and zero goals. He’s the only one who didn’t score.
Thus, any drama presented will be nothing more than scene bloat. Bayern have six points, PSG have four. Now both are classified as a bell, as a last resort. Relevo calculated how many points were needed to advance to the next round, and this estimate gave a total of seven tickets. With eight or nine you’ll be even closer. To think that the two teams cited as an example will not achieve this figure is reckless.
They oppose each other. Then the Germans have Shakhtar away, Feyenoord away and Slovan Bratislava at home. It’s impossible for them not to add up. Of course, another concern is the position in which they qualify, which will jeopardize their chances of advancing to the next stage. Luis Enrique’s players will have a cheat calendar: Salzburg away, City at home and Stuttgart away. Despite this, they can sigh, they will be huge favorites in two games and four points from them almost gives them the ticket. There are reasons for concern, but they are few.
Spaniards continue to worry
Well, it’s alarming. Concern about sensations, not classification. There is one exception: Barcelona. The new victory gives them a ticket to the sixteenth minimum and they enter the top eight for the first time.. The Monaco situation was an accident that did not disrupt the excellent momentum they had enjoyed since the start of the season.
To find the next Spaniard in the classification, you will have to go back to 18th place, where Real Madrid is. If they don’t win all four games, it will be difficult for them to advance directly to the round of 16. With sixteenth notes, once again on these lines, you can sigh. Winning the rest gives him almost guaranteed entry. Not anymore. Your schedule is difficult. They will only play at home against Salzburg and visit Liverpool, Atalanta and Brest.
Atlético Madrid, in 23rd place, is a concern more because of the position than the difficulty of access. He also has Sparta Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Leverkusen and Salzburg. There have been worse cases, although in three matches the Rojiblancos are clearly the superior team. This is a simple formula with one variable. It is in Simeone’s hands to solve this problem or change the situation. Final victory over PSG
This review ends with Girona, whose participation is soulless. Three points and the impression that you have been surpassed. The defeat against PSV was fatal. Their case is, of course, the most radical, since confrontations with the two Dutch (they also lost to Feyenoord) were indicated as scenarios for possible success. Beating Sturm Graz will be an obligation, the only way to get a ticket. Then three coconuts arrive: Liverpool in Montilivi, Milan in Italy and Arsenal also at home. It’s time to keep believing.