PSG, Brest swap Ligue 1 for Champions Leagueknockout game
Frequent foes in the French top flight, Paris Saint-Germain and Brest swap Ligue 1 for the Champions League today evening, colliding in the first leg of their playoff tie at the Stade Francis-Le Ble.
Both outfits took home 13 points during the league phase, although PSG’s superior goal difference allowed Luis Enrique‘s side to sneak into the seeded playoff positions in the 36-team table.
As the domestic trophy case at the Parc des Princes expands ever more, PSG are still searching for that elusive first Champions League title, and an indifferent league phase has not exactly fuelled the belief that this year could be their year.
Indeed, Enrique’s men only won one of their first five matches of the 2024-25 season – thus leaving themselves at real risk of a chastening early exit from the competition – but the Ligue 1 champions found their groove towards the end with three wins on the spin.
As PSG struggled to pull up trees early doors in the Champions League, Eric Roy‘s Brest emerged as shock contenders for a spot in the coveted top eight, winning three of their first four games in the league phase and holding Bundesliga invincibles Bayer Leverkusen to a draw in the other.
PSG’s astonishing head-to-head record against Brest over the past 40 years speaks for itself, and with Dembele unable to stop scoring at this present time, the hosts should not pose too many problems for the French champions.
Whether Les Parisiens can finally go all the way this year remains to be seen, but as was the case just two Saturdays ago, Enrique’s men will surely ease past Roy’s side with multiple goals to boot.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Man City, Real Madrid collide in a colossal first leg at the Etihad
The last two winners of the Champions League must now fight for their right to qualify for the last 16 of the 2024-25 edition, as Manchester City and Real Madrid collide in Tuesday’s colossal first leg at the Etihad.
While the reigning champions of Europe were just one point from sneaking into the top eight, their hosts had to pull off a matchday eight fightback just to avoid the embarrassment of an early exit
Despite City’s relative difficulty in avoiding group stage elimination, they are seen as favourites going into Tuesday’s first leg.
A far cry from the all-conquering European team that went an outstanding 22 games unbeaten in the Champions League from September 2022 to April 2024, Pep Guardiola‘s champions-in-crisis were facing the very real prospect of being eliminated at the first league phase hurdle.
Just two of City’s first seven Champions League matches this term saw the 2022-23 winners come up trumps, and Belgian giants Club Brugge threatened the shock of all shocks at the Etihad on the final matchday, but a 3-1 comeback triumph was enough to propel City into the coveted top-24 positions.
However, since surviving by the skin of their teeth in Europe, the Sky Blues have flattered to deceive yet again.
Also seeing their powers wane in Europe after notching their record-extending 15th crown at Wembley last year, Real Madrid’s customary place in the knockout rounds came under some threat owing to three defeats from their first five continental contests of the campaign.
Man City’s offensive exploits on their own patch spells trouble for Real Madrid and their decimated defence, but Ancelotti’s men never know when they are beaten in Europe, and we expect the holders to return home the happier after an entertaining first-leg draw.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Sporting welcome Borussia Dortmund in first leg playoff
Still winless in the Champions League since the departure of Ruben Amorim, Sporting Lisbon welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for Tuesday’s playoff first leg.
Four places and 13 points separated the two clubs in the league phase table, as BVB came within a whisker of a top-eight finish while their hosts only just kept their continental adventure going.
As erstwhile manager Amorim struggles to turn Manchester United’s fortunes around, Sporting have also seen their powers fade since the exit of the 40-year-old, who was seemingly the glue that held everything together at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
After taking 10 points from their opening four Champions League matches to enter the top-eight conversation, Sporting failed to triumph in any of their last four games in the opening phase.
Arsenal, Club Brugge and RB Leipzig all condemned Sporting to defeat in that time, but a 1-1 draw with Bologna on matchday eight sent the Portuguese giants through to the playoffs on goal difference.
Also adjusting to life with a new face at the helm, Borussia Dortmund were under the wing of Nuri Sahin‘s temporary successor – Mike Tullberg – for their most recent Champions League contest, where Serhou Guirassy was at the double in a 3-1 success over Shakhtar Donetsk.
With both sides still adapting to recent managerial changes and struggling to string a consistent run together, Tuesday’s first leg has a draw written all over it.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Juventus host PSV Eindhovenin playoff battle
At risk of suffering an unwanted first in the Champions League, Juventus host PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their playoff battle on Tuesday evening.
Despite being one of the best-performing defensive sides in the league phase, Thiago Motta‘s men could only place 20th, while their Dutch opponents safely sealed a knockout berth in 14th spot.
Carrying on the pragmatic legacy of Massimiliano Allegri – whether intentional or not – Juve boss Motta witnessed the Old Lady ship just seven goals in their eight league phase matches, the second-best defensive record of all teams who failed to directly qualify for the last 16.
However, Juve only managed to find the back of the net nine times themselves – the joint-second worst record of the top-24 teams – and the Bianconeri’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on December 11 is their only victory from their last six in the Champions League.
With Kolo Muani firing on all cylinders up front, stalemate specialists Juventus are finally converting draws into victories and have already out-witted PSV on one occasion in this season’s Champions League.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
