Evening Standard
·22 de enero de 2025
Evening Standard
·22 de enero de 2025
Premier League champions face crunch clash with Paris Saint-Germain as pressure builds
While the new-look format was widely criticised in some quarters, there are some major teams in jeopardy heading into the penultimate round of first-stage fixtures. Man City are one of those, having endured a difficult campaign thus far.
Pep Guardiola’s side would have been among the favourites to win the competition outright before a ball was kicked this season but are sat 24th in the Champions League table heading into tonight’s huge clash at Paris Saint-Germain.
The top eight, of course, will qualify for the round of 16 automatically and teams placed ninth to 24th will have to go through an extra two-legged knockout stage next month.
City are at real risk of dropping out of the top 24 entirely, having won only two of their opening six games. Last time out, City were beaten 2-0 by Juventus following a calamitous 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in November.
The Premier League champions travel to PSG on Wednesday night, with the French champions in an equally perilous position. PSG sit 26th and could fall at the first hurdle.
It is a huge fixture with so much on the line, so here’s a look at the Champions League permutations for Man City…
Finishing in the top eight looks almost impossible for City, they must simply beat PSG and then Club Brugge to stand any chance of avoiding a play-off spot.
If Man City beat PSG: A play-off spot should be almost guaranteed, while slim hopes of a top-eight finish will remain alive.
If Man City draw with PSG: Kiss goodbye to an automatic play-off spot and pressure mounts on beating Brugge to confirm a play-off place.
If Man City lose to PSG: There will be a very real threat of dropping out of Europe altogether, with no safety net of the Europa League, with victory over Brugge a non-negotiable.