With the new Champions League format, a new amusement across Europe has become ranking teams after eight rounds, which is the half of the first phase of the competition. We don’t need a survey to conclude that most analysts expected Manchester City to be in first place, with Real Madrid, Bayern, and Arsenal among the top eight teams guaranteed a spot in the Round of 16. However, by the halfway mark many giants have underperformed, reducing their chances of avoiding the playoff matches that will be played by teams ranked 9th to 24th. Many of Europe’s big clubs are afraid to look at the Champions League table after Round 4, and for some, a wave of discomfort washes over them when they realize the schedule they face leading up to January. Currently, PSG is in the most challenging position with just four points, but the outlook is also worrying for Real Madrid, Bayern, and Atletico, whose positions among the top eight are shaky due to their middling performance (6 points each). Arsenal and Manchester City are in a slightly better position, having accumulated one point more than the Spanish and German giants.Manchester United boss destroys Manchester CityLet‘s start with PSG, who objectively drew the toughest schedule among Europe’s elite. In their four matches so far, Luis Enrique’s team has only managed to defeat Girona in the opener (1-0), then lost to Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, while drawing with PSV in between. Thus, PSG currently sits below the playoff line in 25th place. The eighth position seems like an impossible mission since PSG still has to visit Bayern and Salzburg, host Manchester City, and then travel to Stuttgart. Alarms are sounding in Paris because, given the strength of their opponents and the urgency of both City and Bayern, not to mention Stuttgart’s strong form, no one can guarantee that the French champions will secure the two more wins needed for a safe entry into the top 24.What a shock! Ancelotti gets taught by his old side in all-time UCL classicThe atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu is also quite gloomy, while it’s a bit brighter at the Metropolitano after Atletico’s win over PSG last night. Both Real and Atletico have two wins and two losses. Signs of tension are visible at Valdebebas, where Real’s stars seem to be stifling each other’s productivity, as shown in the match against Milan. The European champions urgently need to find a way out of this crisis. There are already rumors about Carlo Ancelotti’s future, as Real’s next match is away at Liverpool, the only team in Europe’s elite with a perfect record halfway through the main phase. After Anfield, they face Atalanta, who are in excellent form with no losses in Europe, and in the final two rounds, they’ll host Salzburg at the Bernabeu and visit the Champions League revelation, French side Brest.UCL: Barca count to five and easily conquer BelgradeAtletico’s schedule is far easier than Real’s. The Rojiblancos will play Sparta away, Slovan at home, then host Bayer Leverkusen in January before traveling to Salzburg. However, based on their performances this season, they don’t inspire confidence that they’ll get even nine out of a possible 12 points. Anything short of a top-eight finish would be a disappointment for Bayern, who so far have beaten Dinamo and Benfica but lost to Aston Villa and Barcelona. Bayern still has to host PSG, travel to Shakhtar and Feyenoord, and then play Slovan in Munich in the final round. Common calculations suggest that ten points should be enough to secure a place in the top 24, while 16 points give a 98 percent chance of a top-eight finish. Therefore, Bayern has no room for losses if they want those potential 16 points. Vincent Kompany’s team needs three wins and one draw for a near-certain Round of 16 spot.UCL: Angel floors the Saints! Correa’s late dagger silences Parc des PrincesAt the halfway point, English clubs have two representatives in the desired top eight positions—Liverpool and Aston Villa. Arsenal and City are currently just below the cutoff and could remain there when the eighth round ends in January. Arsenal has a slightly easier schedule than City, facing Sporting (A), Monaco (H), Dinamo (H), and Girona (A), while Guardiola’s squad faces Feyenoord (H), Juventus (A), PSG (A), and Club Brugge (H). Liverpool, as the absolute leader and the most convincing team in Europe’s elite competition, has the prerequisites to be the first to seal a spot in the Round of 16. On paper, they need only six points to secure it. Barcelona and Inter, each with ten points, are also on the right track, while Sporting, Monaco, and Brest, also with ten points, are celebrating a likely playoff but are still fighting for a top-eight spot.UCL: Musiala’s header crowns the dominance over Lisbon EaglesLille and Celtic, each with seven points and favorable schedules, are quietly hoping for something that nobody envisioned before the start of the European season. The French club has Bologna (A), Sturm (H), Liverpool (A), and Feyenoord (H) remaining, while Celtic will face Club Brugge (H), Dinamo (A), Young Boys (H), and Aston Villa (A). Juventus has seven points and a challenging schedule, with their current form suggesting it will be tough to reach the top eight. In the fifth and sixth rounds, they have away matches at Villa and a home game against Juventus. Milan, with one point less than Juventus, has significantly easier opponents on paper—Slovan (A), Red Star (H), Girona (H), and Dinamo (A). Slovan, Red Star, Young Boys, Sturm, and Leipzig are five teams at the bottom with no points. Bologna has only one point and is unique in one negative aspect—they haven’t scored a single goal in Europe. It’s unlikely we’ll see any of these teams in the Champions League come spring. Dinamo Zagreb, a club with little chance of making the knockout phase, has surprised everyone. The Croatian team has seven points and is just one win away from a remarkable achievement.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE – ROUND 4WednesdayBesiktas – Malmo 2-1 (0-0)/Muci 76, Kilicsoy 85 – Rieks 90+3/Thursday20:45: (1.58) Bodo (4.30) Qarabag (5.40)20:45: (1.82) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.60) Slavia Praha (4.40)20:45: (3.50) Elfsborg (3.45) Braga (2.10)20:45: (2.50) Galatasaray (3.85) Tottenham (2.70)20:45: (3.90) Ludogorets (3.60) Ath.Bilbao (1.93)20:45: (2.05) Nice (3.40) Twente (3.70)20:45: (1.95) Olympiakos (3.75) Rangers (4.00)20:45: (2.85) St.Gilloise (3.20) Roma (2.55)23:00: (2.85) AZ Alkmaar (3.35) Fenerbahce (2.50)23:00: (1.38) Ajax (4.80) Maccabi T.A. (8.50)23:00: (2.35) Dynamo Kyiv (3.30) Ferencvaros (3.10)23:00: (2.70) Hoffenheim (3.45) Olympique Lyon (2.55)23:00: (2.45) Lazio (3.50) Porto (3.05)23:00: (1.27) Man.Utd. (6.25) PAOK (9.50)23:00: (4.70) Plzen (3.50) Sociedad (1.80)23:00: (5.20) Rigas (3.60) Anderlecht (1.72)***odds are subject to change***
