PARIS, Oct 23: Three games. One win. No goals from the forwards.
Judging by Paris Saint-Germain’s performances so far, the revamped Champions League format could actually prove to be PSG’s salvation because it may have struggled to qualify under the previous group format.
Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw in the league stage against PSV Eindhoven, the Dutch league leader, exposed familiar weaknesses in defense while PSG no longer has galacticos like Kylian Mbappé or Neymar to decide tight matches.
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Poor marking led to PSV’s goal from left winger Noa Lang and, after right back Achraf Hakimi had equalized early in the second half, PSV twice threatened a late winner from counterattacks.
“It’s the little details that count. PSV managed to make our mistakes count,” Hakimi said. “It’s difficult when you have to chase the game and come from behind.”
PSG lost 2-0 away to Arsenal in its previous game amid poor defending and needed a huge stoppage-time blunder from the visiting goalkeeper to scrape a 1-0 home win against modest Girona in its opening game.
PSG’s only two goals so far have been from defenders amid wasteful finishing.
Left back Nuno Mendes netted against Girona but only because his cross became a goal because of the goalie’s mistake.
The new Champions League has 36 teams, playing eight games against eight different opponents through January, and gives plenty of scope for qualifying even if not in form.
The top eight go direct to the round of 16 in March. Teams ranked ninth to 24th go into the knockout playoffs in February and only the bottom 12 are immediately eliminated. PSG is currently 17th.
Hakimi said the players should have taken their chances better, but PSG coach Luis Enrique was satisfied with how his team played. He preferred to highlight that there was nearly a stoppage-time winner after PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez made a stunning point-blank save.
“We created opportunities. This match was not a disappointment,” he said through a translator. “The only thing is we didn’t score one more than them and that’s a pity.”
But there looks much harder matches to come against Atletico Madrid, six-time winner Bayern Munich and 2023 champion Manchester City.
The previous format with only two teams out of four qualifying from each group may have been difficult for this PSG team — as it was last season.
PSG only qualified for the knockout stage in the last round of group games. After losing at Newcastle and AC Milan, it finished second behind Borussia Dortmund, which then beat PSG home and away in the semifinals.
Overall, PSG lost five games in the competition. (AP)
