Wrapping Up: Champions League Matchweek 5
The best of the best from around Europe come together every year to suss out who truly is the best soccer club in Europe, and by extension, the world. For those that don’t know, the UEFA Champions League is set up like the World Cup for European soccer clubs that placed top four in the five major leagues, or finished first in a variety of other leagues spread across Europe. The whole tournament starts with eight groups of four. Each member in each group of four plays each other twice. By the end of the group stage, each team has played six games, and the two teams at the top of each group move on to the knockout stage of the tournament. From there, each team plays one home and one road game to decide a winner. This is determined based on aggregate score. In the knockout rounds, if Team A defeats Team B by a score of 2-1, then goes on to the second leg and Team A draws with Team B 1-1 then Team A wins by an aggregate score of 3-2. Make sense? It didn't to me either at first but once you give in to the silly nature, it easily becomes the most absurd and beautiful way for a game to end. Suddenly it’s not just about winning the games, it’s about keeping in mind that if you go down by three goals in game one, that’s how many goals you have to win by in game two just to push the game to an overtime period of thirty minutes.
Due to the presence of a group stage, the Wrap Up articles for the next two weeks regarding the Champions league are going to look a little different. I am going to be going through each group and giving my thoughts on where things stand in each one. Some will garner thoughts on the week’s results, the standings, who can move where, why teams are performing the way they are, while other groups won’t be that interesting. That is just the way the draw happens for some of these groups. The only thing left to do now is get right into the brilliant madness that is the Champions League group stage.
Group A
FC Bayern Munich, the defending champions, are absolutely running away with this group. The intrigue here comes from the draw Atlético de Madrid pulled off against the defending champions. With that they sit a full two points ahead of FC Salzberg. The two will play each other next week. If Salzberg win, they are in. Any other result gives the knockout round spot to Madrid.
Group B
What a fantastic disappointment for Real Madrid and Inter Milan this is. Borussia Möchengladbach have been playing lights out during the group stage as Inter and Real absolutely flounder. Shakhtar Donetsk currently has the same number of points as Real and two more than Inter. Donetsk will have the pleasure of playing Inter next week, which leaves Gladbach to square off against Real.
Gladbach is in with a win, draw or a Donetsk loss. Real get into the knockouts with a win over Gladbach and a Donetsk draw or loss to Inter. Donetsk hold a lot of power here as they have two victories over Real Madrid. If Donetsk gets the win over Milan, they are in. They also get in with a tie and a Real loss to Gladbach. Donetsk however cannot lose to Inter and get in. Inter Milan is where this whole thing gets thrown into disarray. Milan only have five points in the group, however three of them came in a win against Gladbach, and a fourth came in a tie to Gladbach. This means that if Gladbach lose to Real, and Milan beat Donetsk, Inter Milan and Real would be the two teams in. Gladbach has the easiest road to the knockouts, and Milan has the most convoluted, however, everything is still to play for. This group is an absolute mess and I love it and will be watching that Gladbach and Real game.
Group C
Group C is a bit of a pallet cleanser as far as all the drama goes. Manchester City and FC Porto are already in the knockout round. The games being played in that group next week are a formality. This is what everyone thought was going to happen and beyond that there is nothing to say here. Group C bids you farewell.
Group D
Group D has one spot up for grabs. Liverpool has clinched their spot in the knockout stage already. The second knockout spot is contested by Atalanta BC and AFC Ajax. Atalanta goes into the last week of the group stage with a one point lead over Ajax. Ajax dropped their game to Liverpool this week 1-0, leaving them trailing Atalanta. Luckily for soccer fans everywhere, these two teams play each other next week. This one is pretty easy to digest. If Ajax win this game, they get in. Any other result (draw or loss) for Ajax propels Atalanta into the knockout. Ajax have become known for playing spoiler to bigger clubs in this competition so this is definitely a match up worth keeping an eye on.
Group E
This is another one of those easy to digest groups. Chelsea FC and Sevilla FC had a relatively easy draw and have absolutely run away with this league. The games next week are absolutely meaningless.
Group F
Group F is in a nearly identical situation to Group D. This past week Borussia Dortmund and SS Lazio played to determine who would be guaranteed a spot in the knockout stage. They ended up with a 1-1 draw, and Dortmund punched their ticket. This leaves us with Lazio playing Club Brugge to see who will get that second spot. Club Brugge need to win to get in. A draw or a loss for Brugge puts SS Lazio into the knockout stage.
Group G
Group G manages to be the least competitive group of the bunch. FC Barcelona have won all five matches they have played, while Juventus have won four of their matches and lost only one. That loss came to Barca. While the match-ups don’t mean anything for who is in and who is out, Barca and Juventus are playing next week and who doesn’t love to see Messi and Ronaldo go toe to toe. That will definitely be a match worth watching.
Group H
Lastly, and certainly not least, we have the other group with everything to play for. RB Leipzig took care of business (barely) against İstanbul Başakşehir. Meanwhile, Manchester United needed a win or draw against Paris Saint-Germain and came away with a loss and an existential red card from Fred. This leaves all three teams tied atop the standings with nine points. RB Leipzig play United and İstanbul play PSG. Let’s break this down by team.
Starting from the top of the table currently, Manchester United will get in with a win or a draw against Leipzig. If United lose, they can only get in if Paris Saint-Germain also lose. PSG make it if they grab a win against İstanbul Başakşehir. However if they draw to İstanbul, they would need United to win or draw against Leipzig. If PSG lose then they need United to defeat Leipzig to get in. RB Leipzig do not own a tiebreaker against either PSG or United. That being said, If they win, they are in. If Leipzig draw with United, they need PSG to lose and they will be in. Leipzig cannot lose to United and still make it in, regardless of what happens with PSG and İstanbul.
I am 95% sure this is every scenario. This group is going to be madness down to the wire, all because my beloved Manchester United decided to use the bed as a toilet instead of showing up ready to go against PSG.
The Champions League is amazing and if you enjoy soccer you should be watching it. Matchweek 6 of the group stage is coming, so buckle the hell up.