Maximum pressure.
If they already have their ticket in their pocket for the round of 16 of the prestigious Champions League, the Parisians have not yet finished the job.
“
God knows we have a very important match for the first place in the group ahead of us.
This is a very important issue
“, insists Christophe Galtier before this duel against Juventus this Wednesday (9 p.m.), in Turin, during the sixth day of C1.
A match that will perhaps strongly influence the rest of the season.
A turning point.
Finishing at the top of Pool H is the guarantee of avoiding the other first in 8th, including Bayern, Chelsea or Manchester City.
Executioner of Parisians last year at the same stage of the competition, Real Madrid, traveling to Celtic on Wednesday, could also be one of these group winners.
To be avoided, even if there are good people among the second (Naples or Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund…).
However, there is no harm in wanting to simplify your life, that's clear.
To discover
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The data of the problem are quite simple: by doing better in Turin than Benfica on the ground of Maccabi Haifa at the same time on Wednesday, when the two teams are currently at the top of the classification of this group H with 11 points each, far ahead of the Juve and Maccabi (3 pts), PSG would be guaranteed to be among the first next Monday, during the draw.
The 8th will be played on February 14/15 and 21/22 for the first leg and on March 7/8 and 14/15 for the second leg.
By doing less well than the Portuguese, second place would be on the horizon.
Read also PSG's notes against Maccabi Haifa: Messi and Mbappé on fire, the influence of Neymar Jr
What if the two co-leaders of group H have the same result?
If it is a question of a draw for the two clubs, it's simple: Paris will win the cup in favor of a better goal difference (+8 against +4), knowing that direct confrontations do not allow to decide between Parisians and Lisbon residents.
1-1 in both matches.
A victory in Turin should be enough
If both teams win or lose at the same time, that's where it gets complicated.
In any case, you should get out the calculator.
If necessary, the champions of France would still leave with a big head start, in particular thanks to the card against Haifa (7-2) last Tuesday.
Suddenly, it's a safe bet that the outcome would be favorable if PSG wins in Piedmont, except in the event of Benfica's card with four goals more than Paris.
Relatively unlikely, although not impossible.
In the end, if the two teams have the same number of points and the same goal difference, the criteria are as follows, in this order, as explained by UEFA in its regulations: greater number of goals scored in all group matches, highest number of goals scored in the
lowest total of disciplinary points based only on yellow cards and red cards received by players and team officials during all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow = 1 pt, expulsion for two yellow = 3 points)
”.
Note that it is (almost) the same thing for Juventus Turin, engaged in a remote duel with Maccabi Haifa for the gain of third place, synonymous with accession to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
The two clubs are neck and neck with three points each.
The only difference is that it is the Israelis who would be guaranteed to pass if they have the same number of points as the Old Lady.
And this thanks to the goal they scored in Turin, during their 3-1 defeat.
They won 2-0 at home.
Still, there are issues at all levels.
It promises…
The scenarios that offer PSG first place
:
- If PSG do better than Benfica
- If the two group matches end on a parity score (in which case Paris would maintain their lead over the Portuguese in terms of goal difference)
- If PSG and Benfica win or lose at the same time, depending on the goal difference (+8 for the Parisians before the sixth day of C1, +4 for the Lisboètes).
In the event of a tie, it is the number of goals scored that serves as the judge of the peace (14 to 10), then the away goals (4 to 3 so far).
As a last resort, UEFA would take into account the number of yellow and red cards.
Scenarios that condemn PSG to second place
:
- Benfica do better than PSG
- Both teams win or lose at the same time and Benfica recovers its deficit in terms of goal difference, goals scored, goals scored outside or ends with less cards/ejections.
