For the eleventh consecutive year, PSG have avoided the chicken trap. Direction the round of 16 after the recital Tuesday evening at the Parc des Princes against Maccabi Haifa (7-2). The first phase of knockout matches will take place between February 14 and March 15.
Before that, of course, there will be the World Cup in Qatar (November 20-December 18). A tournament that will reshuffle all the cards with disparate states of form. But even before this deadline, there is a match to be played. Wednesday, the men of Christophe Galtier move on the lawn of the Italians of Juventus Turin, eliminated pitifully from the C1 but still in the race for the Europa League.
This unlikely scenario that would relegate PSG, even if they win
French and Lisbon are currently tied on points (11) but the former dominate on goal difference (+ 8 against + 4). To be sure of staying ahead, and therefore playing a second pool and an 8th return home, the Parisians must obtain a better result against the Old Lady than Benfica in the volcanic lair of Haifa.
Logically, a victory in Piedmont should be enough. There is still a case where Benfica could regain the lead: if they win by four goals more than PSG. For example, a 5-0 success against 1-0 for PSG. The two teams would neutralize each other in perfect equality (14 points, + 9 in goal average and two draws (1-1) in direct confrontations). As stipulated by UEFA regulations, Benfica would then be ahead of PSG in the number of away goals scored throughout the group stage. A scenario, we repeat, highly improbable. Especially since Maccabi, far from being ridiculous at home (2-0 victory against Juve), will also be fighting for a ticket to the Europa League.
In the scenarios, where PSG and Benfica both draw or lose together, Paris would, of course, retain its first place.