If PSG finished in first place in Group H, the capital club is not immune to a complicated draw.
Three matches, three victories: in great difficulty in the first leg, the PSG finished the Champions League group stage with his feet to the ground. And if the success gained in the face of Leipzig was hardly glorious, the two victories won on the lawn of Manchester United and facing Istanbul Basaksehir were far more convincing.
The Parisians turned the situation around so well that their qualification for the final phase, the ninth in a row, was embellished with first place in Group H. A welcome bonus in view of the draw for the round of 16 which takes place this Monday at noon . Instead of facing Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus Turin, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid, PSG will indeed inherit FC Porto, Lazio Rome, Sevilla FC, Atalanta Bergamo, Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
The danger comes from Spain
Despite this first place, the finalists of the last Champions League are therefore not immune to a complicated draw. If FC Porto, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Lazio Rome and Atalanta Begame do not seem able to compete with a complete and well-inspired PSG, the three Spanish clubs present in the second group represent a greater danger.
The prize probably goes toAtletico Madrid, whose defense still appears formidable and who can count on Joao Felix and Luis Suarez in attack. The Colchoneros nevertheless had to work to secure second place in the group behind Bayern Munich and suffered a serious setback against Real Madrid this weekend in La Liga.
The FC Barcelona For his part, saw a start to the season in line with last season between disappointing sporting results with an eighth place in La Liga and great turmoil behind the scenes. The next winter transfer window could certainly allow Barça to strengthen but the financial situation does not offer the interim leaders very little room for maneuver. Lionel Messi remains Lionel Messi but the Catalan attack, deprived of Ansu Fati, remains nonetheless sorrowful. So much so that the Sevilla FC, and his collective strength, finally appears just as dangerous as Barça even if the Colchoneros have never seemed very comfortable in the Champions League …
