Manchester City is slipping deeper into crisis in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s star ensemble disappoints again in Italy and even has to worry about the second round. Arsenal, on the other hand, is on course for the round of 16.
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are threatening a sporting disaster in the Champions League. After the 0:2 (0:0) at Juventus Turin, the 2023 title holder slipped to 22nd place in the table with eight points. The lead over Paris Saint-Germain in 25th place, which would mean the end of the premier class in the new system, is just one point two match days before the end of the preliminary round. On the 7th matchday there will be a crisis duel between the actual favorites in the French capital.
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic (53rd minute) and former Schalke player Weston McKennie (75th) caused City’s seventh defeat in the last ten competitive games with their goals. Juve is in a playoff spot with eleven points.
Arsenal FC was able to make a big leap towards the round of 16. With the 3-0 (1-0) win against AS Monaco, the Gunners jumped to third place. The first eight teams are directly in the round of the best 16. England’s international striker Bukayo Saka was successful twice (34th/78th). Substitute Kai Havertz scored to make the final score 3-0 (88th).
Lille climbs thanks to late winning goal
In addition to Stade Brest, OSC Lille is also the second French outsider on course for the round of 16. The northern French narrowly won against Sturm Graz 3:2 (2:1), and are in eighth place with 13 points. Hakon Haraldsson scored the winning goal in the 81st minute.
Atlético Madrid can once again hope for direct qualification for the round of 16 after beating Slovan Bratislava 3-1 (2-0). With twelve points, coach Diego Simeone’s team is tied with Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern in eleventh place. Bayer Leverkusen is the Spaniards’ next Champions League opponent on January 21st. AC Milan also has the same number of points as Atletico after their late 2-1 (1-0) win against Red Star Belgrade. For the Italians it was the fourth success in the premier class in a row.
Before the meeting with FC Bayern on January 22nd, Feyenoord Rotterdam moved up to 18th place in the playoffs with a 4:2 (3:1) against Sparta Prague. Benfica Lisbon (ten points) missed a better starting position with a 0-0 draw against FC Bologna.
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