Reminder of the new Champions League formula: out with the four-team groups, in with a single championship of 36 teams, with each team playing eight matches in the first phase of the competition – four at home, four away. All with a direct ticket to the round of 16 promised to the top eight in the standings; and a play-off ticket for the clubs ranked from ninth to 24e places.
Inevitably, with such a formula, the draw is all the more complex. Artificial intelligence is therefore called upon by UEFA, which, this Wednesday in Monaco, at the Grimaldi Forum, presented to the press the terms of the draws scheduled for Thursday (Champions League) and Friday (Europa League and Conference League).
There must be some big fish in the lot.
In addition to Losc, who won their place in C1 this Wednesday evening by emerging victorious from their duel with Slavia Prague and who will be placed in pot 3, AS Monaco and Stade Brestois will represent Ligue 1 in pot 4; while the Parisian French champion will take their place in the first pot alongside Manchester City, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
During the demonstration given to the media today, Paris also appeared in the simulation, with a hell of a program in perspective since – despite its status as a premium club – PSG will have to do battle with two teams from each of the four pots. Luis Enrique’s men then had to deal with Inter and Barça, but also with Arsenal and Bayer. A virtual verdict until then, but which is not reassuring…
The PSG draw according to the simulation carried out on Wednesday in Monaco:
Inter Milan at home; FC Barcelona away for Pot 1.
Arsenal at home; Bayer Leverkusen away for Pot 2.
PSV Eindhoven at home; Sporting Lisbon away for Pot 3.
Sturm Graz at home; VFB Stuttgart away for Pot 4.
