Even if it did not prevent last year the Brestois stadium and the LOSC from competing in the direct elimination phase of the Champions League (the DOGUES even ending 7th to qualify directly for the eighth), OM and AS Monaco were not varnished either during the draw for their C1 calendar. If PSG, flamboyant European champion on May 31 against Inter, should succeed in chaining the victories, the other two clubs in Ligue 1 are in great danger.
After the projections of Opta in the wake of the draw, the statistical calculations ofEuro Club Index Promise a delicate league phase for Monegasques and especially the Marseillais. OM is projected in 31st place in the general classification (out of 36!), Far from the 24th and last place giving access to the dams, and even behind the Pafos Cypriot formation!
Only Ajax, Slavia Prague, Bogo/Glimt, Qarabag and the Kazakhs of Kaïrat Almaty are projected below in the rankings…
OM, imperative victory against Ajax
The training of Roberto de Zerbi therefore begins in the lair of Real Madrid, this Tuesday evening in Bernabéu, and the rest of his journey offers him more or less difficult (but not often easy) meetings. The Phocaeans will cross iron with Ajax, Sporting, Atalanta, Newcastle, Union Saint-Gilloise, Liverpool and Club Bruges. Winning at the Vélodrome against Ajax and beat the two Belgian opponents seems essential for the survival of Marseillais in this competition.
AS Monaco, for its part, is projected in 23rd place for participation in the 16th finals (like last year). The training of Adi Hütter begins on the field of the Bruges club, receives Manchester City then Tottenham blowing into the blow, before more affordable meetings against Bodo/Glimt, Pafos and Galatasaray and two last shocks in January against Real and Juventus. Yes, OM and Monaco can very well be one of the 12 eliminated from the first phase of the LDC.
