Because Benfica strikes late – And again the star ensemble from PSG is threatened with early failure – Sport


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Because Benfica scored in stoppage time, PSG was only second. A group winner awaited them in the round of 16 in the Champions League.

Legend:

Consternation despite victory

PSG must concede first place in the Champions League to Benfica Lisbon.

Getty Images/Jean Catuffe

4 wins and 2 draws each, 14 points each and the same goal difference of 16:7 – Benfica Lisbon and Paris Saint-Germain finished the group stage in the Champions League ex aequo. But the star squad from Paris surprisingly had to settle for second place because Benfica scored more away goals (9 against PSG’s 6).

I was informed about everything that happened in Haifa. In the 90th minute I was also informed that it was 5-1, we were still first.

Benfica literally secured the top of the group at the last second. Up to the 88th minute, the Portuguese even needed 2 goals away against Maccabi Haifa to take first place. But then Henrique Araujo and Joao Mario scored in the 92nd minute to make it 6-1. PSG were unable to react after beating Juventus 2-1 and are now runners-up in their group as they advance to the round of 16.

Has PSG gambled? Coach Christophe Galtier denied: “I was informed about everything that happened in Haifa. In the 90th minute I was also informed that it was 5-1, we were still first. Two or three minutes before the end, it’s difficult to turn everything upside down.”

Bavaria? Real? Manchester City? – A group winner awaits in the round of 16

Second place could end up costing Paris dearly. As in the previous year (round of 16 out against Real Madrid), there is a risk of early failure in the premier class. Because a group winner is waiting for the round of 16 draw next Monday. Chelsea, Real, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Porto or Tottenham – it will definitely be a top-class opponent.

We conceded too many goals from set pieces.

Galtier emphasizes that his team did not lose first place in the narrow 2-1 victory in Turin. “We stopped playing in the 90th minute of last week’s 7-2 win against Maccabi. We conceded too many goals from set pieces. If we had gotten a goal less, we would have finished first in the group.”

Had, ifs and buts: That’s no longer of any use to the star troupe from Paris, and Galtier knows that too. The 56-year-old therefore relies on a phrase that is always popular: “If you want to go far in this competition, you have to beat big teams.” What else could he say?

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