If Paris Saint-Germain secure an early lead against Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday, they may face a dilemma: stick with their advantage or push for more. The revamped Champions League format, in part, aims to reduce the chances of Europe’s top teams faltering, but their current position carries the risk of embarrassment. PSG currently sits in 25th place and must improve to qualify for the playoff round in February. With three league-phase games left, they trail the cutoff by two points and three goals. A narrow 1-0 victory could reopen the door, but it might not be enough in this season’s competition. Salzburg, a shadow of their former self, presents an opportunity for PSG to secure a significant win.
Many of PSG’s rivals have already delivered high-scoring performances in this edition of the tournament, which has been marked by lopsided results. Bayern Munich’s 9-2 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb on September 17 set the tone for the expanded 36-team competition. After five rounds, the average goal difference between winning and losing teams stands at 2.03, compared to 1.39 at the same stage last season. The increase in thrashings raises questions about whether the new format or the widening gap between elite teams and smaller clubs is responsible for this trend.
Slovan Bratislava, arguably this year’s weakest team, sits second-bottom with no points and a -14 goal difference. Their 5-1 defeat at Celtic on the opening night and subsequent struggles highlight the challenges faced by smaller nations’ clubs. Young Boys and Sparta Prague have also suffered heavy losses, further fueling concerns about the competitiveness of the tournament. Some argue that this disparity could strengthen the case for a Super League, while others caution against drawing conclusions too soon.
Proponents of the expanded format suggest that bigger scores are a natural consequence of the new rules. With more teams competing and goal difference likely to decide key positions, many clubs have prioritized aggressive play. Arsenal and Liverpool are examples of teams that capitalized on early leads to secure commanding victories. Conversely, Red Star Belgrade defied expectations by defeating Stuttgart 5-1, proving that underdogs can still make an impact.
However, 17 of the 22 four-goal hauls have come from teams in the “big five” leagues, indicating that top sides still dominate. The trend of lopsided results is being closely watched as the competition approaches its decisive stages. Some believe the current format will be replaced by a more streamlined version by 2027, while others argue that it’s too early to judge its long-term effects. PSG has the chance to climb four places with a strong performance in Austria, but the broader impact on the competition remains uncertain.
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