\n<\/p>\n
So if you finish outside the top eight and have to face another two matches, does that wreck your chances of Champions League glory?<\/p>\n
As PSG spectacularly proved last season, it certainly does not.<\/p>\n
In 2024-25, Luis Enrique’s side were facing Champions League elimination when 2-0 down at home to Manchester City on matchday seven of the league phase.<\/p>\n
But PSG won 4-2 and then defeated Stuttgart 4-1 in another must-win tie to finish 15th in the league. They then crushed fellow Ligue 1 side Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the knockout play-offs, defeated Liverpool on penalties in the last 16, got past Aston Villa and Arsenal in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively before thrashing Inter 5-0 in the final.<\/p>\n
PSG face Monaco in this season’s play-offs with Luis Enrique unconcerned by the extra matches, saying his side can win back-to-back Champions League trophies.<\/p>\n
“If any team is ready for the play-offs, it is us,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We knew it was a possibility that we might have to go into the play-offs. We will have to take the long route, but I don’t think anyone else can be considered favourites more than us.”<\/p>\n
The other European club competitions also adopted similar formats last season, with Real Betis reaching the Conference League final, losing 4-1 to Chelsea<\/a>, despite coming 15th in the league phase.<\/p>\n However, it was not the same in the Europa League.<\/p>\n