The new Champions League has taken it to the limit in this league phase by Real Madridwhich has so far added four victories and three defeats. The whites face their last match with a clear task: exhaust all possible options to qualify directly for the round of 16.
The team led by Charles Ancelotti He currently occupies 16th place in a ranking dominated by the Liverpool. With 12 points under their belt, they need to beat Brest away from home once they have secured their presence at least in 9th to 24th places.
The hypothetical victory against the French team would allow them to reach 15 points and climb even further positions, although it will also depend on the results of their direct rivals. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Aston Villa are their main threats since they are above them in the standings.
The task of sneaking into the top eight teams that directly access the round of 16 seems distant, but it is not impossible. He Bayer Leverkusen occupies 8th place with 13 points. “We have already lost two games… I don’t know if we can reach the top eight, but we are going to try,” said Ancelotti in the press conference prior to the match against Liverpool in Anfieldwhere Madrid fell 2-0.
In this new format of the Champions League, where each goal can change the classification in real time, the whites have much more at stake than their continuity. So far, they have secured around 66 million euros, but the financial bonuses are an additional incentive.
The UEFA It rewards 275,000 euros for each place you move up in the league phase, while finishing in first place brings almost 10 million euros. The eighth classified, which marks the limit to avoid the playoffswill pocket 6.875 million euros, in addition to an extra bonus of two million for advancing directly to the round of 16.
The results of yesterday’s matches complicated Real Madrid’s accounts a little more, falling from 20th to 22nd place. However, after beating Salzburg the team has climbed to 16th position, above a direct rival like the Juventus. Furthermore, the defeats of Bayern and Borussia They keep hope in the club. The last day will be decisive, when the whites visit Brest to define their final position.
Ancelotti, at a press conference with Real Madrid
EFE
The Madrid Champions
On a sporting level, Ancelotti’s men arrive after a close victory against the Atalanta in Bergamo (2-3), which allowed them to keep their aspirations alive. However, the defeats against Lille (1-0) and Milan (1-3) have been a burden, both in points and image. Against Salzburg, Madrid will seek to improve its European performance and face the closing of this league phase with confidence.
If Real Madrid manages to qualify for the playoff, they could have to face high-level rivals, such as Manchester Cityhe PSG or Bayern itself, who could also be left out of the top eight. Therefore, obtaining the best possible match will be vital to avoid surprises and advance to the round of 16.
With one day left, the whites are already guaranteed their continuity in this renewed edition of the Champions League. Real Madrid’s options to qualify directly are very remote since, despite being at a point, they do not depend on themselves. However, the team has made sure not to go into the final match with excessive pressure.