UCL talking points: Man City, Madrid and PSG in crisis Liverpool and Inter are flying high.

Fifth day of 2024-25 UEFA Champions League There are more in the books The 36-team table is starting to take shape..

Paris Saint Germain After the loss, they face an uphill task to qualify for the knockouts. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid They are struggling to produce the performances that won them the title last season, and Manchester City Lost a three-goal lead. FeyenoordIn which alarm bells are ringing. Meanwhile, Liverpool And International Flying high with an eye on the knockouts.

ESPN writers Gab Marcotti, Alex Kirkland and Julien Laurens weigh in on some of the burning questions after five rounds.

Who should be more worried, Man City or Madrid, and why?

Marcotti: I think both of them will advance in the playoffs. He said, Who? should More troubled cities are, who is are more concerned Real Madrid. Indeed, I imagine Thursday’s Madrid papers will be full of stories of manager Carlo Ancelotti fighting for his job.

But it’s definitely the city that should be more worried. They have PSG and Juventusboth away, in their next two games (before ending in a relative game against The constellationbut then Feyenoord should have been a “gimme” too). The good news is that they are in control of their destiny and can even make the top eight. The bad news is that they haven’t won in six games (and you wouldn’t be surprised if you’re seven games into the weekend). Oh, and That’s a pesky 115 charges. And a decision is expected before Christmas. Things can unravel very quickly, big picture.

As for Real Madrid, injuries are a major factor in the reduction and many of them (Rodrigo, Aurélien Tchouaméni And Vinicius Jr are important) will return. They have Atlanta Next round, which is difficult (but, oddly enough, Atlanta sometimes disappears entirely). And then they finish with two cupcakes, Salzburg And Brest. The top eight is out of reach, but the playoffs look pretty bleak from where I sit.

Lawrence: Not even one of them! They have a great manager, great players, their injured players (or at least some of them) will be back, and they will be bringing in new players in January to play in the last two games of this league stage. Will be able to.

No need to worry in November or December, even if they would have started their respective seasons better. But he will Qualify, and I can assure you that in March, they will be in the quarter-finals.

Kirkland: Madrid are currently 24th in the table, with six points from five games. And in those five games, they only really played well for 45 minutes, in the second half Borussia DortmundThanks to an inspired Vinícius Jr. This does not bode well for the European champions. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they lose to underrated Atalanta on matchday six, and will then rely on getting results against Salzburg and Brest – which, well, they likely will.

And remember, Madrid never failed to qualify from the group stage in the old format.

What is going wrong at PSG?

Marcotti: Many things. But let’s start with manager Luis Enrique. The man is a genius, but you can only push this whole “being different” thing so far. And just because you’re a genius and a free spirit/independent thinker doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful.

You are taught everything about tactics and movement and then you go to Bayern and play front two. Ousmane Dembélé And Bradley Barcola In some weird 4-4-2 that you’ve hardly played this season? Really? Oh, and I know Gageo Donnerma Not everyone’s cup of tea, however Matvey Sifonov? How will it work for you?

The club’s transfer policy didn’t help. You spend all that money to sign. Randall Colo Mewani And then he never starts. Milan Screener Gets a huge free agent contract and they’ve been trying to move him since he arrived. I think all those who thought that once the circus left town (Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar … all distractions, but all can play) will suddenly start a “youth project”. But it is not that simple. And let’s put the brakes on that “youth” excuse: only four of the starting XI against Bayern were 23 or younger.

Lawrence: Firstly, they have a tough draw and from the start it looked like it might be tough for them. And it’s done. Why? Because they haven’t been clinical enough in either box: errors leading to goals And Not taking their chances (they have the third-worst shot conversion ratio in the competition).

This team is also a work in progress, and it will take time for this young squad to grow and get somewhere. These youngsters are promising, but there is also a lack of experienced and talented stars. Paris went too far in the direction of youth.

Although Luis Enrique is the right man to build this team, his mistakes so far (in strategy and player selection) have cost him. And finally, when Dembélé is your main man up front, you’re in trouble! Players will learn and improve but for now, it’s a tough watch at times.

Kirkland: Their run of luck has been poor — the loss to Atletico Madrid on Matchday Four was inexplicable — and it has been compounded by some inconsistent finishing. Looking at PSG’s post-Mbappé squad, they lack an elite goalscorer. They created more than enough chances to beat Atletico and PSV Eindhoven At home and yes, this is a young, incredible team. Marcoinos The only player in his 30s, and after that, Fabian Ruiz And Marco Asensio He is a 28-year-old senior player.

I like Luis Enrique a lot — he’s a charismatic leader and a great developer of talent — but his teams are often predictable in their style of play (if not their choice!) and their variety. There is a shortage. “I’ve been in the game for 30 years, and I can’t explain it,” he said after the Atletico defeat. He has to find answers soon.

Inter Milan and Liverpool are emerging as favorites which not everyone expected. What have been the biggest factors of their success?

Marcotti: I don’t believe Arnie Slott gets the credit he deserves. A new coach with zero new signatures (Federico Chiesa played hard) Taking the place of a legend in the greatest work Has he ever sat on the table? With argument Three of his most important players are out of contract. At the end of the season? And while teaching Ryan Gravenbruch A completely new position, losing your starting keeper for an extended stretch, changing the formation to a 4-2-3-1 and changing the approach to a more measured one than we saw in its predecessor. Seen in the distance?

I mean, are we kidding? This is incredible. Analytics experts will talk about overachievement and regression … maybe so. But the slot has been unreal. He is a huge part of their success.

As for Inter, they are closer to a machine. Simone Inzaghi’s work over the last few years has paid off, he has a flexibility of approach — possession, counter-attacking, pressing, whatever you want, he can make them do it — unlike any other top European. The club has not. It’s just good coaching on the training pitch. His insistence on squad rotation and programmed substitutions can sometimes cost him a little in terms of chemistry, but it ensures his players — especially the older ones — stay fresh. And they have extraordinary people. Alessandro Bastoni Behind the Federico Dimarco Wide up to Lautaro Martinez in front

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Burley: No surprise to see Liverpool overtake Real Madrid.

Craig Burley says Liverpool’s 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid lived up to expectations.

Lawrence: I predicted Liverpool’s top season last summer so I’m not too surprised by their success. The best thing that happened to them, apart from picking the right man to replace Klopp (once Xabi Alonso turned them down and they decided Ruben Amorim wasn’t for them), was actually last season. No one was to be signed in the summer. With the same squad as last season (Chesa doesn’t count), the same leaders, the same dressing room cohesion and without bringing in new players and risking upsetting a few egos, the slot is just that. Was able to get into it and concentrate. The pitch, changing a few things from what Klopp had built.

For Inter, stability is also key. With a very specific style in a 3-5-2 formation, they have a great identity under a great coach in Inzaghi. They have good squad depth which enables the manager to rotate and change as he likes (and he likes it a lot!) despite a disappointing European campaign last season (round of 16 against Atletico exiting), they are finalists from two years ago and started the season with great momentum. Serie A The final campaign title.

Kirkland: Looking at the stats for both sides, their goals conceded are eye-popping. Inter have not scored a single goal in five games! And Liverpool have only accepted one! Neither are the competition’s top scorers — five teams have scored more than Liverpool, and 27 teams have scored more goals than Inter — but when you’re building on a strong foundation, you’re more likely to be in Europe. Will not be wrong.

With three rounds left, who are your top eight seeds?

Marcotti: Liverpool and Inter should be fine. Beyond that, I honestly don’t know. This is a real cluster. i mean, Celtic 20th and could be in the top eight next week. Thanks, Swiss Model!

I imagine. Barcelona And weapon will be fine. Bayern have a fairly easy run. Atalanta look good, but they are away to deal with an angry Real Madrid and Barcelona (Sturm Graves in between). Two of me Borussia Dortmund The last three games are manageable (the other is Barca), but never underestimate their potential to self-destruct. City racing is tough, but at least they control their own destiny. Maybe they will be the eighth team.

Lawrence: Liverpool, Inter, Barcelona, ​​Atalanta, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen Currently in the top eight and will remain there. The other two are Bayern Munich and Austin Villawho have matches left to win. But there are still nine points up for grabs and a lot can change. Goal difference can play a big role in separating some teams with the same number of points.

Kirkland: I am confident about the most prominent teams of the tournament so far: Liverpool, Inter and Barcelona. After that, I am not convinced by Dortmund. I think Atalanta will beat Madrid next month, so they will have a real chance. Arsenal are getting better and better, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they win all three of their games against them. Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb And Girona. Byron will join them. As for the final two teams: who knows! Atletico Madrid are also improving, and may make it, although that will depend on their performance against Leverkusen on matchday.