Struggling PSG, Man City in high-stakes clash - As Champions League makes January debut

GENEVA, Switzerland:

The first Champions League games to be played in January include one with shocking possible consequences in an unpredictable debut season for the 36-team format.

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester City on Wednesday is a clash of super-wealthy state-backed teams currently a barely believable 25th and 22nd in the standings.

If the 2020 beaten finalist and 2023 champions play to a draw at Parc des Princes, both could start the 18-game final round on January 29 outside the top 24 places that qualify for the knockout stage.

The new format that replaced the traditional groups -- now with eight games instead of six, facing eight different opponents, and two in January -- is unknown territory even for UEFA, whose preseason prediction that eight points should ensure advancing likely will fall short.

However, few imagined what would play out in the first six rounds.

Man City and PSG have struggled, Real Madrid have lost half of their games and are in 20th place despite adding Kylian Mbappe to a title-winning team, and lowest-ranked debutant Brest have cruised to four wins and are seventh in the standings, just ahead of Lille.

"It would have been impossible to list these eight clubs as being in the top eight positions," Giorgio Marchetti, the UEFA deputy general secretary, told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "There is a lot of new fresh air.

"I think the format has an impact," Marchetti said, pointing to comments by Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi that it is more difficult to prepare for eight different opponents instead of three. "It is more of a challenge."

WHICH POSITIONS?

The top eight in the standings on January 29 advance directly to the round of 16 that starts in March. They will likely include current leaders Liverpool and second-place Barcelona, which are the only two teams already certain to finish in the top 24. Liverpool are the only team to win all six games.

Teams placed from ninth to 24th go into the new knockout play-offs round. Numbers nine to 16 will be seeded in the draw on January 31 and will play the second leg at home. Teams placing 17-24 host the first legs.

Numbers 25-36 in the standings are eliminated and do not transfer to the Europa League. Already out are Leipzig, Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys, which each lost all six games.

TODAY'S GAMES

Liverpool host Lille and Barcelona are at 15th-place Benfica. Atletico Madrid, in 11th place, can rise above visiting Bayer Leverkusen, who are in fourth place with just one point more.

Aston Villa, the 1982 European Cup winners, can qualify for the round of 16 with a win at 16th-place Monaco.

Stuttgart, in 26th place, are favoured to win at Slovan and move to 10 points, which would put pressure on PSG and Man City.

WEDNESDAY'S GAMES

Real Madrid host struggling Salzburg, and third-place Arsenal can secure their round of 16 entry -- and do Man City a favour -- by winning at home against 24th-place Dinamo Zagreb.

Sixth-place Inter Milan go to Sparta Prague, and Bayern Munich, in a surprising 10th place with 12 points, travel to Feyenoord, who are 18th with 10 points.

Brest go to Schalke's stadium in neutral Germany to face Shakhtar Donetsk, which have four points and likely must win to stay in contention.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN JANUARY, WHY?

For the money, mostly. The most influential clubs wanted a bigger and more lucrative Champions League and got two extra midweek matches for all. The congested calendar for soccer left few options.

Historically, European club competitions took a midwinter break until March. Then February was occupied in 2001 by the Champions League when a new format with a second group stage started. February stayed on the calendar when the round of 16 started in 2004, and for the next two decades.

So when UEFA decided in 2022 on this eight-game league phase, January was needed even though some leagues in Nordic countries do not start until March, and others are still on midwinter breaks.

Austrian champions Sturm Graz, which play at Atalanta on Tuesday, have not played a domestic game since December 7 and will not resume until February 1. - AP