Why finishing in the top two of the Champions League Phase must be PSG’s top priority | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain is well on its way to a place in the next phase of the UEFA Champions League. With three wins from three games, they are well ahead of where they stood at this stage of the tournament last year (four points from three games).

Luis Enrique will be delighted with his side’s position at the moment, especially after clobbering Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 on Tuesday. That said, there is an added incentive in the competition this season that may force the holders to keep their foot on the gas.

Finishing in the top two will provide Les Parisiens with a much more straightforward path in their quest to retain the title. For one, it guarantees them a spot in the Round of 16. In the competition this season, the host teams for the critical second legs in the knockout stage will be determined by your ranking all the way through to the semi-finals. Last season, it came down to a random draw.

A top-two finish in the League Phase nearly guarantees that each return leg for PSG will take place at the Parc des Princes, until the semi-finals, should they get that far. That could be massive for a team that has suffered just two home defeats across all competitions in 2025.

 PSG won three of their four second-leg outings in the Champions League last season. They have only suffered two return leg defeats this decade at the Parc des Princes.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre