The Perception
Supporters have praised this new setup for providing more thrilling and diverse matchups early on, as the variety of opponents challenges teams in unique ways. The added unpredictability has made the tournament exciting to follow, with even mid-tier teams having the chance to disrupt the established powerhouses.
However, some critics have raised concerns about player fatigue due to the increased number of matches, as well as the potential for the overall importance of individual fixtures to diminish, with many teams knowing they still have a chance to qualify for the playoffs even if they don't perform well in the group stage.
With just three points separating Bayer Leverkusen in 6th place from Dinamo Zagreb in 23rd, the current standings reflect the competitive nature of the new format. The tight margin means that many teams are still very much in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stages, making the final match weeks crucial for determining which teams will make it through.
Early Front Runners
Liverpool are the only team yet to drop a point, maintaining their lead after a dominant win over Real Madrid in Week 5. Inter sit second, having conceded no goals and earnied 13 points, despite scoring just 7. Barcelona and Dortmund follow, both with one loss each, and are the top scorers in the competition. It is below this where the congestion takes place with 7 teams on 10 points.
Underperforming Big Names
When looking at the table there are two teams that will stand out as underperforming and that is PSG and Real Madrid. Real (with 6 points from 5 games played) occupy the last qualifying spot in 24th while PSG (with 4 points from 5 games played) are one position and two points worse off in 25th.
PSG have only managed 3 goals in their 5 matches played and with their Week 7 match to come being against Man City, PSG will be determined to beat Salzburg in Austria this week or their place in the competition will be under jeopardy. With a trip to Stuttgart last up they really do have a difficult path to qualification.
Real Madrid have only had an average of 49.4% possession in their five matches highlighting a lack of control in their games played. They travel to Italy to face the undefeated Atalanta who have only conceded one goal in the tournament. They will be keen to take some of the pressure off in the last two games but with matches against Salzburg and Brest to come they will be expected to come through.
Surprise Packages
French side Brest have far exceeded expectations in their first-ever European campaign, earning 10 points from 5 games despite not playing at home due to their stadium not meeting UEFA's requirements. With winnable matches against PSV and Shakhtar, plus a tough trip to Real Madrid, they’re poised to secure the points needed to extend their European run.
Another French team in Lille have performed well, impressively beating both Madrid sides in back to back game weeks. With home ties against Stum Graz and Feyenoord to come they will be eyeing a top 8 finish, a position they are only outside of on goal difference.
Sitting slightly lower in the rankings are three teams currently occupying playoff positions: Dinamo Zagreb, Club Brugge, and Scotland's Celtic—all somewhat unexpectedly. Each has benefited from relatively favorable draws, but the Game week 6 clash between Zagreb and Celtic could be crucial. Of the trio, Celtic appear best positioned to advance, as they face bottom-of-the-table Young Boys at Celtic Park in Gameweek 7.
Teams at the Bottom
The majority of teams at the bottom are as expected but there are two names that stand out and that is Italian team Bologna and Leipzig. With only one point between them from their 5 games both teams look like being big name casualties that will fall in the group stage. For these two teams, the situation is dire—they must win their remaining three matches and hope for favorable results from other fixtures to have any chance of advancing.
A bit further up the table and joint with PSG on an unimpressive four points from 5 games played is last year’s Bundesliga runners up Stuttgart. After their 5-1 humbling at Red Star Belgrade in Week 5 they have left a lot of work to do. However, they will remain hopeful, as they have winnable fixtures against Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava, both of whom are yet to earn a point. Their tie with PSG on the final game week might be a decider.
Top Scorers
Robin Lewandowski, at 36 years old, continues to defy age with his prolific scoring, sitting atop the charts with 7 goals. Close behind are Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, two of modern football's most feared strikers, tied on 5 goals. Joining them are emerging talents like Florian Wirtz of Leverkusen, and Viktor Gyökeres, whose performances at Sporting have sparked big-money transfer rumors.
England's Jamie Gittens is certainly one to watch, with his impressive tally of 4 goals showcasing his potential at just 20. The competition for the golden boot promises to be thrilling, with established legends and rising stars battling for top honors.
Conclusion
The new Champions League format has certainly shaken things up, with more teams and additional match weeks making the group stage even more competitive. With such tight margins separating success from failure, the upcoming matchweeks promise thrilling action, with numerous teams battling for progression. There is a lot to play for, and the upcoming fixtures promise to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
