The Champions League group stage spent most of its time getting maligned, a few of that in unhealthy religion from the most important golf equipment who simply wished to mould the competitors to their whims. However their foremost argument held a whole lot of water, which was that it lacked drama or suspense, as for essentially the most half the highest golf equipment in Pot 1 would stroll by way of just about unmolested into the knockout levels whereas nonetheless having to play matches in backwaters (to them) in Denmark or Belgium or Croatia or often Moldova.
That doesn’t imply the group stage didn’t have its charms – its rhythm, its sensical format and clear presentation. Whereas it may not have had all the drama, it nonetheless had greater than sufficient to make all of it appear price it. The group stage could also be shopping for the farm now (extra on that in a bit), nevertheless it went down how all of us can hope to: Weapons blazing, reminding everybody what it was able to, and what we’ll miss.
Most of Matchday 6’s theater-on-its-deathbed was offered on Wednesday in Group F, which was regarded as the Group of Demise when the draw was made all the best way again in September. This sort of pleasure is constructed on what’s happening in two completely different locations, with followers and groups alike ready for information from one other stadium a whole lot of miles away, and the way it impacts what’s happening the sector in entrance of them. Which is what Group F offered.
Heading into the evening, solely Borussia Dortmund had booked their place within the final 16, itself a narrative in that their Bundesliga season has been wonky as all get out, they’ll’t actually defend anybody and had simply misplaced their greatest participant from final season (Jude Bellingham). They had been broadly picked to complete dead-ass final within the group and ended up profitable it.
That left PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle all making an attempt to scramble the second qualification spot (whereas PSG may nonetheless win the group), all making an attempt to keep away from being dumped out of Europe altogether, and all probably not certain what to make of being given the comfort of a Europa League playoff-round spot. And the permutations meant that each aim would reshuffle who was lined up for what, precisely what you need on the final day of a bunch stage.
The 2 settings definitely helped, as a extra raucous environment than both St. James’ Park or the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund. The baying Geordies would by no means let a flagging Newcastle workforce let down and Dortmund’s behavior of doing every part in essentially the most bonkers vogue doable meant that we might get two matches to bounce between that might be performed at online game tempo. Particularly in Newcastle, the place a draw wouldn’t assist both the house workforce or Milan, so that they each needed to go for it.
And it didn’t take lengthy for the motion to get to a meth stage. Regardless that Dortmund solely wanted a draw to win the group and had already certified, their resolution to fixing their leaky protection appears to be simply tossing it within the deep finish and ready for it to study to swim. They nonetheless pushed their fullbacks insanely excessive with barely any midfield safety, leaving their two sluggish centerbacks to cope with Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola.
So inside in 1 / 4 of an hour we obtained Kang-in Lee lacking from right here:
And than Niklas Sule someway stopping a Mbappe aim with this:
An excellent higher angle:
Dortmund additionally normal their very own probabilities, largely down PSG’s left, with the 2 groups combining for 15 photographs within the first half. It was despatched into overdrive about half an hour in when information filtered in that Newcastle had scored. And, in fact, that aim needed to be a banger:
Which meant that Newcastle had been going by way of, PSG had been headed to the Europa League and Milan had been out. Which solely souped up PSG’s assault extra, which additionally left them much more open defensively. With Milan additionally having to chase the match, we had simultaneous adrenaline rushes.
It solely obtained amped up early within the second half when Dortmund took the lead. PSG had been at panic stations, which meant it was Mbappe time and he arrange their equalizer simply 5 minutes later:
That aim didn’t imply a lot for the time being, with Newcastle profitable, PSG had been nonetheless headed out. However a pair minutes later, Christian Pulisic scored for Milan, placing PSG again within the second spot, Newcastle within the Europa League and Milan nonetheless out of every part. And once more, a draw didn’t do something for both Newcastle or Milan, which gave followers the uncommon spectacle of a match that’s tied however each groups completely going for it as an alternative of 1 simply making an attempt to carry on for a degree. 10 minutes later they compelled Milan keeper Mike Maignan into this:
It was made all of the extra dramatic as Newcastle’s legs had been actually giving out with all they’ve been by way of of late with their harm disaster, which means Milan was getting 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 breaks on the reg.
In the meantime, Dortmund for no different purpose than to only be mischievous, had been nonetheless going for the win that they didn’t actually need and didn’t name off the canines till the ultimate couple of minutes. PSG had been residing on the sting and when Milan took the lead within the 84th minute, it meant that ought to PSG hand over a late winner, they’d be out and Milan would undergo. Lastly, round harm time, Dortmund went down a gear and so they and PSG performed out a reasonably tame previous few minutes whereas Newcastle by no means seemed like hauling something again again within the northeast of England. Perhaps the PSG executives had been in a position to “get the message” to Dortmund’s, who is aware of? So PSG by way of, Milan to the Europa League, Newcastle out on their ass.
All within the span of 90 minutes, PSG went from going by way of to going out to going by way of once more, Newcastle went from going to Europa League to going by way of to the knockouts to again to the Europa League to going out of European competitors altogether. And Milan went from lifeless final to going by way of to ending the evening within the Europa League. It’s unhappy that a lot of the group hinged on the bullsh*t handball call towards Newcastle in Paris, however then once more, nobody will ever really feel sorry for Newcastle once more.
And this may all go away subsequent yr when the event expands to 36 groups and the Swiss Model with no teams, only one massive desk. The place will this combat happen? The battle for twenty fourth to get into the playoff spherical? A tussle over eighth place to keep away from the playoff spherical however nonetheless not dealing with elimination altogether? Positive, we’ll get extra big-time matches out of it with groups in Pot 1 having to play two different groups in Pot 1, however will that make up for shedding this type of back-and forth? Will all of us be too weary from eight opening video games as an alternative of six that drags till the top of January as an alternative of mid-December?
As with every part in European soccer, we most likely have misplaced one thing to cater to the most important golf equipment’ voracious appetites. Not less than we obtained one final reminder of what we had.
Observe Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @Felsgate.bsky.social
