UEFA Champions League: Former champions are 'dying'

1. Although not officially eliminated,AC Milanare also in a "thousand pounds hanging by a thread" situation. The 1-0 victory at Atletico Madrid has lit up the fragile hope for the team that has won the "big ear cup" 7 times. Accordingly, after 5 matches, AC Milan is struggling in the second-to-last position of Group B, 1 point behind the 2nd place team (Porto) and equal on points with the last place team (Atletico Madrid), but with a better secondary index.

Barcelona players (in yellow shirts) are facing the risk of being eliminated in the group stage. Photo: UEFA

To get through the group stage, coach Stefano Pioli and his team must satisfy both conditions: defeat Liverpool (necessary), and hope for a favorable result in the match between Porto and Atletico Madrid (sufficient). Not to mention the sufficient condition, the necessary condition alone is not easy for Ibrahimovic and his teammates to achieve. Just looking at the way the second team easily defeated Porto is enough to see how formidable coach Jurgen Klopp and his team are.

Anyway, coach Stefano Pioli and his team will play at the "holy land" San Siro. Surely, AC Milan players will play with more than 100% determination, hoping to defeat the team from the "foggy land". However, the chance of Ibrahimovic and his teammates winning all 3 points against Liverpool is not really big, unless coach Jurgen Klopp and his team intentionally "go easy" on the home team's players.

2. Barcelona is a little "easier" than AC Milan. Currently, the Camp Nou team is temporarily in 2nd place in Group E, only 2 points ahead of their direct opponent Benfica. If they can get maximum points in the final match, coach Xavi Hernandez and his team will confidently advance to the round of 16 without having to worry about the result of the match between Benfica and Dynamo Kiev taking place at the same time.

Unfortunately, the opponent that Pique and his teammates have to "deal with" is Bayern Munich. Furthermore, the "Bavarian Tigers" will also play at home. The Cules are hoping that the German team will not field their strongest squad to welcome coach Xavi Hernandez and his team. Even if coach Julian Nagelsmann leaves all the important pillars on the bench, Barcelona will still have a hard time returning with 3 maximum points.

Objectively speaking, the quality of the first team of the "Catalan Giant" is only comparable to the second team of the reigning Bundesliga champions. Depay, Fati, Gavi... cannot fill the void left by Xavi, Iniesta, Messi or Suarez. The lackluster performance against Benfica on November 24 is clear evidence. And it would not be an exaggeration to say that Barcelona at this time is just a mediocre team in European football.

Let's wait and see whether AC Milan and Barcelona will "follow in the footsteps" of Borussia Dortmund or not? The answer will be available in the early morning of December 8 and 9./.