PARIS – The early stages of the season have not been kind to Paris Saint-Germain, with three matches resulting in just one victory and no contributions from their forwards. Given the club’s current struggles, the updated Champions League format could offer some reprieve that might have been less likely under the old system.

In their latest outing, they managed a 1-1 draw at home against PSV Eindhoven, the leader of the Dutch league, which revealed some ongoing issues within their defensive lineup. Without standout players like Kylian Mbappé and Neymar to turn the tide in crucial moments, PSG has felt their absence acutely.

PSG suffered from lapses in marking, which allowed PSV’s Noa Lang to score. After Achraf Hakimi leveled the match shortly after the intermission, PSG faced two significant counterattacks from PSV looking to seize a late victory. In their previous clash, PSG was defeated 2-0 by Arsenal, suffering from similar defensive frailties. Their only win so far came against a lesser side, Girona, marked by a goalkeeper blunder that resulted in a 1-0 scoreline.

Notably, all of PSG’s goals in these matches have come from defenders, showcasing a concerning lack of clinical finishing up front. For instance, left-back Nuno Mendes scored against Girona, but it was more a result of a mishap by the goalkeeper than a well-crafted goal.

The new Champions League setup features 36 teams, each playing eight matches against a variety of opponents through January. This format allows for more flexibility in qualifying, even for teams lacking in form like PSG at this point. The top eight teams progress directly to the knockout stage scheduled for March, while those ranked ninth to 24th enter playoff rounds in February. Currently, PSG is positioned 17th, demonstrating the need for improvement.

Last season also presented challenges under the previous format, where only two out of four teams could advance from each group. PSG found themselves narrowly qualifying for the knockout stage, finishing behind Borussia Dortmund after a rough showing against Newcastle and AC Milan, leading to their defeat in the semifinals. The team recorded five losses overall in the competition, highlighting the pressing need for a turnaround.