Bayern Munich coach Kompany confused by Champions League table

Posted Wednesday, November 27, 2024 by ESPN

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said he doesn't fully understand how the new Champions League format worked after his team earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday to improve their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Bayern needed a first-half goal from defender Kim Min-Jae to battle past 10-man PSG and claim a third win in five matches.

"I don't look at the table because, honestly. I don't yet understand it," Kompany told a press conference. "It will look good if we win a few more matches."

The Bavarians climbed to 11th with nine points from five games, a point off the top-eight places that bring automatic qualification for the round of 16. PSG are 26th on four, outside the playoff spots with three matches remaining in the first phase.

In the new 36-team league format this season, teams face eight teams instead of meeting three opponents twice. They play half of those games at home and half away.

The top eight sides advance directly to the round of 16, while those finishing ninth to 24th enter a two-legged playoff for a chance to secure a spot in the next stage.

"What's important is to reach our goal. If we win our remaining games we have a chance to make the top eight," Belgian Kompany, in his first season in charge at Bayern, said.

"I'm obviously happy. Our pressing in the first half was very good. The discipline was there. We could have scored perhaps one or two more goals, but the result is good.

"We are on the right track, but working to become even better."