"To be honest, I think it's important for the team's confidence to win and take the three points, but I'm not sure it's the best thing, because if we qualify in the top eight, we won't play in the play-offs," Luis Enrique said ahead of meeting Sporting CP on Tuesday. "And we'll already be missing the Coupe de France matches. But it's certain that the objective is to win and finish in the top eight teams, even if I'm not sure that's the best thing. It's contradictory."
"Last season, PSG were in danger of missing out on the play-offs but finished 15th in the 36-team standings, then went on to win the competition for the first time. This term, they are sitting third in the table with two games left, though only two points separate them from ninth place, with the top of the standings incredibly congested as teams battle to advance directly to the round of 16."
"PSG are meeting Sporting for the first time in Europe, with the Parisiens winning just one of their eight previous away matches against Portuguese teams in major European competitions (D2 L5). From Paris to Lisbon! #UCL pic.twitter.com/YqIz3wmAYP - Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 19, 2026 And PSG have not lost a Champions League match against a team from outside one of Europe's big five leagues since December 2013 in a 2-1 loss at Benfica - they are unbeaten in 32 such matches since then (W26 D6)."
Paris Saint-Germain sit third in their Champions League group with two games remaining and face a tightly packed table where two points separate third from ninth. PSG were eliminated from the Coupe de France after a shock 1-0 loss to Paris FC, ensuring fewer matches than last season regardless of group finish. Luis Enrique warned that direct qualification into the top eight would remove play-off fixtures and domestic cup matches, potentially limiting match rhythm despite the objective to finish in the top eight. PSG meet Sporting CP for the first time in European competition and hold strong records against non-big-five clubs.
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