The fifth matchday of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League is set and the 36-team table is slowly taking shape.

Paris Saint-Germain face a tough task to qualify for the knockout stages after losing to Bayern Munich, Real Madrid are struggling to deliver the performances that won them the title last season and Manchester City lost a three-goal lead to Feyenoord, which was already alarm bells ringing. Meanwhile, Liverpool and Internazionale are in full swing and have their sights set on the knockout rounds.

ESPN writers Gab Marcotti, Alex Kirkland and Julien Laurens reflect on some of the burning questions after five rounds.

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Who should be more worried, Man City or Madrid, and why?

Marcotti: I think they will both make the playoffs. That is, who should Be more concerned, are City who Is Real Madrid are even more worried. In fact, I imagine the Madrid newspapers will be full of stories on Thursday about coach Carlo Ancelotti’s fight for his job.

But it’s definitely City who should be more worried. They have PSG and Juventus, both away, in their next two games (before ending in a relative gimme against Brugge, but then Feyenoord should be a “gimme” too). The good news is that they control their own destiny and could even make it to the top eight. The bad news is that they haven’t won in six games (and you wouldn’t be surprised if it’s seven games after the weekend). Oh, and there are those pesky 115 charges and a verdict expected before Christmas. Overall, things can unfold pretty quickly.

As for Real Madrid, the injuries are a big mitigating factor and some of those players (Rodrygo, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Vinícius Júnior are the most important) will be back. Next up is Atalanta away, which is tough (but strangely, sometimes Atalanta is completely absent). And finally there are two cupcakes, Salzburg and Brest. The top eight is out of reach, but from where I sit, the playoffs seem pretty darn likely.

Laurens: Neither of them! They have great managers, great players, their injured players (or at least some of them) will come back, and they will also recruit new players in January who can play in the last two games of this league phase.

There is no reason to worry in November or December, even if you would have liked a better start to the respective season. But her will qualify and I can assure you that they will be in the quarter-finals in March.

Kirkland: Madrid. With six points from five games, they are currently in 24th place in the table. And in those five games, they only played really well for 45 minutes, in the second half against Borussia Dortmund, thanks to an inspired Vinícius Júnior. Things are not looking good for the European champions. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they lost to underrated Atalanta on Matchday 6, and then they would have to rely on getting results against Salzburg and Brest – which they probably will – to progress.

And remember that Madrid never failed to qualify through the group stage in the old format.

What’s going wrong at PSG?

Marcotti: Several things. But let’s start with manager Luis Enrique. The man is a genius, but you can only take this whole “otherness” thing so far. And just because you’re a genius and a free spirit/free thinker doesn’t mean you’ll be successful.

For you it’s all about tactics and movement, and then you go to Bayern and play the two front players Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola in a strange 4-4-2 system that you’ve hardly played this season? Really? Oh, and I know Gigio Donnarumma isn’t for everyone, but Matvei Safonov? How did that work out for you?

The club’s transfer policy didn’t help. You spend so much money to sign Randal Kolo Muani and then he never starts. Milan Skriniar gets the huge free agent contract and they have been trying to move him since his arrival. I think all the people who thought that as soon as the circus left town (Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Neymar… all distractions, but everyone could play) the “youth project” would suddenly take off. But it’s not that simple. And let’s put the brakes on this “youth” excuse: Only four of the starting eleven against Bayern were 23 years old or younger.

Laurens: Firstly, they had a difficult draw and from the start it looked like things might be difficult for them. And that was it. Why? Because they weren’t consistent enough in both areas: mistakes that lead to goals And not taking advantage of their chances (they have the third-worst shot conversion ratio in the competition so far).

This team is still a work in progress and it will take time for this young squad to grow and achieve. These young talents are promising, but there is also a lack of experienced and talented stars. Paris went too far towards youth.

Although Luis Enrique is the right man to build this team, his previous mistakes (tactical and player selection) have cost his team. And finally, if Dembélé is your leading man at the helm, you’re in trouble! The players will learn and get better, but at the moment it’s difficult sometimes.

Kirkland: They were a bit unlucky – the loss to Atletico Madrid on matchday four was inexplicable – and there was also inconsistent finishing. Looking at PSG’s post-Mbappé squad, they lack an elite goalscorer. They created more than enough chances to beat Atletico and PSV Eindhoven at home. And yes, this is a young, unreliable team. Marquinhos is the only player in his 30s, after which Fabián Ruiz and Marco Asensio are the senior players at 28 years old.

I like Luis Enrique a lot – he’s a charismatic leader and a great talent developer – but his teams are often predictable in their playstyle (if not their selection!) and lack variety. “I’ve been in the game for over 30 years and I can’t explain it,” he said after the loss to Atlético. He has to find the answers soon.

Inter Milan and Liverpool emerge as favorites, which not everyone expected. What were the biggest factors in your success?

Marcotti: I’m not sure Arne Slot really gets the recognition he deserves. A new coach with zero signings (Federico Chiesa has barely played) replacing a legend in the biggest job he’s ever had and sitting at the top of the table? Since three of his most important players are no longer under contract at the end of the season? And while he taught Ryan Gravenberch a completely new position, lost his starting goalkeeper for an extended period, changed the formation to 4-2-3-1 and adopted a much more measured approach than we saw under his predecessor?

I mean, are we kidding? It’s incredible. The analytics nerds will talk about overachievement and regression to the mean…maybe so. But Slot was unreal. He is a big part of their success.

As for Inter, they are close to a machine. Simone Inzaghi’s work over the last few years has been rewarded. They have a flexibility of approach – possession, counter-attack, pressing, whatever you want, he can make them do it – that no other top club in Europe has. That’s just good coaching on the training pitch. His insistence on squad rotation and programmed substitutions may sometimes cost chemistry a bit, but it ensures that his players – especially the older ones – stay fresh. And they have extraordinary personalities, from Alessandro Bastoni in defense to Federico Dimarco on the wing and Lautaro Martínez in attack.

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Burley: It’s no surprise that Liverpool beat Real Madrid

Craig Burley says Liverpool’s 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid went as everyone expected.

Laurens: I predicted Liverpool would have a top season last summer, so I’m not particularly surprised by their success. The best thing that ever happened to them, apart from choosing the right man as Klopp’s replacement (after Xabi Alonso rejected them and they decided Ruben Amorim wasn’t for them), was that last summer actually have no obligation to anyone. With the same squad as last season (Chiesa doesn’t count), with the same leaders, the same harmony in the dressing room and without having to integrate new players and risk upsetting a few egos, Slot just could come in and focus on the pitch and at the same time changed a few things from what Klopp had set up.

Stability is also crucial for Inter. They have a great identity under a great coach in Inzaghi, with a very specific style in a 3-5-2 formation. They have good squad depth which allows the manager to rotate and move at will (and he really likes that!). Despite a disappointing European campaign last season (lost in the round of 16 against Atletico), they are the finalists from two years ago and started the season with great momentum after winning the Serie A title last season.

Kirkland: If you look at the statistics of both teams, the goals conceded are striking. Inter haven’t conceded a single goal in five games! And Liverpool only conceded one goal! They’re not among the competition’s top scorers either – five teams have scored more goals than Liverpool and 27 teams have more goals than Inter – but if you build on a solid foundation you won’t go far wrong in Europe.

With three rounds to go: Who are your top eight seeds?

Marcotti: Liverpool and Inter should be fine. Beyond that, I really don’t know. It’s a real cluster. I mean Celtic are in 20th place and could be in the top eight next week. Thank you, Swiss model!

I imagine Barcelona and Arsenal will be fine. Bayern are having a pretty easy run. Atalanta looks good, but they have to contend with angry Real Madrid and Barcelona away from home (Sturm Graz in between). Two of Borussia Dortmund’s last three games are manageable (the other is Barca), but never underestimate their capacity for self-destruction. City are having a tough time, but at least they are in control of their own destiny. Maybe they’re the eighth team.

Laurens: Liverpool, Inter, Barcelona, ​​Atalanta, Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen are currently in the top eight and will stay there. The other two are likely to be Bayern Munich and Aston Villa, who still have winnable games. But there are still nine points to be awarded and a lot can still change. Goal difference could play a big role in separating some of the teams with the same number of points.

Kirkland: I’m confident about the three best teams in the tournament: Liverpool, Inter and Barcelona. After that, I’m not convinced about Dortmund. I think Atalanta will beat Madrid next month so they have a real chance. Arsenal are getting better and better and I wouldn’t be surprised if they win their three games against Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb and Girona. Bayern will join them. As for the final two teams: who knows! Atlético Madrid is also making progress and could make it, although that depends on the game against Leverkusen on matchday seven.