Bayern’s Kompany bewildered by Champions League format after PSG win

Vincent Kompany admitted he did not fully understand the new Champions League format after Bayern Munich's 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain boosted their hopes of progression.

Kim Min-jae's first-half goal was enough to put Bayern past PSG, who sent winger Ousmane Dembele off for two bookable fouls early in the second half.

It was the Bundesliga leaders' third win in five games under the new Champions League format, moving them up to 11th in the 36-team table with nine points.

They are one point clear of the top eight, giving automatic qualification to the last 16. Teams nine through 24 will participate in the playoffs to join them in the new year.

“I don't look at the table because, to be honest, I don't understand it yet,” Kompany said at a press conference. “It will look good if we win a few more games.

“What is important is to achieve our goal. If we win our remaining matches, we have a chance to make the top eight.

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

“We are on the right track, but we are working to get even better.”

7 – FC Bayern Munich have won and kept a clean sheet in each of their last seven league matches. The last time before FCB succeeded was under Jupp Heynckes in August/September 2011 (10 times in a row without setbacks). K0mpany. pic.twitter.com/Kfdwfozrzg

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) November 26, 2024

Bayern have now beaten PSG eight times in the Champions League, with only Real Madrid (11 against Bayern) and the Bavarians themselves (10 against Barcelona) winning more games against a single opponent in the tournament's history.

They are also unbeaten in each of their last 33 home matches in the Champions League group stage (31 wins, two draws).

That is the longest streak in the history of the competition, with Barcelona also finishing 33 times without defeat at home between November 2009 and November 2020.

They will have the chance to break that record when they host Slovan Bratislava on matchday eight, after trips to Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord.