How Benfica pipped PSG as Champions League group winner despite IDENTICAL head-to-head and goal difference
BENFICA stunned Paris Saint-Germain to finish top of their Champions League group.
The Portuguese side thrashed Maccabi Haifa 6-1 in Israel on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, Christophe Galtier’s French champions edged past Juventus 2-1 in Turin.
The two results left Benfica and PSG level on 14 points, meaning the finer details would have to be looked at to decide top spot.
But that is not where the saga ends.
Both games between the two sides finished in 1-1 draws, meaning head-to-head could not determine the group winner.
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Next, Uefa look at goal difference, but they both finished on nine.
And even when you go to goals scored they could not be split as they had an equal tally of 16.
This meant the group winner was forced to be deciphered by AWAY GOALS.
And it was Benfica who had the edge by nine goals to six.
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It means that the four goals Benfica netted inside the final 21 minutes of their clash with Maccabi Haifa were crucial in ensuring they secured top spot.
PSG now face the possibility of getting a nightmare draw in the last 16 of the Champions League.
They will face one of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Tottenham, Bayern Munich, Porto or Napoli.
And it could lead to a last 16 exit for the second year in a row after they were knocked out by eventual winners Real Madrid last season.
Meanwhile, Benfica will take on one of Liverpool, Club Bruges, Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, AC Milan, RB Leipzig or Borussia Dortmund for a place in the quarter-finals.