The playoffs for the UEFA Champions League are upon us, and the expectation is high as teams from across Europe vie for eight coveted spots in the knockout phase. Among the surprises of this year's preliminary matches is the involvement of several Italian clubs, juxtaposed with the elite European teams. Notably, the Spanish giants Real Madrid’s failure in their recent matches added to the drama, while the narrative out of Paris continues to be dominated by the performances of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

PSG finds itself in a familiar situation as last season's patterns seem to repeat, once again facing elimination from the prestigious tournament. Previously able to make it through by the skin of their teeth, this season sees the team struggling with back-to-back losses, which have removed them from the top echelon of European club football. Under the management of Luis Enrique, PSG had high hopes given previous successes, but recent poor performances in domestic leagues have led to unrest in the team’s ranks and raised questions about their future in the competition.

With British clubs poised to dominate the later stages of the tournament, the spotlight also falls on PSG's ability to recover from their setbacks as they prepare for pivotal matches in this week and next. Meanwhile, the implications of this playoff phase are even greater than just qualification, as it could define the club’s trajectory for the rest of the season, both in Europe and domestically, and significantly affect manager Luis Enrique’s position moving forward.