PARIS (AP) — Securing automatic qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League is not a major concern for Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique.
He backs his team to reach the final again, whatever the route.
PSG hosts Newcastle on Wednesday with both sides level on 13 points in sixth and seventh place in the league phase table. Only the top eight go through directly, with the next 16 teams facing a two-legged playoff to reach the knockout stage.
“I would sign up for a defeat or a draw (against Newcastle) and be in the top 15 like last season,” Luis Enrique said Tuesday. “If you tell me we’ll be in the top 15 and then win the Champions League outright.”
A host of other teams are right behind PSG on goal difference, and another two sides are on 12 points, meaning a loss or a draw at Parc des Princes could drop the defending champion out of the top eight.
That wouldn't pose a problem for Luis Enrique, who is already looking ahead.
“We are an incredible team in the knockout phase and we’ll prove it again,” he said.
Last season, PSG finished 15th in the group stage yet won the competition for the first time. After progressing through the playoffs with a crushing 10-0 aggregate win over Brest, the French giant knocked out Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal en route to the final, where it routed Inter Milan 5-0.
PSG is approaching full strength again after an injury-hit start to the season.
However, Luis Enrique said he was still open to more signings before the end of the January transfer window, after the arrival of 18-year-old midfielder Dro Fernández from Barcelona on Monday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sporting CP and Paris Saint-Germain, in Lisbon, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique applauds during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sporting CP and Paris Saint-Germain, in Lisbon, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Thomas Harley’s goal with just over a minute left short-circuited a late rally by the St. Louis Blues and lifted the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 win on Tuesday night.
Matt Duchene scored a pair of goals for his first multigoal game since Feb. 8. Roope Hintz also scored and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves, as the Stars won for the third time in their last four games and improved to 10-2-1 against St. Louis going back to Nov. 28, 2022.
Brayden Schenn scored twice and Robby Fabbri also scored in the third period as St. Louis attempted to rally from a 3-goal deficit. Jordan Binnington made 20 saves for the Blues, who dropped their fifth straight game.
Duchene’s power-play goal for the Stars at the 3:20 mark of the second period broke a scoreless tie.
Duchene recorded his seventh of the season 40 seconds later with the help of a lucky bounce to make it 2-0. Duchene threw the puck in front of the net, where it deflected off Blues defenseman Logan Mailloux, who was tied up with Jamie Benn in the crease.
Hintz made it 3-0 with a power-play goal with 1:54 left in the second. It is the 15th time this season where Dallas scored multiple goals with the man advantage in a game.
Fabbri scored for the Blues at 3:15 of the third period. It was his first goal since Jan. 28, 2025, when he played for Anaheim.
Schenn scored at 6:22 of the third to cut the Blues deficit to 3-2 before he evened the game with 4:10 left. It was Schenn’s second multigoal game of the season.
Blues forwards Jake Neighbours (lower body) and Jordan Kyrou (upper body) left the game and did not return.
Stars: At Vegas on Thursday night.
Blues: Host Florida on Thursday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Dallas Stars Miro Heiskanen (4), left, and teammate goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) defend the net against St. Louis Blues' Robby Fabbri (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
Dallas Stars Matt Duchene (95) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
Dallas Stars Thomas Harley (55), center, celebrates with teammates Miro Heiskanen (4) and Mikko Rantanen (96) after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the third period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
