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• Kompany targeting Champions League top eight despite stuttering start

  Vincent Kompany is eyeing a place in the top eight of the new Champions League format with Bayern Munich despite back-to-back losses in the competition. 

  Bayern welcome Benfica to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, hoping to recover from defeats to Aston Villa and Barcelona, the first time they have failed to win consecutive games in the competition since April 2017. 

  Kompany's started their Champions League campaign with a 9-2 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb, but have since plummeted down the new league table. 

  They find themselves 23rd after three matches. However, they have fared better in the Bundesliga, sitting three points clear at the top of the table after nine games. 

  "What we know is you have to win around six (of eight) games to reach the top eight," Kompany said. 

  "You have to win three games and that should be enough for the playoffs. My goal is to reach the top eight."

  Bayern last failed to reach the Champions League knockout stages in 2002-03, finishing bottom of a group that featured Deportivo La Coruna, Lens and Milan. 

  But despite their stuttering start in the competition so far, Kompany said the new format plays no role in the team's planning. 

  "I don't want to think too far ahead because we have enough games," Kompany said.

  "We have to win against Benfica. I don't want to spend too much time thinking about what could happen in January.

  "No one knows how it will work. We only know we want to win tomorrow. We play at home. That is my only goal."

  Bayern, however, have every confidence of getting their European campaign back on track, with the German outfit boasting an impressive record against Benfica. 

  They have played 12 major European matches against Benfica and have never lost (W9 D3). 

  But Bruno Lage's side will be looking to buck that trend, having beaten Atletico Madrid and Red Star Belgrade so far, but they did lose to Feyenoord last time out. 

  "We have a lot of confidence going into this game. We will always adapt and take the steps that are right for the team," Kompany said. 

  "But to say we will change everything is not serious. We just want to win again at home. 

• Luis Enrique in awe of Simeone energy ahead of reunion

  Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique was full of praise for his former rival Diego Simeone as he prepares to go head-to-head with the Atletico Madrid boss in the Champions League.

  PSG and Atletico, who reached the semi-finals and the quarter-finals respectively last season, will face off on Wednesday having both won just one of their three league-phase games.

  A home victory would boost PSG, currently 19th with four points, while Atletico, languishing in 27th on three, are aiming to recover from back-to-back losses.

  PSG have never faced Atletico in the Champions League before but Luis Enrique's Barcelona defeated Simeone's Atletico side nine times in their 14 meetings between 2014 and 2017, drawing twice and losing three times.

  Luis Enrique led Barca to a Champions League and LaLiga double in 2014-15 followed by another league title the following year.

  "We've played against each other as players and then as managers. I admire Simeone, when a coach can stay for so many years at a top club it means he is great because that is such a difficult thing to do," Luis Enrique told reporters on Tuesday.

  Simeone has managed Atletico for 13 years, guiding them to two LaLiga titles and two Europa League crowns, though the Madrid side had considered hiring Luis Enrique prior to Simeone's arrival.

  "I had given my word to another club. If I had gone to Atleti, I would not have stayed half as long as Simeone because I don't have the energy as him," added Luis Enrique.

  "They are lucky to have found Simeone as a coach. You need a lot of energy, to be able to convince all your players over the long-term."

  PSG, having lost Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the close season, have just two goals in their three Champions League games, beating Girona 1-0 but drawing 1-1 with PSV and losing 2-0 at Arsenal.

  "I have no doubt we can improve in defence and attack, whether it is with the defender duos of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, or Milan Skriniar and Lucas Beraldo, or in the midfield," Luis Enrique said.

  "I understand you want to discuss individual players, but we analyse things from a broader perspective.

  "What interests me is to always generate goalscoring opportunities and to arrive in the penalty area because you have managed to be stronger than your opponent.

  "That is my objective as a coach: to always generate opportunities."

   

  Close-season signing Matvey Safonov, who kept a clean sheet in their opening win against Girona, might replace number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose mistakes proved costly at Arsenal and against PSV.

  "You will find out tomorrow. After a good cup of cappuccino, I will decide who the goalkeeper is," Luis Enrique said. 

• Fonseca targets statement Milan win over Real Madrid

  Milan have no need to fear Real Madrid and their coach Paulo Fonseca is targeting a statement win in the Champions League.

  Despite having won more Champions League/European Cup titles (seven) than any other club apart from Madrid (15), it has been 17 years since Milan last lifted the trophy in 2007.

  On the other hand, holders Madrid have won the Champions League six times since 2013-14.

  But Fonseca sees no reason to fear Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Carlo Ancelotti's side were recently hammered 4-0 by Barcelona.

  "We're playing against a team that aspires to win the Champions League every year and for us it's a great opportunity to grow," Fonseca said.

  "We'll play without fear of anything, with courage, because we believe we can play a great game and do great things.

  "I always transmit to my team the desire to win and tomorrow will be no different. Real Madrid are a great team, but we will go out there thinking about winning. After that, anything can happen, but that's the mentality.

  "To win a match like this, we have to defend well, have possession of the ball and create dangerous situations. A match against Real Madrid is a chance to show the world our quality and the way we are growing."

  Madrid are 12th in the 36-team Champions League table with six points, while Milan are languishing in 25th spot – just outside the play-off places – with three points after three games.

  Fonseca explained Milan had carefully studied Barcelona's 4-0 win over Madrid in last month's Clasico.

  "I saw the derby, it's impossible not to watch it. They are teams I like to watch and I paid close attention to the game," Fonseca said.

  "We are different from Barcelona but it was important to see Real Madrid's intentions against them because Barca have a similar way of defending with us. We made the whole team watch the game.

  "It is the match between the two clubs that have won the Champions League the most. There are many games in the continent that are big, but this one is obviously something special, a match between two clubs that are attractive.

  "We hope to put on a good show for people who enjoy good football."

  Milan are winless in their last three Champions League games against Madrid (D2 L1) since they won 3-2 in October 2009 with goals from Andrea Pirlo and Alexandre Pato.

  Madrid have won five of their seven home matches against Milan in the competition (D1 L1), beating them 2-0 in the most recent such match in October 2010.