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Champions League recap, projections: Who wins, Best XI, more

The payoff was worth it, right? When the UEFA Champions League's first-ever League Phase began this season -- with an expanded field, no groups and just one giant, 36-team table -- it was a little bit difficult to work our way into the tournament. It was hard to tell what early wins and losses actually meant and the consequences of a slump felt pretty low, even for Europe's powerhouse clubs.

But then Paris Saint-Germain entered the penultimate matchday outside the bubble, needing a pair of good results to actually qualify for the knockout rounds.