Champions League - Preview: Match Day 5, Group B
Group B:
FC Schalke 04 V Olympique Lyonnais - Vetlins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany, 2045 GMT
Felix Magath’s Schalke were the biggest spenders in German Bundesliga in the summer and secured two high profile strikers, Real Madrid's legend Raul and AC Milan’s Klaas Jan Huntelaar. But, 13 weeks on in the season and Schalke are miserable in the league,
lying at a lowly 15th place. Their hopes of making it to the next round of Champions League will take a massive boost tonight if they beat Olympique Lyon at Vetlins Arena in Gersenkirchen.
Having already lost to Lyon in the first leg of this tie, revenge will be high on their agenda as Schalke welcome the French giants to Germany.
Going into the game, Lyon’s form is nothing to write about as they have won only 2 of their last seven games on the road. However, their 1-0 win against their opponents in the first leg will give them a confidence boost for their game tonight. But, they
will have to fight for every inch on the pitch as Shcalke have an agenda of their own and with one of the meanest defences in the league, Schalke will themselves be confident going into the game.
A loss for Lyon tonight will jeopardize their chances of qualification while a win will make sure that they qualify as the group winners.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC V SL Benfica - Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2045 GMT
The side from Israel is lying at the bottom of this group and have failed to win any of their first 4 matches, having conjured only one point against Schalke on the way and are already knocked out of the competition.
Tel Aviv, however, can still go through to the Europa League but have slim chances of that as well. Hapoel’s form in Israel has been impressive off late as they have won 4 of their last 6 games and have only conceded 3 goals in those matches. But tonight,
they only have pride to play for as they look to spoil Benfica’s party by denying them a win and with that hampering their chances of qualification into the next round.
Benfica are currently third in the group standings and a win for them will put them right back in the contention for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Going into the match, Benfica boast a decent record recently as they have won four of their
last five encounters in all competitions but they have not been faring well on the road as they have lost 2 of their three away games going into this all important clash including a 5-0 loss against bitter rivals FC Porto in the Portuguese Superliga only recently.
Benfica are strong favourites to win the match tonight in Israel but with pride to play for, Hapeol are going to be no pushovers and Benfica will have to fight for every inch on the pitch.
UEFA Champions League: Group B Table
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
1
Lyon
4
3
0
1
9
5
4
9
2
Schalke 04
4
2
1
1
5
2
3
7
3
Benfica
4
2
0
2
6
7
-1
6
4
Hapoel Tel-Aviv
4
0
1
3
2
8
-6
1
Remaining fixtures of the Group:
Benfica v Schalke 04
Lyon v Hapoel Tel-Aviv
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