The UEFA Champions League group stages reach a climax on Tuesday and Wednesday night, as 20 teams are vying for the four places still up for grabs in the last 16 of the competition.
So far 12 teams have secured qualification for the next round of the Champions League, but four places will be decided over the next two nights, when the last round of the group fixtures are played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Group A
Both Internazionale and Tottenham Hotspurs have made sure of their progress to the next round at the expense of Dutch Champions FC Twente Enschede and German Giants Werder Bremen. The only thing that remains to be sorted out is that which team will proceed
to the next round as the group winners. Currently Spurs are leading the group on the basis of their superior head-to-head record against Inter, and if they win their remaining group game, they will be guaranteed the group winner’s status.
Meanwhile FC Twente are likely to finish third in the group irrespective of the outcome of their final game, and will be taking part in the next round of the Europa League.
Group B
Affairs in group B are similar to that in group A, where the top two have qualified for the round of 16, with only the small matter of deciding the group winner remaining.
FC Schalke of Germany and Olympique Lyon of France have been the front runners in this group since match day one, and with only two matches remaining in the group the story remains the same.
Lyon still have an outside chance of making it through as group leaders if they win their last group game against Hapoel Tel Aviv, but at the same time they will have to hope that FC Schalke fail to win their match against SL Benfica of Portugal.
If both the sides end up level on points with each other, then the Germans will head into the draw for the last 16 as group winners, on the basis of their superior head-to-head record.
Third placed Benfica will be looking to secure their progress to the Europa League, and anything less than a win for the Portuguese side would mean that Tel Aviv will pip them into the Europe’s second tier football competition.
Group C
Both Manchester United and Valencia have secured their qualification into the next round of the competition, and with the top two meeting tonight at the Theatre of Dreams, it will be decided who goes through to the next round as the group winners.
Manchester United have not conceded a single goal in the competition so far, and the Spanish side will have to become the first side to score against Sir Alex’s men, if they are to harbor any hopes of making it to the next round as group winners.
Scottish side, Glasgow Rangers are well place to progress into the Europa League and will face Turkish minnows Bursaspor tonight in a clash that only has academic significance.
Group D
In group D, last year’s runners up Barcelona have already secured top spot, but Rubin Kazan and FC Copenhagen are still battling it out for one remaining place in the last 16 from this group.
FC Copenhagen just have to match Rubin Kazan’s exploits against Barcelona tonight, and should they match the Russian’s result in Spain, they will qualify as the runner’s up from this group otherwise the Russians will go through.
Tuesday's Fixtures
Group A
FC Twente vs Tottenham
Werder Bremen vs Inter Milan
Group B
Benfica vs. Schalke
Lyon vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Group C
Man United vs Valencia
Bursaspor vs Rangers
Group D
Barcelona vs FC Rubin Kazan
FC Copenhagen vs Panathinaikos
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