Focus on final Uefa group matches
Focus on Uefa group matches
Posted: 2008-12-03 12:56
All the action in Europe next week will focus on the final match-day of the Uefa Champions’ League group stages. With the two finalists in six of the eight groups already decided, top billing is on Group A and B, where the four slots for the knockout stage are still wide open.
However, some of those teams that have already qualified will be playing for group leadership.
Here are the fixtures, the current standings and a brief wrap up of what lies ahead.
Group A
Fixtures
Chelsea (England) vs CFR Cluj (Romania), Roma (Italy) vs Bordeaux (France)
Standings
Roma 9
Chelsea 8
Bordeaux 7
CFR Cluj 4
The results of both matches will affect the final standings as no-one has qualified at this stage. Second-placed Chelsea’s match against Cluj holds the key should Roma not beat Bordeaux. If the English giants get all three points, the Italians only need a draw to progress, whereas a win for Bordeaux will ensure that the French side finishes in the top two. If Cluj win, they stand a chance of making it into the Uefa Cup.
Group B
Fixtures
Werder Bremen (Germany) vs Inter Milan (Italy), Panathinaikos (Greece) vs Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus)
Standings
Inter Milan 8
Panathinaikos 7
Anorthosis 6
Werder Bremen 4
Inter have qualified for the knockout stage irrespective of the outcome of the Panathinaikos vs Anorthosis match because of head-to-head records. Panathinaikos need a draw or win against Anorthosis, whereas the Cypriots need all three points to progress.
The best Bremen can do is finish third – if they beat the Italians and Panathinaikos beats Anorthosis.
Group C
Fixtures
Barcelona (Spain) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine),
Basel (Switzerland) vs Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Standings
Barcelona 13
Sporting Lisbon 9
Shakhtar Donetsk 6
Basel 1
Barcelona and Sporting have both qualified for the knockout round as, even if the Ukrainians beat the Spaniards, they cannot overtake Sporting due to an inferior head-to-head record. Basel will be playing for pride only.
Group D
Fixtures
PSV Eindhoven (Holland) vs Liverpool (England), Marseille (France) vs Atletico Madrid (Spain)
Standings
Atletico Madrid 11
Liverpool 11
Marseille 3
PSV Eindhoven 3
Atletico Madrid and Liverpool have both qualified for the knockout stage. Marseille and PSV will battle it out for a Uefa Cup spot.
Group E
Fixtures
Manchester United (England) vs AaB Aalborg (Denmark), Celtic (Scotland) vs Villarreal (Spain)
Standings
Manchester United 9
Villarreal 9
AaB Aalborg 5
Celtic 2
Manchester United and Villarreal have both qualified for the knockout stage. AaB Aalborg will progress to the Uefa Cup because even if they lose to Celtic, they have a better head-to-head record than the Scots.
Group F
Fixtures
Lyon (France) vs Bayern Munich (Germany), Steaua Bucharest (Romania) vs Fiorentina (Italy)
Standings
Lyon 11
Bayern Munich 11
Fiorentina 3
Steaua Bucharest 1
Lyon and Bayern have qualified for the knockout stage.
Fiorentina need only a draw to progress to the Uefa Cup.
Group G
Fixtures
FC Porto (Portugal) vs Arsenal (England), Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine) vs Fenerbahce (Turkey)
Standings
Arsenal 11
Porto 9
Dynamo Kiev 5
Fenerbahce 2
Arsenal and Porto have both qualified for the knockout stage, while Kiev must beat Fenerbahce if they are to qualify for the Uefa Cup.
Group H
Fixtures
Real Madrid (Spain) vs Zenit St Petersburg (Russia), Juventus (Italy) vs Bate Borisov (Belarus)
Standings
Juventus 11
Real Madrid 9
Zenit St Petersburg 5
Bate Borisov 2
Juventus and Real Madrid have both qualified for the knockout stage. The weekend’s games are academic, except for Zenit, who can still qualify for the Uefa Cup.
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