The final group games of the Champions League season takes centre stage today and tomorrow as teams head into the games with different mindset and goals.
UEFA Champions League final group games preview.
Eleven teams, including all four Premier League teams have sealed qualification into the round of 16 while big teams like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid still have their fate hanging in the balance.
The Spanish giants need to beat Bayern Munich in Germany to seal progress, while they could also earn a ticket if Benfica fail to beat Dynamo Kiev in Portugal.
For Atletico, an away win at Porto and they will also need AC Milan to take nothing away from their trip to Anfield in order to have a chance of progressing to the next round.
However, evidence from the first round of games translates Diego Simeone’s side will need a miracle to better Porto away from home. They have been very disappointing in the competition this season and progression will be undeserved.
AC Milan face a difficult test as they welcome Liverpool to the San Siro Stadium. The Rossonerri have move to the top of the standings in the league after a couple of slip ups for Napoli but a win against Liverpool could be more than what the seven times champions could produce.
Atalanta and Villarreal will also clash in Bergamo, in what will be a winner takes all contest as they battle for the only qualifying spot in the group. However, more will be at stake depending on Young Boys’ result against Manchester United, as Europa league qualification is also depending on these games.
No team has qualify in group G where we have Sevilla, Wolfsburg, Lille and Salzburg. Both games coming up on Wednesday as Wolfsburg host Lille while Sevilla travel to Salzburg will both be winner takes all contests.
Group D is already settled as both Real Madrid and Inter Milan have qualified for the knockouts while Sheriff Tiraspol sealed Europa league place. However, the clash between Real and Inter will be for the top of the group while Shaktar will be looking to get another point to end their disappointing campaign on a high.
Chelsea and Juventus also play their games to determine who top the group but the defending champions are well placed to finish above the Italian club. Zenith St. Petersburg have secured their place in the Europa League while Malmo have finished their group empty handed and face Juventus on Wednesday.
Leipzig turned their European season around in the last matchday by thrashing Club Brugge 5-0 in Belgian. Both face already qualified Manchester City and PSG respectively for a right to seal the Europa league spot on Tuesday.
Disappointed Borussia Dortmund face Besiktas having nothing to lose in the game. Their 3-1 loss to Sporting CP in the last matchday ended their hope of making it to the next round of the competition but a place in the Europa league is secured.
Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Ajax will be looking to win and make it a 100 percent group record and this bid will be at the peril of Barcelona and AC Milan.
Author: Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
