So the Champions League group stage has just one more match to go and what a roller coaster ride it has been! Beginning in Group A, following Manchester United's demolition of a hapless Bayer Leverkusen side, and Shakhtar Donetsk's victory over Real Sociedad the table stands with United assured of a spot in the knock-out round with 11 points. Meanwhile Shakhtar and Bayer are left to fight over the scraps of 2nd place with 8 and 7 points respectively. Bottom of the table and playing for pride at this point, Real Sociedad have earned 1 point over 5 matches and don't look like earning any more. With that in mind, so long as Bayer improve from their dismal performance against United, they should earn the three points when they visit Spain while Shakhtar will count themselves very lucky if they can get even one when they face Manchester United next.
Over to Group B now where things are also close besides the poll position: Real Madrid are assured of qualification with 13 points to their name as Juventus occupy 2nd with 6 and Galatasaray and Kobenhavn each have 4 with the same goal differentials. As the final fixtures in place and Juve travel to Turkey while Kobenhavn host Real Madrid, I think the Turks might well be favored since they were able to draw the Italians in Turin 2-2 the last time the two sides faced off. A great deal will rely on Pirlo and company though Madrid will probably find victory in Denmark with even a B-Team.
Group C is also tight between 2nd and 3rd: PSG are through with 13 while Olympiacos and Benfica have 7 apiece. Anderlecht are down and out with just a point to their name. Olympiacos will likely seal the deal given that they play at home, welcoming Anderlecht, while Benfica will likely face sterner opposition in PSG although they do play in Portugal which may give them the lift they need. I'd like to see it but I doubt it'll happen.
The most divided group, Group D has Bayern in front with 15 points although Manchester City are just 3 behind the Germans. CSKA Moskva have 3 while Viktoria Plzen have 0. The last round of games will still be interesting though as Bayern host Manchester City and Plzen face CSKA Moskva. I think Bayern will at least draw if not claim victory over the English outfit while CSKA should hold onto their Europa League spot - given that there is a 4 point differential between the two sides in terms of goals scored and conceded.
Any of the top 3 can still win Group E on the other hand as Chelsea have 9 in 1st, Basel have 8 in 2nd, and Schalke have 7 in 3rd. Steaua Bucuresti have picked up 3 points, from 3 draws, but they travel to England for the last game of the group meaning Chelsea will most likely make it through. Between Schalke and Basel though, I am not sure. While the Germans will be at home in Gelsenkirchen, their recent performances both at home and abroad have been less than impressive. On the other side of the coin, Basel have been imperfect but magnificent - specifically against Chelsea. It all depends then on which side shows up for the Swiss: the one that has on two occasions defeated the Blues, or the one who lost at home to Schlake earlier in the group. We'll have to wait and see but I assure you it will be extraordinary!
Onwards to Group F. Strangely, depending on how the results go, a team with 12 points may not be making it to the knock-out round. Presently, Arsenal sit at top with 12 while Dortmund and Napoli have 9. Marseille continue their run of awful form with 0 points. In the unlikely event that Napoli destroy Arsenal in Italy by, say, 5-0, then the Gunners will be out so long as Dortmund don't mess things up in France. However, if Napoli are only able to edge the game in their favor - a far more likely scenario - they will go out with 12 points! Be ready to be amazed.
Groups G and H round out the affair with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona the teams leading the respective groups with 13 and 10. In the former, Zenit and Porto are left to fight over 2nd with 6 and 5. Austria Wien have 2 and should not prove too much of a challenge for the Russians in their last game of Group G. For Porto, they may well feel hard done by the draw which sees them travel to Madrid hoping for 3 points and a miracle. I would pick Madrid and Zenit to go through. As for Group H, Barcelona are not quite free and clear yet. 2nd place AC Milan have 8 while Ajax are on 7 and Celtic have 3. Given that Milan host Ajax while Barca welcome Celtic, I would say the Spaniards and the Italians would be the ones to progress. In fact, even a draw for the Dutch would be a great result, though not enough to get them into the next round.
Hope you've enjoyed the games and keep your eyes open for Europa League action! Names to look for include: Valencia, Ludogorets Razgrad, Salzburg, Rubin Kazan, Fiorentina, Eintracht Frankfurt, Genk, Sevilla, Lyon, Trabzonspor, Tottenham Hotspur, and AZ Alkmaar each of whom either drew or won today putting them at the top of their respective groups.
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