Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City are interestingly more or less in danger of exiting the continent’s top competition for the Europa League. Unlike Barcelona, Real Madrid, Internazionale or Bayern Munich, the English trio cannot afford to relax on Matchday 6.
Andre Villas-Boas’ big test
Andre Villas-Boas led Chelsea to a 3-0 defeat of Newcastle United last weekend, but this result doesn’t mean that the coach has finished proving himself in the eyes of his critics. The Portuguese man is facing a tough challenge in the form of Valencia.
Since quite a number of years now, one of the Blues’ priorities has always been to win the UEFA Champions League. Today, they are in a serious condition which they can still overturn, though. A goalless draw will be enough for them to pass onto the knockout stages of the competition.
However, Los Che are eyeing an upset and they are certainly well placed to dream big. Like Chelsea, Valencia clinched a moral boosting win at the weekend. The Spanish contenders are currently behind the Blues in Group E but Matchday 6 is not yet settled.
Chelsea lost at Stamford Bridge in the league and in the Carling Cup recently. They may need to mutilate Los Che so as to avoid yet another defeat on home soil this season.
| UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: GROUP E 2011/2012 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Bayer Leverkusen | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | +0 | 9 |
| 2 |  |
Chelsea | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 8 |
| 3 | Valencia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 8 | |
| 4 | Genk | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | -14 | 2 | |
Manchester City are in the cooking pot
They are mighty in the English Premier League, but their hopes in Europe are hanging from a thread. Manchester City’s fate is strictly in Napoli’s hands. The Citizens have to pray for some help from Villarreal.
The Yellow Submarines will have nothing to play for but pride against Napoli on Wednesday. Ending the Champions League campaign with at least a point from a possible 18 would somehow restore Villarreal’s pride.
Should Napoli drop points at El Madrigal, Manchester City would still be left with a task to accomplish: to defeat Bayern Munich at Eastlands. The Citizens blew away a golden chance to reach the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Matchday 5 as they lost 2-1 to Napoli.
Can anyone see Manchester City making a miraculous comeback?
| POS. | TEAM | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | D | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: GROUP A 2011/2012 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Bayern München | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 13 | |
| 2 | |
Napoli | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 8 |
| 3 | |
Manchester City | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 7 |
| 4 | Villarreal | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 12 | -10 | 0 | |
Manchester United will only have themselves to blame
The Red Devils’ participation in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is usually not unconfirmed after as many as 5 Matchdays. Compared to Manchester City and Chelsea, however, Manchester United’s problem is perhaps just a grain of sand.
FC Basel are not supposed to cause so much harm to the Red Devils. Although the Swiss side will benefit from the home advantage, Manchester United are poised to showcase what they learnt from last time’s dramatic 3-3 draw at Old Trafford.
Looking at the standings, it would be a total upset if Basel qualified ahead of the Red Devils.
| UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: GROUP C 2011/2012 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Benfica | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 9 |
| 2 | |
Manchester United | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 9 |
| 3 | Basel | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 | +0 | 8 | |
| 4 | Oţelul Galaţi | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 0 | |
