Manchester City need a victory against Bayern Munich on Wednesday to keep their hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League last 16 alive.
City must not only beat group leaders Bayern to reach the knockout stages, they must hope Napoli fail to win at last placed Villarreal in Group A’s other game. Bayern have already sealed progress to the next round as group winners, but will nonetheless provide stiff opposition for a City team they have already beaten 2-0 in Germany during this tournament.
In Group C, FC Basel will play host to Manchester United with qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages on the line.
United are currently tied for the group lead with Benfica on nine points, while third placed Basel are only one point further back.
A win or draw in this game will guarantee United progress to the next round, while to qualify as group winners United must get a better result than Benfica achieve against last placed Otelul Galati.
If Basel beat United, then they will qualify for the last 16 at the expense of their more illustrious English opponents.
Lille will play host to UEFA Champions League Group B rivals Trabzonspor on Wednesday, with both teams knowing a win will guarantee them a place in the knockout rounds.
Trabzonspor are currently second placed in Group B, while Lille are only one point further back. If this game ends in a draw, CSKA Moscow can steal the second qualification spot if they win at group leaders Inter Milan.
AFC Ajax can guarantee qualification into the last 16 with a point against Group D leaders Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Even if Ajax lose this game, Lyon must beat Dinamo Zagreb and overhaul a seven goal differential to see the Dutch club eliminated. Madrid have already sealed their progress into the knockout stage as group winners.
Manchester City need a victory against Bayern Munich on Wednesday to keep their hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League last 16 alive.
City must not only beat group leaders Bayern to reach the knockout stages, they must hope Napoli fail to win at last placed Villarreal in Group A’s other game. Bayern have already sealed progress to the next round as group winners, but will nonetheless provide stiff opposition for a City team they have already beaten 2-0 in Germany during this tournament.
Aleksandar Kolarov is sidelined with a groin injury for City, while defender Micah Richards is doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
City boss Roberto Mancini has stated his team are now underdogs to qualify from Group A, but his players are more than ready for the challenge. David Silva will be an influential figure for the Citizens, and the World Cup winning playmaker has said this week that his team “simply cannot accept defeat” in this game.
Mario Balotelli will likely feature along with Silva in the City attack, and the in-form Italian striker has registered two goals and one assist in two Champions League games so far this season.
Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos have not traveled to England due to illness, while Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez are hoping to shake off illness in time to play.
Despite the fact that Bayern have already qualified as group winners, coach Jupp Heynckes has emphasized how important the game is to his team.
“Tomorrow’s a big match between the leaders of their respective leagues – which is always a matter of prestige,” Heynckes told BBC Sport. “Then there’s the question of the win bonus and the UEFA ratings too, so it’s an important match for Bayern.”
Lille will play host to UEFA Champions League Group B rivals Trabzonspor on Wednesday, with both teams knowing a win will guarantee them a place in the knockout rounds.
Trabzonspor are currently second placed in Group B, while Lille are only one point further back. If this game ends in a draw, CSKA Moscow can steal the second qualification spot if they win at group leaders Inter Milan.
Marko Basa and Benoit Pedretti are ruled out for Lille, while Idrissa Gueye and Tulio De Melo are injury doubts.
Moussa Sow will lead the Lille attack, and the Senegalese forward has netted three goals so far in this competition.
Robert Vittek and Baris Atas are ruled out with injury for Trabzonspor, while Tayfun Cora and Onur Kivrak are injury doubts.
FC Basel will play host to Manchester United with qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages on the line.
United are currently tied for the Group C lead with Benfica on nine points, while third placed Basel are only one point further back.
A win or draw in this game will guarantee United progress to the next round, while to qualify as group winners United must get a better result than Benfica achieve against last placed Otelul Galati.
If Basel beat United, then they will qualify for the last 16 at the expense of their more illustrious English opponents.
Benjamin Huggel and Valentin Stocker are injury doubts for Basel and will be assessed ahead of kickoff. Alexander and Fabian Frei will both feature for Basel in this game, and the namesake pair have combined for seven goals and one assist so far in this competition.
United have a lengthy injury list that includes strike trio Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen. Tom Cleverley is also ruled out for the Red Devils, along with Brazilian trio Rafael, Fabio and Anderson.
Midfielder Michael Carrick is suspended for United, while Ashley Young is expected to play. England winger Young spoke this week about the attacking mentality United intend to bring into this game.
“It would be dangerous to think we only need a draw (to qualify),” Young told BBC Sport. “No-one at this club has that mentality. We still have it in our hands to go out the and qualify, which was the main target and we will be trying to win.”
Napoli can secure qualification into the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds with a win at last placed Villarreal.
A draw would also be enough to see Napoli reach the last 16, if Manchester City fail to beat Bayern Munich in Group A’s other game.
Striker Giuseppe Rossi is ruled out for a Villarreal team looking to achieve their first point, while Nilmar and Cani will both return for the Yellow Submarine.
Marco Donadel and Miguel Britos are ruled out for Napoli due to thigh and foot injuries respectively.
Edinson Cavani will be an important figure for Napoli, and the Uruguay international striker has scored four goals in five goals so far in this competition.
Benfica can seal top spot in Group C with a home win over last placed Otelul Galati on Wednesday.
Benfica are already assured of progress to the last 16, but could move down into second place if they fail to win this game and the FC Basel v Manchester United contest produces a winner.
Galati are already eliminated from this competition, but will be looking to pick up their first point of the group stages in this game.
Luisao and Enzo Perez are sidelined with injury for Benfica, while Maxi Pereira is suspended.
Axel Witsel and Pablo Aimar both impressed during Benfica’s 2-2 Matchday five draw at Manchester United, and the pair are expected to feature again here.
Adrian Salageanu and Cristian Sargi are sidelined with injury for Otelul, while Laurentiu Bus is also ruled out.
Marius Pena will lead the attack, and is the only Galati striker to have scored so far in this competition.
Olympique Lyonnais must win at last placed Dinamo Zagreb to keep alive their slim hopes of qualification into the UEFA Champions League last 16
Lyon must produce a big win over Zagreb to have a chance of qualifying, and would also need second placed Ajax to lose against Real Madrid by enough to overhaul a seven goal differential.
Zagreb coach Krunoslav Jurcic knows his team are eliminated, but will be looking to pick up their first point.
“Lyon are a very solid, strong team with some top-quality individual players,” Jurcic told the official UEFA website. "A draw in the last match would be a reward for us."
Defensive trio Leandro Cufre, Tonel and Josip Simunic are all ruled out with injury for Dinamo, meaning midfielders Jerko Leko or Arijan Ademi could be forced to deputize in defense.
John Mensah and Remy Vercoutre are ruled out with injury for Lyon, while Dejan Lovren is an injury doubt. Lyon need to win by a big score line to have a chance of qualification, meaning strike pair Bafetimbi Gomis and Jimmy Briand are important figures for the French team.
AFC Ajax can guarantee qualification into the last 16 with a point against Group D leaders Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Even if Ajax lose this game, Lyon must beat Dinamo Zagreb and overhaul a seven goal differential to see the Dutch club eliminated. Madrid have already sealed their progress into the knockout stage as group winners.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Toby Alderweireld and Andre Ooijer are sidelined with injury for Ajax, while Gregory van der Wiel is expected to return from a groin injury.
Ajax coach Frank de Boer has spoken with confidence this week about his teams chances to advance.
“We have a big advantage over Lyon and I am convinced we will take at least one point against Madrid,” De Boer told the official UEFA website.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has stated his intention to rotate his squad, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos among those who will be rested.
CSKA Moscow must win at Group B leaders Inter Milan on Wednesday to keep their hopes of reaching the last 16 alive.
Inter have already sealed their progress into the next round as group winners, while CSKA must get three points and hope Lille and Trabzonspor draw in Group B’s other game.
Maicon and Wesley Sneijder are struggling with injury for Inter and will be game time decisions. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar will be rested for Inter, while Dejan Stankovic is expected to play.
Despite Inter having already won the group, manager Claudio Ranieri has assured fans his team will be going all out to win this game.
“Winning means money for the club and maintaining our high European ranking,” Ranieri told the official UEFA website.
In Group C, FC Basel will play host to Manchester United with qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages on the line.
United are currently tied for the group lead with Benfica on nine points, while third placed Basel are only one point further back.
A win or draw in this game will guarantee United progress to the next round, while to qualify as group winners United must get a better result than Benfica achieve against last placed Otelul Galati.
If Basel beat United, then they will qualify for the last 16 at the expense of their more illustrious English opponents.
Lille will play host to UEFA Champions League Group B rivals Trabzonspor on Wednesday, with both teams knowing a win will guarantee them a place in the knockout rounds.
Trabzonspor are currently second placed in Group B, while Lille are only one point further back. If this game ends in a draw, CSKA Moscow can steal the second qualification spot if they win at group leaders Inter Milan.
AFC Ajax can guarantee qualification into the last 16 with a point against Group D leaders Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Even if Ajax lose this game, Lyon must beat Dinamo Zagreb and overhaul a seven goal differential to see the Dutch club eliminated. Madrid have already sealed their progress into the knockout stage as group winners.
Manchester City need a victory against Bayern Munich on Wednesday to keep their hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League last 16 alive.
City must not only beat group leaders Bayern to reach the knockout stages, they must hope Napoli fail to win at last placed Villarreal in Group A’s other game. Bayern have already sealed progress to the next round as group winners, but will nonetheless provide stiff opposition for a City team they have already beaten 2-0 in Germany during this tournament.
Aleksandar Kolarov is sidelined with a groin injury for City, while defender Micah Richards is doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
City boss Roberto Mancini has stated his team are now underdogs to qualify from Group A, but his players are more than ready for the challenge. David Silva will be an influential figure for the Citizens, and the World Cup winning playmaker has said this week that his team “simply cannot accept defeat” in this game.
Mario Balotelli will likely feature along with Silva in the City attack, and the in-form Italian striker has registered two goals and one assist in two Champions League games so far this season.
Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos have not traveled to England due to illness, while Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez are hoping to shake off illness in time to play.
Despite the fact that Bayern have already qualified as group winners, coach Jupp Heynckes has emphasized how important the game is to his team.
“Tomorrow’s a big match between the leaders of their respective leagues – which is always a matter of prestige,” Heynckes told BBC Sport. “Then there’s the question of the win bonus and the UEFA ratings too, so it’s an important match for Bayern.”
Lille will play host to UEFA Champions League Group B rivals Trabzonspor on Wednesday, with both teams knowing a win will guarantee them a place in the knockout rounds.
Trabzonspor are currently second placed in Group B, while Lille are only one point further back. If this game ends in a draw, CSKA Moscow can steal the second qualification spot if they win at group leaders Inter Milan.
Marko Basa and Benoit Pedretti are ruled out for Lille, while Idrissa Gueye and Tulio De Melo are injury doubts.
Moussa Sow will lead the Lille attack, and the Senegalese forward has netted three goals so far in this competition.
Robert Vittek and Baris Atas are ruled out with injury for Trabzonspor, while Tayfun Cora and Onur Kivrak are injury doubts.
FC Basel will play host to Manchester United with qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages on the line.
United are currently tied for the Group C lead with Benfica on nine points, while third placed Basel are only one point further back.
A win or draw in this game will guarantee United progress to the next round, while to qualify as group winners United must get a better result than Benfica achieve against last placed Otelul Galati.
If Basel beat United, then they will qualify for the last 16 at the expense of their more illustrious English opponents.
Benjamin Huggel and Valentin Stocker are injury doubts for Basel and will be assessed ahead of kickoff. Alexander and Fabian Frei will both feature for Basel in this game, and the namesake pair have combined for seven goals and one assist so far in this competition.
United have a lengthy injury list that includes strike trio Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen. Tom Cleverley is also ruled out for the Red Devils, along with Brazilian trio Rafael, Fabio and Anderson.
Midfielder Michael Carrick is suspended for United, while Ashley Young is expected to play. England winger Young spoke this week about the attacking mentality United intend to bring into this game.
“It would be dangerous to think we only need a draw (to qualify),” Young told BBC Sport. “No-one at this club has that mentality. We still have it in our hands to go out the and qualify, which was the main target and we will be trying to win.”
Napoli can secure qualification into the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds with a win at last placed Villarreal.
A draw would also be enough to see Napoli reach the last 16, if Manchester City fail to beat Bayern Munich in Group A’s other game.
Striker Giuseppe Rossi is ruled out for a Villarreal team looking to achieve their first point, while Nilmar and Cani will both return for the Yellow Submarine.
Marco Donadel and Miguel Britos are ruled out for Napoli due to thigh and foot injuries respectively.
Edinson Cavani will be an important figure for Napoli, and the Uruguay international striker has scored four goals in five goals so far in this competition.
Benfica can seal top spot in Group C with a home win over last placed Otelul Galati on Wednesday.
Benfica are already assured of progress to the last 16, but could move down into second place if they fail to win this game and the FC Basel v Manchester United contest produces a winner.
Galati are already eliminated from this competition, but will be looking to pick up their first point of the group stages in this game.
Luisao and Enzo Perez are sidelined with injury for Benfica, while Maxi Pereira is suspended.
Axel Witsel and Pablo Aimar both impressed during Benfica’s 2-2 Matchday five draw at Manchester United, and the pair are expected to feature again here.
Adrian Salageanu and Cristian Sargi are sidelined with injury for Otelul, while Laurentiu Bus is also ruled out.
Marius Pena will lead the attack, and is the only Galati striker to have scored so far in this competition.
Olympique Lyonnais must win at last placed Dinamo Zagreb to keep alive their slim hopes of qualification into the UEFA Champions League last 16
Lyon must produce a big win over Zagreb to have a chance of qualifying, and would also need second placed Ajax to lose against Real Madrid by enough to overhaul a seven goal differential.
Zagreb coach Krunoslav Jurcic knows his team are eliminated, but will be looking to pick up their first point.
“Lyon are a very solid, strong team with some top-quality individual players,” Jurcic told the official UEFA website. "A draw in the last match would be a reward for us."
Defensive trio Leandro Cufre, Tonel and Josip Simunic are all ruled out with injury for Dinamo, meaning midfielders Jerko Leko or Arijan Ademi could be forced to deputize in defense.
John Mensah and Remy Vercoutre are ruled out with injury for Lyon, while Dejan Lovren is an injury doubt. Lyon need to win by a big score line to have a chance of qualification, meaning strike pair Bafetimbi Gomis and Jimmy Briand are important figures for the French team.
AFC Ajax can guarantee qualification into the last 16 with a point against Group D leaders Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Even if Ajax lose this game, Lyon must beat Dinamo Zagreb and overhaul a seven goal differential to see the Dutch club eliminated. Madrid have already sealed their progress into the knockout stage as group winners.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Toby Alderweireld and Andre Ooijer are sidelined with injury for Ajax, while Gregory van der Wiel is expected to return from a groin injury.
Ajax coach Frank de Boer has spoken with confidence this week about his teams chances to advance.
“We have a big advantage over Lyon and I am convinced we will take at least one point against Madrid,” De Boer told the official UEFA website.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has stated his intention to rotate his squad, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos among those who will be rested.
CSKA Moscow must win at Group B leaders Inter Milan on Wednesday to keep their hopes of reaching the last 16 alive.
Inter have already sealed their progress into the next round as group winners, while CSKA must get three points and hope Lille and Trabzonspor draw in Group B’s other game.
Maicon and Wesley Sneijder are struggling with injury for Inter and will be game time decisions. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar will be rested for Inter, while Dejan Stankovic is expected to play.
Despite Inter having already won the group, manager Claudio Ranieri has assured fans his team will be going all out to win this game.
“Winning means money for the club and maintaining our high European ranking,” Ranieri told the official UEFA website.
