UEFA Champions League - Matchday 6 Preview
Article by Robert Wake
Tuesday 10th December 2013
Group A – Manchester United v Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Sociedad v Bayer Leverkusen
Manchester United require a point from their final group fixture against Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk to qualify as group winners. Victory for the visitors would allow them to leap-frog United and win the group, in the process eliminating Bayer Leverkusen. The Germans require a win in Spain against Sociedad to give themselves a realistic chance of qualification, though a draw would suffice if United record a much needed, morale boosting win against Donetsk.
Group B – FC Copenhagen v Real Madrid, Galatasaray v Juventus
Real Madrid have comfortably qualified as group winners. The key game takes place in Istanbul between Galatasaray and Juventus. A win for the Turks will take Robert Mancini’s team through, while a draw will be enough for the Old Lady of Turin to progress.
Group C – Benfica v Paris St Germain, Olympiakos v RSC Anderlecht
Paris St Germain have qualified as group winners as they complete their fixtures in Lisbon against Benfica. The Portuguese will be eliminated should Olympiakos match or better their result at home to Anderlecht.
Group D – Bayern Munich v Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen v CSKA Moscow
Bayern Munich and Manchester City have already qualified from the group. Bayern will top the group if they avoid a three goal defeat or City win by a 2 goal margin by 4-2 or better. Manuel Pellegrini has already indicated he may rest key players for the game in preparation for the crucial Premier League fixture against Arsenal at the weekend.
Wednesday 11th December 2013
Group E – Chelsea v Steaua Bucharest, FC Schalke 04 v FC Basel
Chelsea have qualified from the group despite an inconsistent campaign. Victory over Steaua will guarantee top spot, and indeed a draw will be sufficient unless Basel win in Gelsenkirchen. Schalke need to beat the Swiss to qualify, while a draw will send Basel through as runners-up.
Group F – Marseille v Borussia Dortmund, Napoli v Arsenal
This is the most complicated group with a number of permutations still possible. Arsenal are in the box seat thanks to a 2-0 win over Napoli earlier in the group. The Gunners only need to avoid a 3 goal defeat in Naples to progress. Dortmund are still in the mix and should be expected to emerge victorious in their final game against pointless Marseille. It is possible that a team could be eliminated after accruing 12 points in the group.
Group G – Atletico Madrid v FC Porto, FK Austria Vienna v Zenit St Petersburg
Atletico have dominated the group and have qualified as group winners. Porto will be hoping the Spaniards ease up in their final game as they need a win to have a realistic chance of qualification. Zenit travel to Vienna in the knowledge that a victory will take them through to the last 16.
Group H – Barcelona v Celtic, AC Milan v Ajax
Barcelona despite not being at their best to date in the competition, require a point in their final game against Celtic to win the group. Milan face Ajax in what is likely to be a play-off for second place. The Amsterdam outfit require a win in the San Siro to progress.
CURRENT GROUP STANDINGS
GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C
Man United 11 Real Madrid 13 Paris St Germain 13
Shakhtar 8 Juventus 6 Olympiakos 7
Leverskusen 7 Galatasaray 4 Benfica 7
Real Sociedad 1 Copenhagen 4 Anderlecht 1
GROUP D GROUP E GROUP F
Bayern Munich 15 Chelsea 9 Arsenal 12
Manchester City 12 FC Basel 8 Dortmund 9
CSKA Moscow 3 FC Schalke 7 Napoli 9
Viktoria Plzen 0 St. Bucharest 3 Marseille 0
GROUP G GROUP H
Atletico Madrid 13 Barcelona 10
Zenit St Petersburg 6 AC Milan 8
FC Porto 5 Ajax 7
Austria Vienna 2 Celtic 3
© e-Football 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
Tuesday 10th December 2013
Group A – Manchester United v Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Sociedad v Bayer Leverkusen
Manchester United require a point from their final group fixture against Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk to qualify as group winners. Victory for the visitors would allow them to leap-frog United and win the group, in the process eliminating Bayer Leverkusen. The Germans require a win in Spain against Sociedad to give themselves a realistic chance of qualification, though a draw would suffice if United record a much needed, morale boosting win against Donetsk.
Group B – FC Copenhagen v Real Madrid, Galatasaray v Juventus
Real Madrid have comfortably qualified as group winners. The key game takes place in Istanbul between Galatasaray and Juventus. A win for the Turks will take Robert Mancini’s team through, while a draw will be enough for the Old Lady of Turin to progress.
Group C – Benfica v Paris St Germain, Olympiakos v RSC Anderlecht
Paris St Germain have qualified as group winners as they complete their fixtures in Lisbon against Benfica. The Portuguese will be eliminated should Olympiakos match or better their result at home to Anderlecht.
Group D – Bayern Munich v Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen v CSKA Moscow
Bayern Munich and Manchester City have already qualified from the group. Bayern will top the group if they avoid a three goal defeat or City win by a 2 goal margin by 4-2 or better. Manuel Pellegrini has already indicated he may rest key players for the game in preparation for the crucial Premier League fixture against Arsenal at the weekend.
Wednesday 11th December 2013
Group E – Chelsea v Steaua Bucharest, FC Schalke 04 v FC Basel
Chelsea have qualified from the group despite an inconsistent campaign. Victory over Steaua will guarantee top spot, and indeed a draw will be sufficient unless Basel win in Gelsenkirchen. Schalke need to beat the Swiss to qualify, while a draw will send Basel through as runners-up.
Group F – Marseille v Borussia Dortmund, Napoli v Arsenal
This is the most complicated group with a number of permutations still possible. Arsenal are in the box seat thanks to a 2-0 win over Napoli earlier in the group. The Gunners only need to avoid a 3 goal defeat in Naples to progress. Dortmund are still in the mix and should be expected to emerge victorious in their final game against pointless Marseille. It is possible that a team could be eliminated after accruing 12 points in the group.
Group G – Atletico Madrid v FC Porto, FK Austria Vienna v Zenit St Petersburg
Atletico have dominated the group and have qualified as group winners. Porto will be hoping the Spaniards ease up in their final game as they need a win to have a realistic chance of qualification. Zenit travel to Vienna in the knowledge that a victory will take them through to the last 16.
Group H – Barcelona v Celtic, AC Milan v Ajax
Barcelona despite not being at their best to date in the competition, require a point in their final game against Celtic to win the group. Milan face Ajax in what is likely to be a play-off for second place. The Amsterdam outfit require a win in the San Siro to progress.
CURRENT GROUP STANDINGS
GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C
Man United 11 Real Madrid 13 Paris St Germain 13
Shakhtar 8 Juventus 6 Olympiakos 7
Leverskusen 7 Galatasaray 4 Benfica 7
Real Sociedad 1 Copenhagen 4 Anderlecht 1
GROUP D GROUP E GROUP F
Bayern Munich 15 Chelsea 9 Arsenal 12
Manchester City 12 FC Basel 8 Dortmund 9
CSKA Moscow 3 FC Schalke 7 Napoli 9
Viktoria Plzen 0 St. Bucharest 3 Marseille 0
GROUP G GROUP H
Atletico Madrid 13 Barcelona 10
Zenit St Petersburg 6 AC Milan 8
FC Porto 5 Ajax 7
Austria Vienna 2 Celtic 3
© e-Football 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
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