Arsenal set sights on sixth straight win in Europe

Arsenal, the first English team to qualify from the group phase of the Champions League to the last 16, the knock-out stage of the competition, are only the second club besides Lyon to have gained maximum points from four outings.

Next week, the fifth match of the group phase will be played - the return of the opening fixture.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Rangers will be aiming to make it a double on their opponents after they won the first tie.

The Gunners are enjoying a run of five successive wins in European competition - a club feat that was set twice before.

The Londoners will be more than keen to keep their perfect record going and set a new achievement of six victories in succession.

On Tuesday, Arsenal will travel to FC Thun, the Swiss champions, with high hopes of extending their excellent run.

The current Arsenal record, starting from their final match of last season's competition, reads:

2004-05 (last 16):
Home vs Bayern Munich 1-0
2005-06 (group match):
Home vs FC Thun 2-1
2005-06 (group match):
Away vs Ajax 2-1
2005-06 (group matches):
A, H vs Sparta Prague 2-0, 3-0

The other two occasions when Arsenal obtained five victories on the trot:

Champions League
2003-04 (group match):
Home vs Dynamo Kiev 1-0
2003-04 (group match):
Away vs Inter 5-1
2003-04 (group match):
Home vs Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0
2003-04 (last 16):
A, H vs Celta Vigo 3-2, 2-0
Cup Winners' Cup
1993-94 (semi-final):
Home vs Paris St Germain 1-0
1993-94 (final):
In Copenhagen vs Parma 1-0
1994-95 (first round):
H, A vs Omonia Nicosia 3-1, 3-0
1994-95 (second round):
Away vs Brondby 2-1

Holders need a point

European champions Liverpool need at least a draw against Real Betis on Wednesday to progress to the last 16.

The Reds, undefeated in the group phase of the competition, have met Spanish opposition at Anfield on ten occasions, losing three times as data below shows:

1968-69 (Fairs Cup first round)
vs Atletico Bilbao 2-1
1975-76 (UEFA Cup second round)
vs Real Sociedad 6-0
1975-76 (UEFA Cup semi-final)
vs Barcelona 1-1
1983-84 (European Cup second round)
vs Atletico Bilbao 0-0
1998-99 (UEFA Cup second round)
vs Valencia 0-0
1998-99 (UEFA Cup third round)
vs Celta Vigo 0-1
2000-01 (UEFA Cup semi-final)
vs Barcelona 1-0
2001-02 (Champions League group)
vs Barcelona 1-3
2002-03 (Champions League group)
vs Valencia 0-1
2004-05 (Champions League group)
vs Deportivo 0-0

On Wednesday, Chelsea travel to Brussels to take on Anderlecht where a win is a must for the Blues to virtually make sure of progressing to the KO phase.

Chelsea have dropped five points from their four excursions so far.

In their previous two clashes with other Belgian side Bruges, both in the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 and 1995, Chelsea lost both away games 0-2 and 0-1.

Still, Chelsea held the upper hand on aggregate and made it to the semi-finals on both occasions.

Ruud chases Raul

Manchester United entertain Villarreal at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The Red Devils are buoyed by a remarkable display in their Premier League match against Chelsea (1-0) at Old Trafford that should serve them in good stead for a match they must win to stay in contention of reaching the knock-out phase.

United will have Paul Scholes back from suspension.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has scored two Euro goals so far this season, is chasing Real Madrid captain Raul's record of 51 goals in the tournament.

The Dutchman currently stands on the 47-goal mark that includes nine nettings scored at PSV Eindhoven before his departure to Old Trafford.

From 12 matches against Spanish sides at Old Trafford in the European Cup, the Mancunians won six, three in their last three clashes:

1956-57 (quarter-final)
vs Atletico Bilbao 3-0
1956-57 (semi-final)
vs Real Madrid 2-2
1967-68 (semi-final)
vs Real Madrid 1-0
1994-95 (group match)
vs Barcelona 2-2
1998-99 (group match)
vs Barcelona 3-3
1999-00 (group match)
vs Valencia 3-0
1999-00 (quarter-final)
vs Real Madrid 2-3
2000-01 (group match)
vs Valencia 1-1
2001-02 (group match)
vs Deportivo 2-3
2001-02 (quarter-final)
vs Deportivo 3-2
2002-03 (group match)
vs Deportivo 2-0
2002-03 (quarter-final)
vs Real Madrid 4-3

Triangular conflict

Rangers are involved in a three-way tussle against Artmedia Bratis-lava and FC Porto for a place in the last 16 by finishing second behind leaders Inter or a third place that would take them into the UEFA Cup. Along with Bratislava they have five points and Porto are two points adrift.

Yet, Rangers' remaining matches are tough assignments: away vs Porto (next Wednesday) and at home to Inter in the last encounter.

In their four away matches against Portuguese sides, the Glasgow giants have won once, yet they succeeded in progressing on aggregate score on three occasions:

1971-72 (Cup Winners' Cup 2nd round)
vs Sporting Lisbon 3-4
1983-84 (Cup Winners' Cup 2nd round)
vs Porto 0-1
1986-87 (UEFA Cup second round)
vs Boavista 1-0
2004-05 (UEFA Cup first round)
vs Maritimo 0-1