Group stage reaches crucial point

Two in-form sides meet on Matchday 4 of the UEFA Cup group phase as FC Metalist host Olympiakos, but it is the sides fighting for their competition futures that could conjure the most excitement between today and tomorrow, www.uefa.com said.

Metalist drew plaudits when they ended Galatasaray's 100 per cent record in Group B on Matchday 3 to move second behind the Turks with four points from two games. Should the leaders lose again in their final outing at Hertha Berlin today, then Metalist, or opponents Olympiakos, could take over at the top.

Qualification would be assured should the Ukrainian outfit triumph but that is far from assured against a side that routed Benfica 5-1 last time out.

Wolfsburg's chances of qualification were hanging in the balance when they were 2-1 down at SC Braga after 83 minutes last week, but a late Zvjezdan Misimovic double means a single point at home to Portsmouth will ensure their passage to the knockout stages.

By contrast, two Milan goals in the final six minutes meant Pompey had to settle for a point, their first in Group E, and should they fail to win again tomorrow then SC Braga can end their interest in the competition with victory at Heerenveen.

Groups A-D play today and Manchester City are looking to protect their perfect record with a third Group A win at home to bottom-placed PSG while third meets second as FC Twente entertain Schalke 04.

Group C pits Standard Liege against Sampdoria with qualification possible for both depending on Sevilla's result against eliminated Partizan. Group D, meanwhile, sees another side with two wins in as many matches, Udinese, take on NK Dinamo Zagreb while Spartak Moscow welcome point-less Nijmegen.

Tomorrow's action involves Group E-H with Aston Villa eyeing their third win against Žilina. Should they triumph then Hamburg will join them in qualifying by beating Slavia Prague.

Fixtures, standings

Group A

Today - Man. City vs PSG; Twente vs Schalke 04.

Standings: Man. City 6; Schalke 4; Twente 3; R. Santander 2; PSG 1.

Group B

Today - Metalist vs Olympiakos; H. Berlin vs Galatasaray.

Standings: Galatasaray 6; Metalist 4; Olympiakos 3; H. Berlin 2; Benfica 1.

Group C

Today - S. Liege vs Sampdoria; Sevilla vs P. Belgrade.

Standings: S. Liege 6; Sampdoria, Stuttgart 4; Sevilla 3; P. Belgrade 0.

Group D

Today - S. Moscow vs Nijmegen; Udinese vs D. Zagreb.

Standings: Udinese, Tottenham 6; D. Zagreb, S. Moscow 3; Nijmegen 0.

Group E

Tomorrow - Wolfsburg vs Portsmouth; Heerenven vs Braga.

Standings: Milan 7; Wolfsburg 6; Braga 3; Portsmouth 1, Heerenveen 0.

Group F

Tomorrow - S. Prague vs Hamburg; Aston Villa vs Zilina.

Standings: A. Villa, Ajax 6; Hamburg 3; S. Prague, Zilina 1.

Group G

Tomorrow - Valencia vs C. Brugge; FC Copenhagen vs Rosenborg.

Standings: St Etienne 7; Valencia 4; C. Brugge 2; FC Copenhagen, Rosenborg 1.

Group H

Tomorrow - L. Poznan vs Deportivo; Nancy vs CSKA Moscow.

Standings: CSKA Moscow 9; Nancy 4; Deportivo 3; L. Poznan 1; Feyenoord 0.