British clubs edge closer to qualification

The Champions League group phase matches will resume next week, the fixtures coming up being the return ties of Day Three.

All five British clubs in competition, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, can move closer to qualification if they manage to avoid defeat.

Arsenal and Chelsea are almost there after gathering maximum points their first three games. Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers have dropped points but with three matches still to play, their chances of reaching the KO stages are good.

With seven points from three matches, Manchester United need one more win to qualify. Rangers follow United on five in Group C and Tottenham have four points in Group A.

Group A

Tottenham: P3, W1, D1, L1, Gls 9-7, Pts4.

To reach the group phase, Tottenham had to negotiate a play-off against Young Boys which they won 6-3 on aggregate.

Away vs Werder Bremen 2-2 (Pasanen og, Crouch). The Londoners were two goals up but were pegged back to lose two precious points.

Home vs Twente 4-1 (Van der Vaart, Pavlyuchenko 2 pens, Bale). Tottenham’s first win in the Champions League group phase.

Away vs Inter 3-4 (Bale 3). Second hat-trick for Spurs after Crouch’s feat against Young Boys.

Tottenham are currently second and the clubs behind them are two points down.

Welshman Gareth Bale was outstanding at the San Siro. If Spurs continue to show this commitment (played for much of the encounter with 10 men), they will surely go places this season.

Next week they have to lift their game by a few notches when hosting Inter at White Hart Lane.

Group C

Manchester United: P3, W2, D1, L0, Gls2-0, Pts7.

Home vs Rangers 0-0. In another all-British duel, the Red Devils were not expected to drop two precious points at Old Trafford.

Away vs Valencia 1-0 (Hernandez). United made up for their opening draw when toppling Valencia. This was only their second victory in 19 clashes against the Spaniards away.

Home vs Bursaspor 1-0 (Nani). United continue to struggle up front, yet they have not conceded a goal.

Next week, United are away to Bursaspor. United seldom do well against Turkish sides, winning only twice on their travels in five Champions League matches.

United’s away results in Turkey read: 2009-10 Besiktas 1-0; 2004-05 Fenerbahce 0-3; 1996-97 Fenerbahce 2-0; 1994-95 Galatasaray 0-0; and 1993-94 Galatasaray 0-0.

Rangers: P3, W1, D2, L0, Gls2-1, Pts5.

Away vs Manchester United 0-0. A useful point for the Scots who thus eased the painful memories of their home and away defeats against the English side in 2003-04.

Home vs Bursaspor 1-0 (Naismith).

Home vs Valencia 1-1 (Edu).

Rangers have been playing well in Europe this season and look well on course to end their negative run in the Champions League by reaching the KO stages. Yet, their nearest rivals Valencia, who they meet next week, are only one point behind.

In 11 calls to Spanish shores, Rangers have failed to win.

Gers results in Spain: 2009-10 (Champions League) Sevilla 0-1; 2007-08 (Champions League) Barcelona 0-2; 2006-07 (UEFA Cup) Osasuna 0-1; 2005-06 (Champions League) Villarreal 1-1; 1999-00 (Champions League) Valencia 0-2; 1985-86 (UEFA Cup) Osasuna 0-2; 1979-80 (Cup Winners’ Cup) Valencia 1-1; 1968-69 (Fairs Cup) Athletic Bilbao 0-2; 1966-67 (Cup Winners’ Cup) Real Zaragoza 0-2; 1963-64 (European Cup) Real Madrid 0-6; and 1962-63 (Cup Winners’ Cup) Sevilla 0-2.

Group F

Chelsea: P3, W3, D0, L0, Gls8-1, Pts9.

Home vs MSK Zilina 4-1 (Essien, Anelka 2, Sturridge).

Home vs Marseille 2-0 (Terry, Anelka pen).

Away vs Spartak Moscow 2-0 (Zhirkov, Anelka).

Nicolas Anelka has scored in all three group games so far for the Blues. The Frenchman, now in his fourth season at Stamford Bridge, has netted eight goals in all for the Londoners in Europe.

Chelsea have suffered only one goal. Next Wednesday, they host Russian side Spartak Moscow. The Muscovites are in second place with six points.

Group H

Arsenal: P3, W3, D0, L0, Gls14-1, Pts9.

Home vs Braga 6-0 (Fabregas 2, Arshavin, Chamakh, Vela 2).

Away vs Partizan Belgrade 3-1 (Arshavin, Chamakh, Squillaci).

Home vs Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 (Song, Nasri, Fabregas pen, Wilshere, Chamakh).

Like Chelsea, Arsenal are heading their group after netting an impressive 14 goals in their first three matches. Marouane Chamakh has been on target in every game.

Shakhtar Donetsk, Arsenal’s next opponents, are in second place with six points.

This will be Arsenal’s fifth trip to Ukraine and they can only show a mere draw from their previous four matches, all in the group phase of the Champions League, as follows: 2008-09 Dynamo Kiev 1-1; 2003-04 D. Kiev 1-2; 2000-01 S. Donetsk 0-3; and 1998-99 D. Kiev 1-3.