Six clubs enter the final round of Champions League group matches, between today and tomorrow, harbouring hopes of grabbing one of the three last-16 places still up for grabs although for holders Chelsea their fate is beyond their control.
The Londoners are vying with Juventus for the second qualifying spot from Group E but even if they beat Nordsjaelland at Stamford Bridge tomorrow they will become the first champions to go out at the group stage if the Italians avoid defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Interim Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez, an unpopular choice with the fans after he succeeded the sacked Roberto di Matteo 12 days ago, has done little to win the supporters over after losing one and drawing two of his three games in charge.
“We have to improve on the pitch in order for the fans to be happy,” Benitez said.
“We have experienced players who have played at this level for a long time. You can see how they train and it’s clear they want to improve.”
Celtic and Benfica still have a chance to join Group G winners Barcelona in the knockout rounds while Galatasaray or CFR Cluj will end Group H as runners-up.
For the other teams already assured of a place in the last-16 draw on Dec. 20, their final matches will determine whether they progress as group winners.
Even some of those with no chance of progressing will be eyeing consolation prizes in the Europa League.
Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat by Juventus last month left their hopes of surviving Group E hanging by a thread.
The move to replace Di Matteo with Benitez was designed to try and re-ignite a fading season that had begun in style but instead the club are still stuck in a downward spiral that gathered pace at the weekend when Chelsea were beaten 3-1 by West Ham.
The Stamford Bridge club are without a victory in seven matches and discontent is rife as fans openly vent their frustration at the decision to replace the Champions League-winning Di Matteo.
While Shakhtar are formidable opponents at home, Juventus will go there full of confidence after a 3-0 win against Torino on Saturday cemented their place at the top of Serie A.
Victory would also see Juventus go through as group winners.
The Italians were held 1-1 by Ukrainians Shakhtar in October and Juve midfielder Claudio Marchisio said he was well aware of the dangers that lurk in Donetsk.
“We can’t go on to the pitch hoping to take it easy,” he said.
“We’ve got to play like Juve always do. Saturday’s win gives us a lot of motivation to face Shakhtar who I believe are the toughest team in the group.”
The only issue to be resolved in Paris today is whether Paris St Germain can overtake Porto with a victory over the Group A leaders.
Bayern Munich will also guarantee top spot in Group F ahead of Valencia with victory against BATE Borisov tomorrow.
Manchester City have been eliminated from the group stage for the second year running and will even miss out on the Europa League if they fail to triumph at Group D winners Borussia Dortmund today.
Even if City win, Ajax will still take third place if they upset group runners-up Real Madrid.
An Europa League spot is also available in Group C with Zenit St Petersburg and Anderlecht locked together on four points going into their away games against runners-up Milan and group winners Malaga respectively.
Matchday six permutations...
The Champions League group phase enters its final round this week with 13 of the slots for the last 16 knockout round already secured.
Here’s a look at the issues still to be resolved.
Group E
• Defending European champions Chelsea need a win over Danish side FC Nordsjaelland and have to hope Juventus lose against Shakhtar Donetsk if they are to progress to the Champions League knockout stages.
Chelsea are third in Group E and their head-to-head record is inferior to both teams above them.
If they fail to win, the Londoners will drop into the Europa League and become the first UEFA Champions League holders to fail to reach the subsequent last 16.
Group G
• Celtic need to secure a better result than Benfica to overtake them and move into second place.
The Portuguese side have head-to-head super-iority over Celtic and will definitely progress with a win over group winners Barcelona at the Nou Camp, or if they match the result of Celtic, who host bottom side Spartak Moscow.
Group H
• Galatasaray or Cluj can still progress in second place, although the Turkish champions have the advantage going into the final game.
A win over Braga in Portugal would see them through, while Cluj must ensure they earn a better result than Galatasaray to qualify. The Romanians take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Group A
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Porto (Q) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 13 |
| Paris SG (Q) | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 12 |
| Dynamo Kiev | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
D. Zagreb vs Porto - 0-2
Paris SG vs D. Kiev - 4-1
D. Kiev vs Dinamo Zagreb - 2-0
Porto vs PSG - 1-0
Porto vs D. Kiev - 3-2
D. Zagreb vs PSG - 0-2
D. Kiev vs Porto - 0-0
Paris SG vs D. Zagreb - 4-0
Porto vs D. Zagreb - 3-0
D. Kiev vs Paris SG - 0-2
D. Zagreb vs D. Kiev - today
Paris SG vs Porto - today
Group B
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Schalke (Q) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 11 |
| Arsenal (Q) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 10 |
| Olympiakos | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Montpellier | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
Montpellier vs Arsenal - 1-2
Olympiakos vs Schalke - 1-2
Schalke vs Montpellier - 2-2
Arsenal vs Olympiakos - 3-1
Arsenal vs Schalke - 0-2
Montpellier vs Olympiakos - 1-2
Schalke vs Arsenal - 2-2
Olympiakos vs Montpellier - 3-1
Arsenal vs Montpellier - 2-0
Schalke vs Olympiakos - 1-0
Montpellier vs Schalke - today
Olympiakos vs Arsenal - today
Group C
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Malaga (Q) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 11 |
| Milan (Q) | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| Zenit SP | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Anderlecht | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
Milan vs Anderlecht - 0-0
Malaga vs Zenit SP - 3-0
Anderlecht vs Malaga - 0-3
Zenit SP vs Milan - 2-3
Zenit SP vs Anderlecht - 1-0
Malaga vs Milan - 1-0
Anderlecht vs Zenit SP - 1-0
Milan vs Malaga - 1-1
Zenit vs Malaga - 2-2
Anderlecht vs Milan - 1-3
Malaga vs Anderlecht - today
Milan vs Zenit SP - today
Group D
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| B. Dortmund (Q) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 11 |
| Real Madrid (Q) | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
| Ajax | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 4 |
| Man. City | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 3 |
B. Dortmund vs Ajax - 1-0
R. Madrid vs Man. City - 3-2
Man. City vs B. Dortmund - 1-1
Ajax vs R. Madrid - 1-4
Ajax vs Man. City - 3-1
B. Dortmund vs R. Madrid - 2-1
Man. City vs Ajax - 2-2
R. Madrid vs B. Dortmund - 2-2
Ajax vs B. Dortmund - 1-4
Man. City vs R. Madrid - 1-1
B. Dortmund vs Man. City - today
R. Madrid vs Ajax - today
Group E
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| S. Donetsk (Q) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 10 |
| Juventus | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 9 |
| Chelsea | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Nordsjaelland | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 1 |
S. Donetsk vs Nordsjaelland - 2-0
Chelsea vs Juventus - 2-2
Juventus vs S. Donetsk - 1-1
Nordsjaelland vs Chelsea - 0-4
Nordsjaelland vs Juventus - 1-1
S. Donetsk vs Chelsea - 2-1
Juventus vs Nordsjaelland - 4-0
Chelsea vs S. Donetsk - 3-2
Nordsjaelland vs S. Donetsk - 2-5
Juventus vs Chelsea - 3-0
S. Donetsk vs Juventus - tomorrow
Chelsea vs N’sjaelland - TVM2
Group F
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| B. Munich (Q) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 10 |
| Valencia (Q) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 10 |
| B. Borisov | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 6 |
| Lille | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 3 |
Lille vs Bate Borisov - 1-3
B. Munich vs Valencia - 2-1
Valencia vs Lille - 2-0
Bate Borisov vs B. Munich - 3-1
Bate Borisov vs Valencia - 0-3
Lille vs Bayern Munich - 0-1
Valencia vs B. Borisov - 4-2
Bayern Munich vs Lille - 6-1
Bate Borisov vs Lille - 0-2
Valencia vs B. Munich - 1-1
Lille vs Valencia - tomorrow
B. Munich vs B. Borisov - tomorrow
Group G
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Barcelona (Q) | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 12 |
| Benfica | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Celtic | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| S. Moscow | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 3 |
Barcelona vs S. Moscow - 3-2
Celtic vs Benfica - 0-0
Benfica vs Barcelona - 0-2
S. Moscow vs Celtic - 2-3
S. Moscow vs Benfica - 2-1
Barcelona vs Celtic - 2-1
Benfica vs S. Moscow - 2-0
Celtic vs Barcelona - 2-1
S. Moscow vs Barcelona - 0-3
Benfica vs Celtic - 2-1
Barcelona vs Benfica - tomorrow
Celtic vs S. Moscow - tomorrow
Group H
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Man. United (Q) | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 12 |
| Galatasaray | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| CFR Cluj | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Braga | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 3 |
Man. United vs Galatasaray - 1-0
Braga vs CFR Cluj - 0-2
CFR Cluj vs Man. United - 1-2
Galatasaray vs Braga - 0-2
Galatasaray vs CFR Cluj - 1-1
Man. United vs Braga - 3-2
Cluj vs Galatasaray - 1-3
Braga vs Man. United - 1-3
Galatasaray vs Man. Utd - 1-0
CFR Cluj vs Braga - 3-1
Man. Utd vs CFR Cluj - tomorrow
Braga vs Galatasaray - tomorrow