Europe's big guns have emerged largely unscathed from the early skirmishes in this season's Champions League group stages and several can virtually guarantee their places in the knockout round this week.
Group C leaders Barcelona should make it four wins from four matches against pointless Basel today and holders Manchester United can book their last 16 place tomorrow with victory at Celtic. Chelsea know a win at Roma should be enough tonight.
Inter, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are also in strong positions going into the fourth round of fixtures, but the likes of Porto and PSV Eindhoven have plenty still to do.
Porto, champions of Europe in 2004, will be eliminated if they lose in Kiev tomorrow, while Dutch representatives PSV need a win in Marseille to keep on the coat tails of Group D leaders Liverpool and Atletico Madrid who meet at Anfield.
Nine-times European champions Real Madrid still have their destiny in their own hands in Group H, although they trail Juventus by a point after defeat in Italy two weeks ago.
The Spaniards will be eager for revenge and top spot in tomor-row's return in the Bernabeu stadium.
Roma look the most vulnerable of the fancied sides after an erratic opening to their Group A campaign that began with a shock home defeat by Romanian debutants CFR Cluj.
Final hopes
That defeat, and a narrow loss to Chelsea two weeks ago, has left Roma with just three points so far and another reverse at home to Chelsea could spell the end of their hopes of reaching the final in the Eternal City.
The form of Luciano Spalletti's team hardly bodes well. A 2-0 defeat by Juventus on Saturday, their fourth consecutive loss in Serie A, left them perched just above the relegation zone and with their confidence in tatters.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have recovered from losing to Liverpool to hit eight goals in two games without reply to reclaim top spot in the Premier League.
Ashley Cole is unlikely to play in Rome after injuring his calf in the 5-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday.
Defeat for Roma would also open the door for Cluj to get one foot in the door of the last 16 if they beat bottom club Bordeaux tonight.
Another unfancied club has the chance to continue ruffling feathers when Cypriots Anorthosis Famagusta host Italian champions Inter still very much in the hunt for a place in the knockout phase.
Famagusta are second to Inter with four points but Werder Bremen are just a point behind and the Germans will be confident of overhauling the islanders if they beat Panathinaikos at home.
The top two from each of the eight groups go through to the second round with the third-placed team entering the UEFA Cup.