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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

SNAPSHOT: UEFA Champions League Matchday 5


Matchday 5 of the Champions League has always been important - it's do-or-die for clubs in regards to their future in the competition. Win here and club could go a long way towards more games in Europe. Lose and elimination from Europe or relegation to the 2nd tier Europa League beckons.









CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - 
GROUP A - 
The group of death is living up to its reputation although Villarreal on 0 points can only hope for Europa League football at best.

Bayern Munich on 10 points have the edge in the group and a win against Villarreal at home will seal a place in the 2nd round.



Napoli and Manchester City are battling for what probably will be the runners-up spot in the group. Their battle culminates in a big match in Naples between the sky blue clubs in the game of the round.  

GROUP B - 
Inter (9 points) will book a spot in the 2nd round with a win at Trabzonspor (5 points) - the same side who shocked them at the San Siro.

CSKA Moskva (5) will go a long way to joining Inter if they beat Lille (2) in Russia.

GROUP C - 
Whoever wins the Man United  v Benfica game will probably win the group - both are on 8 points.

Benfica may rue that home draw against Basel (5 points) last matchday, but could still book their place in the 2nd round if Basel lose in Romania.

GROUP D - 
Real Madrid have already qualified. Ajax Amsterdam will join them if they beat Lyon in France. Lyon must win or they have no chance of making the 2nd round.

GROUP E -
Chelsea will qualify with a win against Bayer Leverkusen. A Valencia win at the same time will help the Spanish side tremendously and if Chelsea are already qualified, Valencia may have a good chance of getting a result in London.

GROUP F - 
Arsenal host a Borussia Dortmund side high on confidence and are hoping to surge and snatch a spot in the 2nd round after a slow start. Arsenal will be looking to clinch qualification this time round after missing out against Marseille last week. The Germans will be hoping Olympiakos can upset Marseille in France or else they could be out.

GROUP G - 
APOEL are on the verge of making history by becoming the first Cypriot team to make the 2nd round. They'll need to do it in St Petersburg which is never an easy place to win. Porto have it all to do to avoid early elimination - they need to go to Donetsk to snatch a win, another difficult place to win.

GROUP H - 
Barcelona and Milan have qualified for the 2nd round. What is up for grabs now is top spot in the group.





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