3 Premier League clubs are on the brink of seeing their Champions League hopes crushed.
It would be quite unbelievable but not quite unprecedented if all of them were relegated to the Europa League at this stage.
But there is football outside the Premier League and still plenty at stake for at least one German, French, Dutch, Italian & Spanish club.
KEY GAMES:
Wednesday morning:
Chelsea v Valencia
-Win or at worst draw, Chelsea go through. Lose to Valencia & AVB will face the wrath of a Russian oligarch who is hellbent on Champions League glory for the club he bought nearly 8 years ago. Chelsea to win a tight one, I think they've turned the corner as evident by that game against Newcastle on the weekend.
Racing Genk v Bayer Leverkusen
- A Bayer Leverkusen win will see them go through as group winners regardless of what happens in London. Even a draw will be enough. Bayer Leverkusen win, Genk are actually quite bad - not as bad as Dinamo Zagreb though.
Olympiakos v Arsenal
- Arsenal will probably send their B team to Greece since they've won the group which would suit Olympiakos very nicely as they need to win to boost their chances of further European football.
Borussia Dortmund v Marseille
- Dortmund is a tough place to get a result and Marseille aren't in the best form at the moment.
Olympiakos and Dortmund win but Olympiakos go through to the 2nd round while the Bundesliga champions will have to be satisfied with Europa League football.
Porto v Zenit St Petersburg
- Porto have resurrected their Champions League hopes with a late win in Ukraine. It's a winner takes all now in Portugal.
APOEL Nicosia v Shakhtar Donetsk
- APOEL are through but probably will want to win the game and the group in front of their home fans.
Porto to win and join APOEL in the 2nd round.
Thursday morning:
Manchester City v Bayern Munich
- Manchester City have to win. Even then it might not be enough. Bayern are already through and will probably send the B team to Manchester which could help City's chances.
Villarreal v Napoli
- If Napoli win, they go through to the 2nd round and Villarreal is probably the best place for them to do it; the side in yellow have been out of sorts in Europe and in the league.
Man City win in dramatic style to go through to the 2nd round, I can see Villarreal sneaking a draw against Napoli.
Basel v Manchester United
- Man United just need a draw to go through against a side who have knocked out English sides on this Matchday of the Champions League in the past. Back in 2002, Basel were 3-0 up against a Liverpool side needing to win - the game finished 3-3 but it wasn't enough for the Merseysiders. That same result will do fine for United though in what has been an underwhelming European campaign so far.
Benfica v Otelul Galati
- Benfica just need to better or match Man United's result to win the group. They should do that against last-placed Galati.
Man United and Benfica both win.
Ajax Amsterdam v Real Madrid
- Ajax have one foot in the playoffs. Even if they lose against the stars from Madrid, they should go through regardless of what happens in Zagreb.
Dinamo Zagreb v Lyon
- Lyon will need Ajax to lose heavily while they win big time in Zagreb. Even then it might not be enough.
Ajax lose but still go through to the 2nd round.
Thus, the draw for the 2nd round of 16 will comprise of:
Barcelona
Real Madrid
AC Milan
Arsenal
Bayern Munich
Internazionale
APOEL Nicosia
Benfica
Manchester United
Trabzonspor
Olympiakos
Chelsea
Bayer Leverkusen
Manchester City
Ajax Amsterdam
Porto
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