Champions League: Who needs what in final round

The Champions League goes into its final round of group games this week with 12 teams already assured of featuring in the last 16 and seven others battling for the remaining four places.

Here, AFP Sports looks at what remains at stake:

Group A

The only thing left to play for is first place in the group. A win for Atletico in Bruges will see the Spaniards finish top but anything else will open the door for Dortmund if they win in Monaco.

Qualified: Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund

Europa League: Club Brugge

Group B

Barcelona have already qualified as group winners but could still influence who joins them in the last 16. If Tottenham win at the Camp Nou on Tuesday they will go through on one condition. They must match the result of Inter Milan, who host the already-eliminated PSV Eindhoven.

Qualified: Barcelona

Group C

This is the most intriguing group of all with Napoli, Paris Saint Germain and Liverpool all in with a chance of qualifying. Napoli currently top the group and need just a point from their trip to Anfield to secure their passage. If that happens then PSG would also go through, although the French side can guarantee their own progress with a win in Belgrade whatever the result at Anfield. Liverpool, on the other hand, have to beat Napoli 1-0 or by two clear goals to be sure of qualifying. If Napoli lose, they could still go through if PSG lose in Belgrade.

Group D

2004 champions Porto have qualified as group winners with Schalke joining them in the draw. The Europa League spot will go to Galatasaray if they can beat Porto in Istanbul. Failure to do that means Lokomotiv Moscow could jump in if they win in Germany.

Qualified: Porto, Schalke

Group E 

Bayern Munich head to Amsterdam to face Ajax in the final round knowing a draw will be enough for the Germans to top the group. Both sides have already qualified while Benfica are assured of moving into the Europa League. AEK Athens, meanwhile, will hope to score their first point of the tournament.

Qualified: Bayern Munich, Ajax

Europa League: Benfica

Group F

Manchester City have already qualified and need just a point from their home tie against Hoffenheim to secure top spot. The focus will be on what happens in Kiev where Shakhtar Donetsk must beat visitors Lyon to leapfrog the French side for second spot. Lyon will top the group if they win and City lose, a combination which would see Hoffenheim squeeze past Shakhtar for the Europa League spot.

Qualified: Manchester City  

Group G

Defending champions Real Madrid are through as group winners with Roma hanging on their coat-tails. Viktoria Plzen, away in Rome, need to match CSKA Moscow's result in Madrid to reach the Europa League.

Qualified: Real Madrid, Roma

Group H

Juventus and Manchester United have already stamped their tickets for the knockout stage, the only question being which will finish top of the group. Juve are in pole position as a win at Young Boys would make the United result irrelevant. But if Juve slip up in Berne, Joe Mourinho's side will top the group with a victory in Valencia.

Qualified: Juventus, Manchester United

Europa League: Valencia

 

 

Liverpool turn to Salah to summon Gerrard's spirit for Napoli showdown

 

 

Liverpool must again rely on fortress Anfield to inflict Napoli's first Champions League defeat of the season if they are to avoid the disappointment of a group stage exit just over six months since appearing in last season's final.

The five-time European champions will most likely even have to win by two goals if they concede due to Napoli's 1-0 triumph when the sides last met in September.

Yet, such a scenario is nothing new for Liverpool and even rekindles fond memories of similar permutations when they hosted Olympiakos in the final Champions League group game of the 2004/05 season.

Brazilian legend Rivaldo's early free-kick left the hosts needing three goals, which they got in dramatic fashion in the second half as Steven Gerrard's spectacular strike sealed a famous 3-1 win four minutes from time.

Inspired by Gerrard, the Reds went on to win their last Champions League title that season with a far inferior squad to the one that is off to a club record unbeaten start and top of the Premier League after 16 games.

Overcome the huge challenge facing them in midweek and Liverpool will again be among the favourites to lift the Champions League in Madrid next June.

However, in stark contrast to their consistency in the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp's men have lost three of their five European encounters in Group C to put their chances of reaching the last 16 in serious peril.

There is some comfort for Klopp that all three defeats came on the road to Napoli, Red Star Belgrade and Paris Saint-Germain, while Liverpool haven't lost in 18 European games at Anfield.

The German coach also isn't as reliant on an individual figure for inspiration as Rafael Benitez's vintage 14 years ago were on Gerrard.

The signings of centre-back Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker over the past year have drastically improved Liverpool's defensive record.

- 'Back to his best' -

But the focus will be on Mohamed Salah to produce the goods up front after looking more like the player that scored 44 goals in his debut campaign at Anfield with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Liverpool rode the free-scoring form of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, who each scored 10 Champions League goals, to reach last season's final.

Salah's weekend treble took his tally for the season to 12, but the Egyptian's only two goals in the Champions League came in a routine 4-0 win over Red Star in October.

"(He was) back to his best, he has been really good this season. He has probably been a bit frustrated with himself but that just shows you the high standards he has got," insisted Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson after Salah's magical display on England's south coast.

"Whatever you do in a football game, you need someone to finish it off," added Klopp.

"What Mo did around his two goals in the second half was just exceptional. I don’t know at the moment a lot of players who would have scored these two goals."

Against a Napoli side that has only failed to score in three games this season, Liverpool may well need another two or more from Salah or another source to avoid a big European night at Anfield falling flat.

 

Source: AFP