Real Madrid and Liverpool will be among teams fighting for the last places in the knockout stage of the Champions League this week.
Marseille dream of upsetting Liverpool again, Real Madrid too up against the odds
PARIS: Real Madrid and Liverpool will be among teams fighting for the last places in the knockout stage of the Champions League this week when the final group matches decide who goes through.
Seven clubs will join nine in the 16-team knockout stage of the competition while eight third-placed teams will carry on in the UEFA Cup after the winter break. The most enthralling battles are in groups and A and C, where all eight teams still have a chance of qualifying.
Olympique Marseille, the first French club to beat Liverpool at Anfield, dream of upsetting the five-time European champions once again, this time at home, to make the last 16.
The two sides clash on Tuesday with both on seven points from five games in a tight Group A, a point behind leaders Porto and one ahead of bottom-placed Besiktas.
Marseille, who stunned Liverpool 1-0 away in October, will qualify if they repeat that feat before their own fans. They could even advance with a draw, providing Besiktas do not win at Porto.
Real Madrid know a draw will be enough against Lazio at home to progress from Group C, where Greek champions Olympiakos Piraeus also need a home draw against Germany’s Werder Bremen. Both away teams could go through with wins, confining nine-time European champions Real to the UEFA Cup.
Liverpool, who warmed up for the game by losing their unbeaten Premier League record with a 3-1 defeat at mid-table Reading, will go through if they win in Marseille or if they draw and Besiktas win at Porto.
The home defeat by Marseille was described by coach Rafael Benitez as his side’s worst performance of the season but Liverpool have scored goals for fun in their last two European outings, thrashing Besiktas 8-0 and then beating Porto 4-1.
Huge week
“If you’d told me five minutes after the final whistle against Marseille at Anfield we’d go into the last game knowing a win would secure our qualification, I’d have bitten your hand off at that offer,” said Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
“We’re a different side and a lot more confident than the one which lost to Marseille at home”, he added.
It is a huge week for Liverpool on all fronts. The Marseille game will determine their European route for the rest of the season while Benitez will also meet the club’s American owners, when a certain amount of grovelling might be in order after his recent public criticism.
They then play Manchester United on Sunday, when defeat would leave them nine points behind the champions and with hopes of a first league title since 1990 looking slim.
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