Champions League: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid In Threat Of Go out | Soccer Information

Xavi Hernandez faces his first crucial check as Barcelona trainer with the membership susceptible to failing to make the Champions League knockout levels for the primary time in twenty years. A goalless draw at house to Benfica final month left Barca with their future in their very own palms, however with a far trickier ultimate recreation away to Team E winners Bayern Munich. Spanish champions Atletico Madrid have their paintings minimize to protected some of the 5 unclaimed last-16 tickets after 3 defeats at the spin, whilst all 4 groups stay within the hunt in an unpredictable Team G.

AFP Recreation seems to be at what is at stake going into the overall spherical of Champions League staff video games:

Ballon d’Or backlash from Bayern?

Barca in finding themselves at the ropes forward of Wednesday’s shuttle to Germany, however it will were a ways worse have been it no longer for Benfica ahead Haris Seferovic’s obvious omit in stoppage time at Camp Nou.

Bayern are considered one of 3 groups with a really perfect report on this season’s pageant, and Robert Lewandowski’s perceived Ballon d’Or snub can give the celebrity striker additional incentive to end up some degree.

Xavi suffered his first defeat as Barca trainer on Saturday in opposition to Actual Betis. He rested key gamers to be able to the sport in Munich, the place victory would ensure Barca undergo as runners-up in Team E, extending their 20-year run of achieving the knockout segment.

A younger Xavi was once organising himself as a mainstay of the midfield when Barca exited within the first staff degree of the 2000-01 pageant.

Failure to protected most issues would open the door for Benfica to pip them to moment position, with the Portuguese wanting to overcome Dynamo Kiev in Lisbon.

3-horse race and four-way showdown

Porto, AC Milan and Atletico will combat it out for the second one qualification spot in the back of Liverpool in Team B.

Two-time former Eu champions Porto dangle a one-point edge over each competitors forward of the seek advice from of Atletico. Milan host a Liverpool aspect that Jurgen Klopp may rotate closely forward of a hectic festive agenda.

Closing season’s Europa League winners Villarreal, crushed at house via two past due Manchester United targets on matchday 5, pass to Atalanta figuring out they are going to advance on the expense of the Italians in the event that they keep away from defeat in Bergamo.

Austrian champions Salzburg looked to be coasting thru after accruing seven issues in 3 video games, however back-to-back away losses imply they might nonetheless omit out.

Lille most sensible Team G with 8 issues and can growth in the event that they get some degree at Wolfsburg. The Germans are final within the phase however victory would ship them thru as an alternative.

Salzburg can seal a knockout berth with a draw at house to Sevilla, who in flip would qualify in the event that they win.

Already within the last-16 pot

11 golf equipment are confident in their position within the last-16 draw on December 13, 5 of that have already clinched most sensible spot.

Erik ten Hag’s spectacular Ajax will try to entire a really perfect staff degree for the primary time in membership historical past at house to Wearing, sure of moment above Borussia Dortmund without reference to Tuesday’s effects.

Manchester Town can’t be stuck via Paris Saint-Germain in Team A, whilst Actual Madrid have a two-point lead over Inter Milan in Team D forward in their Bernabeu showdown.

Holders Chelsea, who pass to Zenit Saint Petersburg for his or her ultimate Team H recreation, will nail down most sensible spot in the event that they fit Juventus’ end result at house to Swedish outfit Malmo.

Ralf Rangnick made a successful begin to his spell as United’s period in-between supervisor and is protected within the wisdom his crew will transfer on as winners of Team F somehow in opposition to Switzerland’s Younger Boys.

Europa League comfort

All third-placed golf equipment will drop into the Europa League, however a revised layout now sees them face the gang runner-u.s.from the second-tier match in a play-off spherical sooner than the final 16.

Promoted

Sheriff Tiraspol, losers of 3 directly video games after stunning Actual in September, will proceed their Eu journey within the Europa League, as will Dortmund and Zenit.

RB Leipzig glance favourites to complete 1/3 in the back of Town and PSG regardless of parting tactics with trainer Jesse Marsch. The Germans are stage on issues with Membership Brugge however have the head-to-head merit previous to their house recreation with Pep Guardiola’s aspect.