Illustrious trio in danger of early exit
Reuters - Monday 23 November 2009, 02:00
Illustrious trio Barcelona,
Liverpool and Bayern Munich, European champions 12 times between
them, are all in danger of an early exit from the competition
this week.
Holders Barcelona face former striker Samuel Eto'o in their
tie against Inter Milan where defeat, combined with a win for
Russia's Rubin Kazan over Dynamo Kiev, would see them go out.
Five-times champions Liverpool have a relatively
straightforward match away to table-propping Hungarians Debrecen
but their fate is largely out of their hands as they will be
eliminated if Fiorentina beat already-qualified Olympique Lyon
at home.
Similarly, Bayern Munich host pointless Maccabi Haifa
knowing that, even if they win as expected, they will go out if
Juventus overcome a Girondins Bordeaux side who are also through
to the last 16.
In other games, Arsenal should join Lyon, Bordeaux, Chelsea,
Porto, Manchester United and Sevilla in the last 16 while AC
Milan and Real Madrid also have good chances of making sure of
their places.
Inter's visit to Barcelona on Tuesday in Group F provides
the highlight of the week.
The Italians top the group with six points after their
last-gasp win in Dynamo Kiev two weeks ago, one ahead of Rubin
Kazan and Barcelona with the Ukrainians a further point behind.
Pep Guardiola's team are rushing to get Zlatan Ibrahimovic
and Lionel Messi back to fitness for the potentially decisive
encounter.
TOO LATE
Argentina forward Messi picked up a thigh muscle injury in
Saturday's 1-1 La Liga draw at Athletic Bilbao and Ibrahimovic
missed the game, also dogged by a thigh problem.
Defender Eric Abidal and midfielder Yaya Toure have been
struck by the H1N1 virus but Guardiola refused to ring the alarm
bells over his mounting problems.
"If players aren't there... we'll play with others. You
don't win titles with two or three players," he said after the
Bilbao game.
Bayern Munich have yet to win a home game in Group A and,
although they should have little trouble breaking their duck
against Maccabi on Wednesday, it may prove too late.
Third with four points from as many games, Bayern are four
behind Juventus and will be eliminated if the Italians win away
to a Girondins team who have nothing play for apart from their
reputation.
With Bayern seventh in the Bundesliga, failure would heap
further pressure on beleaguered coach Louis van Gaal.
Liverpool, who can ill afford to miss out on the lucrative
final stages, are already without key striker Fernando Torres
for Tuesday's trip to Hungary in Group E.
Rafael Benitez's team are third with four points, five
behind Fiorentina who could already be out of touch when they
visit Anfield on the final match day.
Failure to win will condemn Liverpool to an early exit as
would a Fiorentina victory against Lyon.
Group C leaders AC Milan will qualify for the last 16 if
they beat Olympique Marseille at home on Wednesday.
A Milan win would also enable Real Madrid to go through
provided they can beat Swiss champions FC Zurich, who have
already shipped 12 goals in four games and lost 5-2 at home to
the Spanish side earlier in the group.
Milan and Real - whose Bernabeu stadium will host the final
-- have seven points apiece, one ahead of Marseille.
A draw at home to Standard Liege would be enough for Group H
leaders Arsenal to qualify.