Table of Contents
UEFA Champions League 2011/12 Group E
All eyes will be on Group E, which is still wide, wide open following the first five matches. Bayer Leverkusen lead Group E by one point, on 9, from Chelsea and Valencia who are tied on 8 points apiece.
Chelsea have a straight forward shootout with Valencia to determine who will qualify at Stamford Bridge, while Leverkusen travel to FC Genk knowing that a win will put them through at the top of the group. The winner of Chelsea v Valencia will definitely go through, while a draw would see most mathematical permutations putting Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen through.
Tonight, winning is everything in Group E, though, for finishing second could see a last 16 fixture with Real Madrid or the dreaded Barcelona.
The loser of Chelsea v Valencia would be the most likely to take the UEFA Europa League parachute; Genk are already guaranteed to be at the foot of the group, on just two points.
UEFA Champions League 2011/12 Group F
In Group F, the winner is already decided – Arsenal will qualify in the top spot – but there is still everything to play for where the runner’s up place is concerned.
Borussia Dortmund are bottom of the group, and need to win by a huge stack of goals over second placed Marseille, at home, to stand any chance of qualification for the Round of 16. They’ll both be hoping that Arsenal, who are playing an effective dead rubber against Olympiakos, in Greece, don’t roll over and let the current third placer’s leapfrog Marseille (whom they trail by one point) into the vital second place.
Any one of the bottom three teams could finish second, third or fourth, making Group F another one to pay close attention to this evening.
UEFA Champions League 2011/12 Group G
Group G has been a most surprisingly open affair to date, which means we come into the final Group Stage fixture with three sides in contention for topping the group.
Cypriot surprise-package APOEL Nicosia currently top Group G, on 9 points – and remain undefeated heading into the final match – though they are closely followed by Zenit St Petersburg and FC Porto on 8 and 7 points respectively.
APOEL can be happy, then, that Porto and Zenit are facing each other in Portugal, and there is no result that sees them out of the hat for the next round.
APOEL face Shakhtar Donetsk, who have nothing to play for, at home, knowing that a win will see them group victors.
Anything but a win for Dortmund will likely see them return from Europe with nothing to show for their 2011/12 efforts.
Whoever wins Porto v Zenit St Petertsburg will follow APOEL through in second place, but Zenit know a draw sees them through, so an early Porto goal could spell fireworks in Portugal tonight.
UEFA Champions League 2011/12 Group H
It’s all decided in Group H in terms of Champions League continuation – Barcelona have won the group with AC Milan in second – though the vital third place, and Europa League buffer awaits either Plzen or BATE Borisov.
As Plzen, although Champions League newcomers, have two points over Borisov, and the latter must travel to Camp Nou needing a win, it’s looking highly likely the current group order will remain at the end of 90 minutes in this, the least competitive group of the evening.
Who do you think will progress following tonight’s UEFA Champions League 2011/12 Group Stage fixtures? Leave your comment below.
UEFA Champions League 2011/12 Group Stage Fixtures, Tuesday 6th December 2011
- Apoel Nicosia v Shakhtar Donetsk – Group G – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
- Barcelona v BATE Borisov – Group H – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
- Borussia Dortmund v Marseille – Group F – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
- Chelsea v Valencia – Group E – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
- FC Porto v Zenit St Petersburg – Group G – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
- Genk v Bayer Leverkusen – Group E – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
- Olympiakos v Arsenal – Group F – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
- Plzen v AC Milan – Group H – Kick-Off (CET) 20:45
