The final twelve teams to make it through to the last 32 of the 2010/2011 UEFA Europa League will be decided on the evening of Thursday, 16th December 2010, as the teams from groups A, B, C, G, H and I play their last group round fixture.
The top two sides from each group will progress to the knockout round of 32, along with the 12 teams who qualified yesterday evening, and the 8 UEFA Champions League 2011 teams who finished third in their group.
Group A
- Juventus v Man City – Group A – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Red Bull Salzburg v Lech Poznan – Group A – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
Perhaps the biggest fixture of the night takes place in Group A, where Juventus host big spending Machester City. These two European giants face different prospects: Man City have already assured themselves of qualification, on 10 points, while Juve must win by more than two goals, and hope that Lech Posnan get defeated by Red Bull Saltzburg in order to retain any chance of qualification.
Man City need points to guarantee the all-important group win, too, so this group could feature two very open games. Carlos Tevez is sure to be a key focal point for City, as he has declared his wish to leave the club: will they play him?
Group B
- Aris Salonika v Rosenborg – Group B – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid – Group B – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
Bayer Leverkusen have already won this group, but Aris Salonika and Atletico Madrid are tied on 7 points in second place. Whoever does the best this evening will go through. If both sides achieve the same result, it will be Atletico who miss out, based on the results between the two clubs. As a result, Group B is perhaps the tightest, and most difficult to call, group finish of the round.
Group C
- Levski Sofia v Sporting – Group C – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Lille v AA Gent – Group C – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
Sporting have already won Group C, but all three other sides are within three points of each other, with AA Gent (7 points), followed by Lille (5 points) and Levski Sofia (4 points). There is no result that could put Levski Sofia through, so it is a straight shootout between Lille and AA Gent for second place in Group C. Homa advantage for Lille is finely counter-balanced by the two point advantage carried by AA Gent: anything but a win for the hosts will see them out.
Group G
- AEK Athens v Zenit St Petersburg – Group G – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- Anderlecht v Hajduk Split – Group G – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
If Andelecht can win and AEK Athens are beaten, then both sides will be on 7 points, and goal difference and past results may come into play. Any other set of results will see Zenit St Petersburg win the group – which is certain – and AEK finish in second place.
Group H
- Getafe v Young Boys – Group H – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- VfB Stuttgart v Odense BK – Group H – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
Stuttgart and Young Boys are already through in this group, though a win for the latter and a loss for the former would see them tied on 12 points apiece. Any other result means it is Stuttgart first, and Young Boys second in Group H.
Group I
- Debrecen v Sampdoria – Group I – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- PSV Eindhoven v FC Metalist Kharkiv – Group I – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
In Group I, we have a shootout between PSV Eindhoven and FC Metalist Kharkiv for group supremacy. PSV have the advantage as they are currently three points ahead, and are playing at home this evening. Anything but a multiple goals win for Metalist Kharkiv will see PSV through as group winners. Debrecen entertain Sampdoria looking to get more than their zero points to date.
UEFA Europa League Fixtures – Thursday 16th December 2010
- Aris Salonika v Rosenborg – Group B – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid – Group B – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Juventus v Man City – Group A – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Levski Sofia v Sporting – Group C – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Lille v AA Gent – Group C – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- Red Bull Salzburg v Lech Poznan – Group A – Kick-Off (CET) 19:00
- AEK Athens v Zenit St Petersburg – Group G – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- Anderlecht v Hajduk Split – Group G – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- Debrecen v Sampdoria – Group I – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- Getafe v Young Boys – Group H – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- PSV Eindhoven v FC Metalist Kharkiv – Group I – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
- VfB Stuttgart v Odense BK – Group H – Kick-Off (CET) 21:05
