Barcelona v. Bremen, and a few other games: UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 Preview
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by user Thecrookedcap
UEFA Champions League, the top club competition in Europe, is closing out the group stage portion of the 2006-07 edition.
The highlight game, as if the title had not given it away, is the match between Spain's F.C. Barcelona and Germany's Werder Bremen. Barcelona, the defending champions of the event, sit two points behind Werder Bremen in the group standings. They'll need all three points to advance; a draw would keep them out of the Champions League Knockout Stages. Fortunately for them, they'll have the home fans cheering them on at Camp Nou.
All 32 teams will be playing on Tuesday and Wednesday, and most have something to play for. The top 2 teams in each group will advance to the knockout stages. Third place, however, will give 8 teams hope of lifting a European trophy this year, albeit the less prestigious UEFA Cup, as they will advance to the knockout stages of that tournament.
Here's how the final day matches up, complete with scenarios:
Group A
- Barcelona v. Werder Bremen
- Chelsea v. Levski Sofia
As already noted, Barcelona hosts Werder Bremen. Barcelona has to win to remain in Champions League, while Bremen will just try and stop Ronaldinho and company. Elsewhere, Chelsea, already in the next round (they hold a tiebreaker against Bremen, and can finish no less than 2nd), will face Levski Sofia at Stamford Bridge. A win will give them first place in the group, while Werder can with a win and Chelsea lost or tie, and Barcelona can win the group with a win and Chelsea loss.
Group B
The top 2 has already been decided, with Bayern Munich and Inter playing for first place (Inter is first with a win, Bayern first with anything else). The other match, however, sees the Portugese and Russian runners-up fighting for their European lives. A Spartak victory in Lisbon would put them level on points, and would give them the tiebreaker as the two sides drew in first match in Moscow.
Group C
This is one of the groups where the teams have nothing to play for, as Liverpool is first, PSV second, Bordeaux third, and Galatasaray just worrying about Turkey for now. They're just playing because they're supposed to.
Group D
Valencia is head and shoulders above everyone in this group, with 13 points and 6 more than second-place Roma. Roma needs a point to make the next round, so don't expect them to go for broke. Shakhtar can pass them with a victory in Greece and a Roma loss. However, the Ukrainian champs can also get bounced out of Europe if Olympiacos wins.
Group E
Like Group C, there is no position to play for. Lyon is first, Real second, Steaua third, and Dynamo last.
Group F
Celtic's win over Manchester United made the group a little more interesting. The Scottish champs will be moving on to the last 16 for the first time since 1989, but left a great matchup. Benfica will go to Old Trafford with the chance to knock Manchester United out of Champions League for the second year in a row. Unlike last year, the Red Devils have home field, and a guarantee of more European play as they can no worse than third.
Group G
- F.C. Porto v. Arsenal
- Hamburg v. CSKA Moscow
This could be a very interesting last matchday in Group G, or a very boring one. It all hinges on CSKA's result against Hamburg. The German side has yet to score a point in the group stage, but can play spoiler to the Russian champs' chances of catching Porto and Arsenal.
If CSKA wins, the Porto-Arsenal match means a lot. If either team wins, the winner will be first with CSKA second. However, if they draw, all three teams will be at 11 points. Arsenal and Porto would advance, as they hold a three-way tiebreaker against CSKA Moscow.
Group H
- A.C. Milan v. Lille
- Anderlecht v. AEK Athens
Milan (who really don't deserve to be in Champions League, but that's another story) are securely in the next round. They'll be joined either by AEK (on 7 points) or Lille (on 6). Lille can make it with a win and AEK loss or draw, or with a draw and an AEK loss (they hold the tiebreaker).
If you're in the States, ESPN2 has Barcelona and Werder Bremen Tuesday at 2:30pm, or Bayern-Inter on ESPN Deportes at that time. Roma and Valencia will play (tape delayed) on ESPN Classic at 5.
On Wednesday (same times), Manchester United and Benfica have the ESPN2 game, with Dynamo-Real Madrid on Deportes and Arsenal-Porto on Classic.
