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Giants scramble for final straws
Liverpool FC, FC Schalke 04, Werder Bremen, Olympique Lyonnais and PSV Eindhoven all need wins on Matchday 6 if they are to survive in the UEFA Champions League.
Seven places
Celtic FC joined AC Milan in progressing from Group D, which concluded a week early to allow the UEFA Champions League holders to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. With Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, Manchester United FC, AS Roma, FC Internazionale Milano, Sevilla FC and Arsenal FC also already in the last 16, seven more places in the knockout phase remain up for grabs with some big names in danger of missing out.
Magic combination
Last season’s beaten finalists Liverpool know a draw in their final Group A game at Olympique de Marseille will not be enough to progress, and anything less than a win might also see them edged into fourth place in the section by BeÅŸiktaÅŸ JK, who would still earn a place in the last 16 with a win at FC Porto. In Group B, Schalke will reach the last 16 with a win at home against Rosenborg BK, but anything less could see them drop out of Europe entirely, should Valencia CF win at Chelsea. In Group C, third placed-Bremen and fourth-placed S.S. Lazio could yet snatch the top spots if they win in their final games, at Olympiacos CFP and Real Madrid CF respectively, on Tuesday.
Glasgow decider
The decisive game in Wednesday’s Group E fixtures is in Glasgow, with Lyon resigned to a place in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 should they fail to beat second-placed Rangers FC at Ibrox. Groups F and H are all sewn up with Manchester United and Roma assured of first and second place respectively in the former and Sevilla and Arsenal through from the latter, but second place in Group G could be denied to Fenerbahçe SK should they fail to pick up three points at home against PFC CSKA Moskva, with PSV poised to pounce.
Important dates
The first knockout round ties will be played on 19 February and 5 March 2008. The sides finishing third in the eight UEFA Champions League groups will join the 24 successful qualifiers from the UEFA Cup group stage in the Round of 32, with matches to be played on 13/14 and 21 February 2008.
