AC Milan, Benfica and LOSC are among the teams playing for their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League this week.
At the start, they were 32. Wednesday night, they will be only 16. The last day of the group stage of the Champions League is a real suspense, both for the usual cadors and more modest teams. Real Madrid, Chelsea and PSG are among the 11 teams already qualified for the round of 16. The last five places will make people happy and, inevitably, disappointments.
Group B: the Bermuda Triangle
If we stopped there, Liverpool, wide leader of Group B (15 points), would be joined by Porto (5) in the next round, ahead of AC Milan and Atlético de Madrid (4). It is therefore a small final that the Madrilenians will play in Portugal this Tuesday (9 p.m.). Well almost: Atlético must win and hope that AC Milan do not beat Liverpool at San Siro at the same time. The Rossoneri must also win and hope that Porto do not do the same. So there is only Porto which is not dependent on an outside result, and which could even settle for a draw if Milan do not win. “This team has the character and personality to pull it off“Motivated Atlético player Marcos Llorente at a press conference on Monday.
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Group E: Barça condemned to an exploit?
In appearance, FC Barcelona (7 points) is widely favored in qualifying to the detriment of Benfica (5 points). The problem with the Catalans is that they will travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday (9 p.m.). This same Bavarian ogre who humiliated Barça at Camp Nou on September 14 (0-3), not even letting him frame a shot. At the same time, SLB receives Dynamo Kiev, already assured of finishing last in Group E, which is akin to a formality. Barring a big surprise in Lisbon, Xavi’s men will be forced to bring down a Bayern which has won its 5 Champions League matches this season. However, it is not excluded that the Bundesliga leader will turn for a game without a stake on his side. Barça, which remains on 17 qualifying in a row in the eighth, is playing big.
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Group F: an Atalanta-Villarreal final
Here, no clever calculations or second meeting to watch. Atalanta (6 points) is obliged to win at home, this Wednesday at 9 p.m., against Villarreal (7 points) who would be content with a draw. The Spaniards, who have not played the eighth since 2009, are the title holders in the Europa League. A competition that they would find in case of defeat and therefore of 3e group place. With an ongoing series of 5 Serie A victories, the Bergamo club are favorites.
Group G: Lille, so close and so far
It’s simple: the LOSC must not lose this Wednesday (9 p.m.) on the lawn of Wolfsburg, in a group G where the suspense remains unresolved. The Northerners (8 points) are leaders ahead of Salzburg (7), Seville (6) and therefore Wolfsburg (5). A defeat and the German club will double the Lille, and regardless of the result in the other match, they will go by the wayside, transferred to the Europa League. If they remain on two victories in Rennes on Wednesday (1-2) then against Troyes on Saturday (2-1), the Mastiffs will have to do without their supporters in Germany, deprived of travel because of the Covid-19.
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