Football Champions League Preview 20th Nov

The group stages of the Champions League return this week as we reach matchday five and a number of teams face must win games. Here is our look at how the groups are shaping up.

With two games remaining in Group A it would be a shock if PSG and Porto are not the two teams to qualify. The Portuguese side currently top the group with ten points and the French side have nine. Dynamo Kiev with four points would need to win their two remaining games and hope that Porto can defeat PSG on matchday six. It is 8/13 (paddy Power/Coral) that Porto win the group while PSG are 13/8 (BetVictor). Those who think Kiev can still qualify can get them at 18/1 (bet365/Skybet/paddy Power).

Three teams are seperated by two points in Group B with Schalke top on eight points, Arsenal on seven and Olympiakos on six. Arsenal are at home to Montpellier on matchday five while Schalke entertain the Greek side. A win for Schalke and Arsenal would see both sides through. Schalke are 4/7 (bet365/sportingbet/Coral) to finish top of the group, Arsenal are 11/5 (paddy Power) and Olympiakos are 14/1 (bet365/BetVictor).

Malaga sit five points clear at the top of Group C and would be a shock if the Spanish side did not win the group. The battle is likely to come down to Milan, Zenit and Anderlecht for the second qualifying slot. The Italian side are 4/9 (BetVictor), the Belgians are 5/1 (general) as are the Russians (Stan James). Just two points seperate these three.

Borussia Dortmund are the surprise leaders in Group D sitting on eight points, ahead of Real Madrid on seven, Ajax on four and Man City on two. This group really has it all to play for. Gameday five sees Ajax at home to Dortmund and Man City hosting Real Madrid. Gameday six has the English side in Germany and the Spanish side at home to the Dutch team. Bookmakers make Dortmund 7/10 (sportingbet) to win the group, Madrid are 13/10 (paddy power/Ladrokes), Ajax 60/1 (paddy power/188 Bet) and Man City 250/1 (general).

In Group E it is a three way battle between Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and Chelsea and the Italians failure to do the double over Danish side FC Nordsjaelland might cost them. They are a point behind Chelsea and Donetsk and both those sides have a game against the Danish team. This would put them both on ten meaning that Juventus must win both their games to book their place in the last 16, a tough ask. Donetsk are 21/20 (sportingbet) to win the group, Chelsea are 15/8 (william hill) and Juventus 5/1 (BetVictor/william hill).

Bayern Munich and Valenica are joint top of Group F with nine points though it is the German side who are the favourites to win the group at 2/5 (Sportingbet/ladbrokes) while the Spaniards are 9/4 (You Win). BATE (on six points) are 10/1 (Paddy Power) to qualify.

After their great win of Barcelona Celtic are in pole position to qualify along with the Spaniards from Group G. It is 2/5 (Skybet/Stan James) that the Scottish side qualify, Benfica to qualify is 11/4 (Paddy Power)and 16/1 Spartak Moscow (bet365/BetVictor/paddy Power).

Four wins from four games in Group H have almost certainly seen Man Utd through and it looks a battle between Cluj, galatasary and Braga to finish second. The Turkish side have four points as do the Romanians while the Portuguese side just have three (they have though already played Man Utd twice). It is 13/8 (Skybet/Bet Victor) Braga qualify, 28/17 (BWin) galatasaray and 14/5 (ladbrokes) CFR Cluj go through.

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20/11/2012     © Frixo 2024