It’s crunch time in difficult Group C
Liverpool, Napoli and PSG all facing possibility of being knocked out
The Anfield roar will be thunderous when Liverpool hosts Napoli, and the crowd will likely be just as loud in Belgrade when Red Star takes on Paris Saint-Germain.
Group C has lived up to its billing as the toughest in the Champions League and any one of the three big teams can still go through — or out — on Tuesday. Napoli leads the group with nine points, one more than PSG. Liverpool has six points.
To exit at this stage would be a big backward step for Liverpool after reaching last year’s final, but much worse for PSG.
Desperate to prove it belongs among Europe’s elite, PSG has not reached the semifinals since its lone appearance there in 1995.
Things will be tense, too, in Barcelona, where Tottenham likely needs a win to go through in Group B.
Groups A and D have a far more sedate feel about them with the top two places already decided.
A look at the four Champions League groups on Tuesday:
GROUP A
Borussia Dortmund striker Paco Alacer will be confident of adding to his goal tally at Stade Louis II, considering Monaco’s defensive record. Monaco has conceded 36 goals in 21games in all competitions, while the Spain forward is the equal highest scorer in the Bundesliga with 10 goals.
Monaco’s beleaguered defenders had a weekend off, with the home game against Nice on Friday night cancelled because of widespread anti-government protests in France.
In the other game, group leader Atletico Madrid is at Belgian side Club Brugge.
Atletico and Dortmund have already qualified and are vying for top spot, with Atletico two points ahead. GROUP B Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino gave striker Harry Kane and attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen a bit of a rest during Saturday’s 2-0 win at Leicester, keeping them fresh for the trip to Barcelona.
But Pochettino may have been better off calling in goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for some extra practice given the form Lionel Messi is in.
Messi scored with two sublime free kicks and set up a goal for Ousmane Dembele in Barcelona’s 4-0 Catalan derby win at Espanyol on Saturday, taking his club tally to a staggering 569 goals in 654 games.
Barcelona is already through, while Spurs are level on points with Inter Milan and holding second place on head-to-head away goals.
Awin will send Spurs through, but a draw opens the door for Inter if it beats PSV Eindhoven at home. GROUP C Napoli and Liverpool took dif- ferent approaches with key players over the weekend.
While Napoli rested Belgium forward Dries Mertens, Liverpool’s star striker Mohamed Salah warmed up with a hat trick at Bournemouth.
The entire PSG team rested, but this was for security reasons as Saturday’s home game against Montpellier was cancelled due to anti-government protests.
Neymar is likely to be available for PSG despite not training on Sunday. He went off injured in a league game one week ago with an apparent repeat of a groin injury.
Napoli is top by one point from PSG, with Liverpool two points behind PSG and in third spot after two straight defeats.
Liverpool needs to win to have any chance of progressing, while a draw sends Napoli through. PSG will definitely qualify with a win. GROUP D Free-scoring Porto has already won the group and Schalke is guaranteed to be runner-up.
But Porto will look to finish the group unbeaten when it travels to Istanbul to face Galatasaray.
Schalke’s home game against Lokomotiv Moscow offers little more than a chance to make up for lost pride after Saturday’s loss to Borussia Dortmund.