The Free Press Journal

A look at the four Champions League groups on Tuesday

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GROUP ‘E’

Bayern seems to be a shadow of its former self after twice letting a two-goal lead slip against Duesseldor­f. Kovac's position is under threat unless he can coax the side into the kind of performanc­es it delivered at the start of the season, when it scored 19 goals in its opening seven games - all victories - including the German Supercup win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness, who previously said he would defend Kovac "to the hilt," appears to have changed his tune after saying Saturday that club officials would sit down after Benfica's visit to see "how things should continue." Bayern, which leads Group ‘E’ with 10 points from four games, would top the group with a win over Benfica if Ajax, on eight points, fails to beat AEK Athens away in the earlier game.

Benfica, on four points, needs to beat Bayern to maintain any hope of a top-two finish.

GROUP ‘F’

Manchester City can qualify for the knockout stage with a draw in Lyon and is aiming to avenge a 2-1 loss at home to the French team, its only loss so far in any competitio­n this season.

Lyon's confidence-building 1-0 derby win over Saint-Etienne last Friday showed both the good and bad sides of Bruno Genesio's inconsiste­nt team.

City coach Pep Guardiola will have noted that SaintEtien­ne repeatedly breached Lyon's lines and would have won without first-half saves from Anthony Lopes.

City has recovered well in Group ‘F’ since that initial loss to Lyon, winning three straight games - scoring 11 goals - to move three points clear. A win in France would clinch top spot.

Lyon would be through with a win.

Hoffenheim hosts Shakhtar Donetsk in the other group game.

Group ‘G’

Madrid's early season troubles are back after the demoralizi­ng loss to Eibar. The team's attack is under scrutiny after failing to make up for Ronaldo's departure for Juventus, while its defense is among the worst in Spain. Madrid has already conceded 19 goals in 13 Spanish league matches.

Madrid and Roma are level on nine points and seem assured of progress from Group ‘G’. The Italian club will be through with a draw, or if CSKA Moscow fails to beat Plzen in the earlier group game.

Roma will need to bounce back swiftly from Saturday's loss at Udinese. The 1-0 defeat was the third time this season Roma has lost to a team near the bottom of the standings.

Captain Daniele De Rossi is out with a knee injury and forward Diego Perotti is also sidelined, but coach Eusebio Di Francesco is hoping to welcome back Kostas Manolas after the Greek defender injured his ankle on internatio­nal duty.

GROUP ‘H’

Group leader Juventus hosts Valencia and will be through with a draw or if Manchester United loses at home to Young Boys.

United coach Jose Mourinho is again under pressure after poor results. Since beating Juventus 2-1 in Turin, United has been taken apart in the Manchester derby by fierce rival City and then, in its first game back after the internatio­nal break, held to a lackluster 0-0 home draw by Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

United heads into Tuesday's game in second place in the group, two points behind Juventus and two clear of Valencia.

Valencia, which will be out of contention if it doesn't win and United does, will be wary of an even more motivated Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Juventus forward is still smarting from his sending off against Valencia in September - his first ever red card in the Champions League.

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