Champions League is hotting up
A draw with Lyon will see Manchester City through to the next round but Spurs have to win to stay in the hunt for a place in the last 32.
Only Barcelona have qualified for the next stage of the UEFA Champions League, but the penultimate round of group matches tonight and tomorrow could see a bevy more making sure of continued participation. Many of the games are included in TAB soccer pools and add much spice to bets like Soccer 6 and 10.
Manchester City, despite their poor start at home to Olympique Lyonnais, need only a draw in the return game in France to go through. And, if they gain revenge with a win, they will top the group and ensure a favourable draw in the first round in February.
It is the same for Bayern Munich, fellow Germans Borussia Dortmund, the Italian duo of Inter Milan and Juventus, and FC Porto.
Wins will also see Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Schalke 04 book their spots, but some half the places available in the knockout stage will likely only be decided on the final match day later in the month.
Among the key fixtures to look out for this week are Real’s trip to Roma tonight. The holders have bounced back after a slow start with consecutive wins against Viktoria Plzen and will secure top spot in Group G with victory in Rome.
Their record against Roma in the Italian capital is four wins and one defeat, but the home side have won their last seven home games in the UEFA Champions League, only conceding twice in the process.
In Group C tomorrow the waters are muddied as last season’s runners-up Liverpool go to Paris St Germain and Napoli take on Red Star Belgrade, who have conceded 10 goals in their other two home games.
Napoli will be through if they win and PSG do not beat Liverpool.
PSG will be unable to finish in the top two if they lose and Napoli win, while Liverpool will be through if they win and Napoli avoid defeat.
The equation for Tottenham at Wembley is as simple: to retain any hope of qualification Spurs must beat Inter, who scored twice late on match day one to claim a narrow 2-1 win.
"In Milan we played better than them and I think we can beat them," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, but a draw will suffice for the Italians to reach the knockout stage for the first time in seven years.