Do-or-die action in UCL
The seven remaining places in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions will be decided tonight and tomorrow and they make for several great TAB soccer pools that could yield big payouts
There’s enthralling UEFA Champions League action for TAB soccer customers to bet on tonight and tomorrow with the last round of group matches that will determine the seven places still to be fi lled in the knockout phase.
Nine clubs have already booked their places in the round of 16 and are led by holders Bayern Munich, while others include past winners Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool and FC Porto.
There are 13 clubs in five groups chasing the remaining places.
The most intriguing is Group H in which Manchester United, aft er losing 3-1 at home to Paris St Germain last weekend, are now in danger of missing out.
They need only draw in Germany against RB Leipzig tonight to go through and did beat Leipzig 5- 0 at home last month, but the Red Devils’ inconsistency means nothing can be taken for granted.
If Leipzig win, then United will drop down to UEFA Europa League in a huge fi nancial setback that might well cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job.
The one remaining place in Group F will also be sett led tonight, when Lazio host Club Brugge of Belgium needing just to draw. But they are more likely to win and might end up even taking top place in the pool ahead of Borussia Dortmund.
Tomorrow there is a straight shootout between Salzburg and Atletico Madrid to fi nish second in Group A and the home side must win to knock Atletico out of the top two. That would seem a bridge too far even if Salzburg is brimming with exciting young talent.
In Group B Real Madrid are the heavyweight contenders on the brink of elimination, although all four clubs are still in contention.
Real must beat Borussia Monchengladbach, while the German visitors need at least a draw.
Inter Milan must bear Shakhtar Donetsk to come from bottom place and grab a berth in the last 16. The smart move for TAB soccer customers will be to go for two home wins.
The remaining place is the knockout stage will be determined in Group D, in which Ajax Amsterdam must beat Atalanta to advance or otherwise the Italians go through. This could be too tough a task for the Dutch club.