A look at four groups from A to D
Playing today: Group A:
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Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund lead the group and have a chance to secure places in the knockout round in advance. Dortmund need a draw at Brugge, while Atletico need a home win against Monaco. Atletico can also advance if Brugge lose points against Dortmund, who are coming off a blistering start to the season under new coach Lucien Favre. The only setback for Favre so far was the 2-0 loss at Atletico in the team’s previous Champions League appearance.
Harry Kane kept Tottenham’s Champions League hopes alive with a late double to sink PSV Eindhoven in the last round of games. Now the striker has some backup as his team tries to complete an unlikely recovery to qualify from Group B. Spurs need to beat Inter Milan at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday to keep alive ambitions of a top-two finish. Barcelona, without Rafinha, Luis Suarez and Arthur because of injuries, have a three-point advantage at the top and will clinch first place in the group with a win over PSV.
Victories by Liverpool and Napoli would lock up the group, which has proven to be the tightest of the Champions League. Napoli, the group’s only unbeaten team with three draws and one win, hosts a Red Star team who still have chances of advancing. The Serbian club have four points, one fewer than Paris Saint-Germain and two fewer than Napoli and Liverpool. Red Star held Napoli to a 0-0 draw at home in the first round, but then conceded 10 goals in losses against PSG (6-1) and Liverpool (4-0). Liverpool, who beat PSG at home, lost 2-0 to Red Star in their previous Champions League match, but they is coming off two straight wins in the Premier League.
Group leaders Porto host second-placed Schalke in a match in which a draw could be enough for both clubs to advance. They would clinch a spot in the knockout stage with a draw if Galatasaray fails to win its match at already eliminated Lokomotiv Moscow. Porto are trying to make it to the round of 16 for the third straight season. The Portuguese champions have 10 points, two more than Schalke and six more than Galatasaray.
Group B: Group C: Group D: