After an eventful Tuesday, UEFA Champions League play continues on Wednesday with Groups E-H in action. While it's unlikely that any of the games will match the excitement of Tottenham Hotspur's shocking 3-1 victory against Inter Milan, there's still a host of reasonably interesting matches on the cards - the pick of the bunch being Real Madrid vs. AC Milan, with Alexandre Pato and company attempting to avenge their 2-0 loss at the Santiago Bernabéu a fortnight ago.
UEFA Champions League Preview: AC Milan Visits Real Madrid, Chelsea Hope To Secure Knockout Stages
Group E kicks off with leaders Bayern Munich squaring off against Romanians CFR Cluj-Napoca. Cluj currently sit on three points, third in the group but barely behind second-place Basel on goal differential. The reverse fixture at the Allianz Arena was a bizarre affair, with Bayern the beneficiary of two own goals in a 3-2 win. Cluj have shown that they can breach the German rearguard, and should they get anything from the match will be in excellent position to emerge out of the group.
The last time FC Basel and AS Roma squared off, the Swiss side secured a vital 3-1 win in Rome to haul themselves from fourth in Group E all the way up to second. With all three of Roma, Basel, and Cluj looking outcast by Bayern, the head-to-head matches may well determine which side goes through to the knock-out rounds. Expect both teams to go hard after the three points at St. Jakob Park.
Group F sees leaders Chelsea at home against Spartak Moscow. The Blues can secure passage to the knockout stages with a win, and considering their fairly easy 2-0 win in Moscow two weeks ago that should not pose too much of a problem. For their part, Moscow could come very close to wrapping up qualification themselves should they engineer an upset at Stamford Bridge - they'd at the very least be in a commanding lead over third place Marseilles with two games left to play, including a crucial home match against the French side in week six.
Meanwhile, Slovakian champions MSK Zilina host Marseille at the wonderfully named Pod Dubnom. Zilina are currently without a point through three games, and if they want to have any hope of reaching the next round, they’ll need at least a draw here and probably more. Marseille, for their part, can catch up to Moscow with a win - assuming Spartak lose against Chelsea.
AC Milan vs. Real Madrid at the San Siro is the sort of match that would have had fans drooling a few years ago. It’s still pretty sexy now, but there’s now a mismatch between the two teams, with Jose Mourinho’s Real by far the stronger side. Milan will be aiming to get at least a point out of the game, which would put their qualification entirely in their own hands, while Madrid can secure a place in the second round with a win.
AJ Auxerre host Ajax Amsterdam in Group G's second match, one which could see Ajax move up to second in the group (depending on the result in the Milan-Madrid game). Expect a feisty game - no less than three red cards were issued in the reverse fixture, which saw Ajax have to hold on to the lead after Andre Ooijer saw red in the 55th minute. We probably shouldn't expect to see a substitute get sent off in this match, however.
In Group H, Arsenal visit Shaktar Donesk, who will presumably be keen to exact retribution for the 5-1 humiliation at the Emirates in their previous game. Arsenal have been astonishingly good in Europe this year, averaging almost five goals per game, and they're in great position to qualify for the knock out rounds with a win. A loss wouldn't be the end of the world for Shaktar, as they lie in second, three points ahead of Braga, and have a home game yet to play against their Portuguese rivals.
The last match of the day features currently point-less Partizan Belgrade against the aforementioned Braga. Belgrade will presumably be trying for at least a point at home, lest their greatest Champions League feat of the 2010/11 campaign be holding Arsenal to just three goals.
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