UEFA Champions League, Tuesday Preview: Inter Milan Travels To Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United Heads To Bursaspor

In a tough Group B, Benfica find themselves in a tougher situation. After three matches, Lyon sit on nine points, Schalke sit on six, and Benfica sit on three. Wtihout a win tonight at Estadio da Luz, Benfica will be in serious trouble. Without at least a draw, they will be all but eliminated if Schalke do what is expected of them and defeat Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

The good news for Benfica is that Estadio da Luz has been a bit of a fortress both domestically and in Europe over the last couple years, other than their embarrassing opening day slip-up against Academia de Coimbra. The bad news for Benfica is that they will be without their star target man, Oscar Cardozo. Talented youngster Alan Kardec figures to start in his place.

Tottenham Hotspur welcome last year’s champions, Inter Milan, to London for what could be the biggest match ever to occur at White Hart Lane:

Barcelona sit atop Group D with seven points, but Tuesday’s match pits them against FC Copenhagen, who sit just behind with six points. When the teams met two weeks ago, Barcelona came away with the 2-0 win, although the blaugrana didn’t exactly play fair: With Barca up 1-0, goalkeeper José Pinto imitated the referee’s whistle, causing Copenhagen striker César Santin to put on the breaks, believing himself to be offside. Had Pinto not halted the promising break, the result could’ve been much different. Copenhagen’s style could have stymied Barcelona:

For more on the blaugrana, including a full preview of the Champions League match up with Copenhagen, visit SB Nation’s Barcelona blog, Barca Blaugranas.

The group’s other match sees Werder Bremen host Twente in what could be a crucial tie as it pertains to the second team to emerge from Group A and into the round of 16 as both teams are level with two points each.

French side Lyon lead Group B with nine points and are away to Benfica in Portugal who are third on three points. Second in the group Schalke travels to Tel-Aviv to face Hapoel in a match they’ll desperately want to gain three points in. Depending on the exploits of Lyon, Schalke still have a very good chance of winning the group as they continue to struggle with their league form in the Bundesliga.