Champions League preview: Juventus eye last-16, Real, PSG in heavyweight duel
Tuesday night will see the clash of the European giants in a bid to qualify for the next stage of the competition
PHOTO: AFP
PARIS:
Juventus can qualify for the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday while Real Madrid and PSG meet in a heavyweight clash in Spain. Manchester United host CSKA Moscow looking to end a 295-minute goal drought.
Group A
At Livv: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Malmo (SWE)
Cut adrift by PSG and Real Madrid, Shakhtar and Malmo are barring an upset in a scrap for a Europa League spot. Deposed Swedish champions Malmo edged Shakhtar 1-0 a fortnight ago, but their hosts are in buoyant form after a 7-1 rout, their seventh straight win, in the Ukrainian top flight at the weekend. Alex Teixeira's double took his tally to 18 goals in 12 league games.
At Madrid: Real Madrid (ESP) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
A return to his former club for PSG's Angel Di Maria, who got the goal in the French champions' 1-0 win at Rennes on Friday to keep Laurent Blanc's men flying high at the top of Ligue 1. "I don't know how the people will react and how they will treat me when I go back," said Di Maria. On seven points apiece, either PSG or Real can qualify with a win combined with defeat for Malmo. Real warmed up with a 3-1 win over Las Palmas to keep them on top of La Liga on goal difference. PSG held Real to a goalless draw at Parc des Princes last time out.
PSG scalp first step toward European glory for Madrid
Group B
At Manchester: Man Utd (ENG) v CSKA Moscow (RUS)
United have not scored in any competition since matchday three when Anthony Martial's equaliser saw these sides share the spoils 1-1 in Moscow, leaving both clubs on four points at the halfway stage. CSKA are top in Russia after an 11th win in 14 games on Saturday. After three straight 0-0 draws the key enigma for United is whether boss Louis Van Gaal persists with misfiring Wayne Rooney as centre-forward with Martial operating on the left.
At Eindhoven: PSV Eindhoven (NED) v Wolfsburg (GER)
Bottom of the group on three points, Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven know a home win over leaders Wolfsburg will see them draw level with the Germans. On Saturday, PSV gave up a three-goal lead to bottom side De Graafschap before regrouping to clinch a remarkable 6-3 victory. Third in the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg also needed a late winner against Bayer Leverkusen delivered by German international Julian Draxler. Wolfsburg beat PSV 2-0 in Germany just two weeks ago with late goals from Bas Dost and Max Kruse.
Giants collide: Champions League finalists take on Europa winners
Group C
At Astana: Astana (KAZ) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Atletico Madrid will look to build on their 4-0 demolition of Astana last time out. Atletico are level with Benfica on six points and the 2014 finalists will be eager to make amends for Saturday's 1-1 draw at Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga. Competition debutants Astana, who will again be without banned Ghanaian forward Patrick Twumasi, picked up their only point at home to Galatasaray on matchday two.
At Lisbon: Benfica (POR) v Galatasaray (TUR)
A first win in 11 European matches revived Galatasaray's challenge for a top-two finish as Benfica dropped their first points when the sides met in Turkey a fortnight ago. That defeat was followed by a 3-0 reverse against Sporting which snapped Benfica's 55-match unbeaten league run at home and they will be without suspended Greece midfielder Andreas Samaris on Tuesday. However, Galatasaray's recent away form in the Champions League is particularly poor -- they are without a win in nine attempts.
Champions League: Manchester United make return, City host Juventus
Group D
At Moenchengladbach: Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) v Juventus (ITA)
Last season's Champions League runners-up Juventus can qualify for the last-16 if they beat Moenchengladbach and Sevilla lose to Manchester City. Juve and Borussia drew 0-0 in Turin in what was the German club's first point in three games. Juventus needed an injury-time goal to beat city rivals Torino at the weekend with on-loan Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado scoring his first goal in 38 games. They will be without Germany midfielder Sami Khedira who tore his calf in that game. Under caretaker coach Andre Schubert, Gladbach have climbed from bottom of the German league to fifth.
At Seville: Sevilla (ESP) v Man City (ENG)
City kept their hopes alive thanks to Kevin de Bruyne's injury time strike in a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Spaniards last time out. On Tuesday, they will again be without the injured Sergio Aguero, whilst David Silva remains doubtful due to a sprained ankle. Jesus Navas will return to his home city to take on the club where he spent ten years before joining City. Sevilla have injury problems as top scorer Kevin Gameiro misses out due to a hamstring problem picked up in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Villarreal.
Juventus can qualify for the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday while Real Madrid and PSG meet in a heavyweight clash in Spain. Manchester United host CSKA Moscow looking to end a 295-minute goal drought.
Group A
At Livv: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Malmo (SWE)
Cut adrift by PSG and Real Madrid, Shakhtar and Malmo are barring an upset in a scrap for a Europa League spot. Deposed Swedish champions Malmo edged Shakhtar 1-0 a fortnight ago, but their hosts are in buoyant form after a 7-1 rout, their seventh straight win, in the Ukrainian top flight at the weekend. Alex Teixeira's double took his tally to 18 goals in 12 league games.
At Madrid: Real Madrid (ESP) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
A return to his former club for PSG's Angel Di Maria, who got the goal in the French champions' 1-0 win at Rennes on Friday to keep Laurent Blanc's men flying high at the top of Ligue 1. "I don't know how the people will react and how they will treat me when I go back," said Di Maria. On seven points apiece, either PSG or Real can qualify with a win combined with defeat for Malmo. Real warmed up with a 3-1 win over Las Palmas to keep them on top of La Liga on goal difference. PSG held Real to a goalless draw at Parc des Princes last time out.
PSG scalp first step toward European glory for Madrid
Group B
At Manchester: Man Utd (ENG) v CSKA Moscow (RUS)
United have not scored in any competition since matchday three when Anthony Martial's equaliser saw these sides share the spoils 1-1 in Moscow, leaving both clubs on four points at the halfway stage. CSKA are top in Russia after an 11th win in 14 games on Saturday. After three straight 0-0 draws the key enigma for United is whether boss Louis Van Gaal persists with misfiring Wayne Rooney as centre-forward with Martial operating on the left.
At Eindhoven: PSV Eindhoven (NED) v Wolfsburg (GER)
Bottom of the group on three points, Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven know a home win over leaders Wolfsburg will see them draw level with the Germans. On Saturday, PSV gave up a three-goal lead to bottom side De Graafschap before regrouping to clinch a remarkable 6-3 victory. Third in the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg also needed a late winner against Bayer Leverkusen delivered by German international Julian Draxler. Wolfsburg beat PSV 2-0 in Germany just two weeks ago with late goals from Bas Dost and Max Kruse.
Giants collide: Champions League finalists take on Europa winners
Group C
At Astana: Astana (KAZ) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Atletico Madrid will look to build on their 4-0 demolition of Astana last time out. Atletico are level with Benfica on six points and the 2014 finalists will be eager to make amends for Saturday's 1-1 draw at Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga. Competition debutants Astana, who will again be without banned Ghanaian forward Patrick Twumasi, picked up their only point at home to Galatasaray on matchday two.
At Lisbon: Benfica (POR) v Galatasaray (TUR)
A first win in 11 European matches revived Galatasaray's challenge for a top-two finish as Benfica dropped their first points when the sides met in Turkey a fortnight ago. That defeat was followed by a 3-0 reverse against Sporting which snapped Benfica's 55-match unbeaten league run at home and they will be without suspended Greece midfielder Andreas Samaris on Tuesday. However, Galatasaray's recent away form in the Champions League is particularly poor -- they are without a win in nine attempts.
Champions League: Manchester United make return, City host Juventus
Group D
At Moenchengladbach: Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) v Juventus (ITA)
Last season's Champions League runners-up Juventus can qualify for the last-16 if they beat Moenchengladbach and Sevilla lose to Manchester City. Juve and Borussia drew 0-0 in Turin in what was the German club's first point in three games. Juventus needed an injury-time goal to beat city rivals Torino at the weekend with on-loan Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado scoring his first goal in 38 games. They will be without Germany midfielder Sami Khedira who tore his calf in that game. Under caretaker coach Andre Schubert, Gladbach have climbed from bottom of the German league to fifth.
At Seville: Sevilla (ESP) v Man City (ENG)
City kept their hopes alive thanks to Kevin de Bruyne's injury time strike in a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Spaniards last time out. On Tuesday, they will again be without the injured Sergio Aguero, whilst David Silva remains doubtful due to a sprained ankle. Jesus Navas will return to his home city to take on the club where he spent ten years before joining City. Sevilla have injury problems as top scorer Kevin Gameiro misses out due to a hamstring problem picked up in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Villarreal.