This is a discussion on Champions League Wednesday Taster: Groups E-H within the Others forums, part of the European Soccer category; Wednedsay sees a host of intriguing clashes in the Champions League and, while some may seem to be foregone conclusions, ...
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Champions League Wednesday Taster: Groups E-H
Wednedsay sees a host of intriguing clashes in the Champions League and, while some may seem to be foregone conclusions, others are much tighter.
For example, Inter can take nothing for granted at home to Fenerbahce as they lead Group G by a single point and, while Arsenal may have utterly thrashed Slavia last time around, they may find it a bit tougher away from the Emirates. Join Goal.com as we examine the conclusion to Matchday 4 in this year's group stage... Group E Lyon - Stuttgart Barcelona - Rangers Stuttgart haven't quite got off to the best of starts at home or abroad. Die Roten may have managed a win at Nuernberg at the weekend, but still sit mid-table in the Bundesliga; a far cry from their title-winning adventures of last season. In Europe, meanwhile, they're dead last with zero points and just a single goal scored. That was away to Rangers on Matchday 1, the Glasgow side fighting back soon afterwards to win 2-1. Now, with a trip to Ligue 1 champions Lyon on the cards, the omens don't look good as they try to overturn the 2-0 home defeat suffered a fortnight ago. Lyon are still without Gregory Coupet and Cris but, nonetheless, have recovered from a dreadful Champions League start to notch up that win in Germany and continue their good home form: they are, once again, top of the Ligue. Barcelona, meanwhile, struggled away to Rangers in Matchday 3, drawing 0-0 against a "negative" Ibrox side - at least in the eyes of Lionel Messi - but will be confident back on home soil. The Gers re-found their feet at the weekend in the SPL, winning at home to Inverness, but still trail rivals Celtic by three points at the summit. They know, too, that Barcelona are a fully different proposition at the Nou Camp, but coach Walter Smith remains confident. Rangers are joint-top of the group with 7 points, having won their sole previous Group Stage away game 3-0 at Lyon - a quite remarkable result - but may find the going tougher here... Group F Manchester United - Dynamo Kiev Sporting Lisbon - Roma United ran out easy 4-2 winners in Kiev in the last meeting between the sides and, having also beaten Roma at Old Trafford two weeks prior, seem shoe-ins to qualify from Group F. A win here, coupled with a victory over Sporting in a fortnight's time, could also see them progres as group leaders, which is now the definite aim for Alex Ferguson's men. The Ukrainians, meanwhile, have zero points after their three outings, with caretaker boss Oleh Luzhny - filling in for the ill Jozsef Szabo - determined to turn his side's campaign around, regardless of the odds. Sporting, meanwhile, may feel themselves unlucky to have just three points. They ran United close on Matchday 1 before edging past Dynamo in Kiev; then came a 2-1 defeat at Roma, and suddenly qualification looks that much harder. Realistically, the Italian giants must fall in Lisbon this evening if Sporting are to progress, and as such this is perhaps the biggest tie of the evening. Roma disappointing conceded a late goal to draw 2-2 at Empoli this weekend, displaying that all is not simple for them away from the Stadio Olimpico - the Portuguese side may feel that this could work in their favour. Group G Internazionale - CSKA Moscow Fenerbahce - PSV Eindhoven Inter remain top of Serie A after 11 rounds of play, but the reigning Italian champions are finding Europe that bit tougher. Granted, they've won their last two games on the continent, but the 2-1 victory over CSKA Moscow most recently was far from a dominant performance. Still, Russia is seldom an easy place to go for any side; back at the San Siro, the nerazzurri will hope for a performance more akin to that of their 2-0 win over PSV on Matchday 2. The Muscovites, meanwhile, have just one point so far, and essentially need to win to keep their knockout round hopes going. Fenerbahce have a few injury issues to contend with as PSV come calling but, with five points so far, they can be very confident of qualification should they manage a win over the Dutch side. That victory over Inter on Matchday 1 was perhaps an unexpected bonus for the Istanbul outfit, who now have five points to Inter's six. PSV, meanwhile, could only manage a 0-0 draw against the Yellow Canaries back in Eindhoven. With Ronald Koeman now having departed for Valencia, too, they may find this match a difficult one in which to adjust. Group H Steaua Bucharest - Sevilla Slavia Prague - Arsenal Sevilla eased to a 2-0 lead against Steaua in Nervion before being pegged back to 2-1. Indeed, they were perhaps fortunate to hold on for the win that took them to six points from nine. Now, the rojiblancos head east under no illusions as to the challenge that lies ahead and, with coach Manolo Jimenez taking over from the departed Juande Ramos, they will hope to build on their 2-0 win over Real Madrid on Saturday. Steaua, meanwhile, have undergone their own managerial change of late, and are finding the going tough at home. They are a massive 15 points off the pace in the top division, albeit with two games in hand, and they realistically need a victory over the Andalucians if they're to salvage knockout round qualification and save their season. Slavia, meanwhile, won at home against the Romanians on Matchday 1 and, as they prepare to welcome Arsenal, may have hopes of another three points in Prague. However, the Gunners are massive, odds-on favourites for a reason, having smashed the Czechs 7-0 at the Emirates two weeks ago to continue their 100% record at the top of the group. 11 goals scored, 3 games won; it's all looking good, but 10 of those strikes came in London. They could only manage a late, close-fought win in Romania. Let's see if they can keep their nerve away from home this time. source: Goal.com |
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