European giants on the brink of Champions League knock-out stage

Manchester UnitedHamburg - European champions Manchester United and Italian title-holders Inter Milan are among some of the continent's leading teams hoping to ensure their passage to the Champions League knock-out stage in this week's penultimate group matches.

Nine-time European champions Real Madrid, meanwhile, badly need a win following two defeats to already-qualified Juventus, while England's remaining contingent of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are among other contenders looking to seal their progress.

United and Inter are among several sides who need just a point to reach the last 16 with a game to spare, joining Barcelona, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon who have already qualified.

Injury-plagued Real Madrid, however, face a daunting trip to Belarussian champions BATE Borisov in a crucial Group H on Tuesday.

Real could progress with a victory at BATE, providing Juventus avoid defeat away to Zenit St Petersburg. But two defeats to Juventus have dented Real's confidence, and a further setback would leave them facing a tough last game in the group at home to Zenit.

The Spanish champions are without injury victims Fabio Cannavaro, Ruben de la Red, Mahamadou Diarra, Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gonzalo Higuain. In addition, Wesley Sneijder is a doubt after taking a heavy knock in Saturday's 1-0 defeat of Recreativo Huelva.

Spain's Villareal are better placed for the visit of Manchester United, with both sides needing a point to advance from Group E.

United could be without winger Cristiano Ronaldo who limped out of Saturday's 0-0 draw at Aston Villa with a leg injury, later described by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson as "a mess." Forward Dimitar Berbatov is still out with a hamstring injury.

None of England's contenders were able to find the net on Saturday, and Arsenal suffered a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City after a turbulent few days which has seen defender William Gallas dropped and stripped of his captaincy.

Manager Arsene Wenger is urging his team to hold their nerve at home to Dynamo Kiev in Tuesday's Group G game.

"We have to keep our belief," Wenger said. "With a strong team in a strong club, you have sometimes to go through a period like this."

Arsenal need to win to be sure of progressing, although a draw would almost certainly be enough. Portugal's Porto could book their passage if they win at Fenerbahce and Dynamo fail to win at Arsenal.

Despite their 3-1 defeat to Roma three weeks ago, last season's losing finalists Chelsea will progress from Group A with a victory at Girondins Bordeaux on Wednesday.

"The defeat in Rome put a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths and was a bitter reminder that we have to keep on winning until the other teams crumble around us," captain John Terry said.

Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari will be without midfielder Michael Essien, who has damaged knee ligaments, while Ricardo Carvalho, Alex and Juliano Belletti are all doubtful.

Roma's qualification hopes now hinge on a win at Romanian side CFR Cluj, who stunned them 2-1 in Rome on their competition debut.

"(The game) is crucial because after the home win over Chelsea we rekindled our qualification chances," Roma captain Francesco Totti said. "We'll go to Romania and play our game."

A draw at home to Olympique Marseille will meanwhile be enough for Liverpool to go through in Group D, unless PSV Eindhoven beat Atletico Madrid.

Atletico, who also need a point to advance, have been ordered to play the behind closed doors as punishment for crowd incidents at October's home game against Marseille.

Inter Milan take on visiting Panathinaikos on Wednesday needing a point to advance from Group B.

The Greeks are still in contention four points behind, while Anorthosis Famagusta take on Germany's Werder Bremen in a tight battle for what will probably be second spot in the group.

Bayern Munich need a point at home to Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday to go through from Group F, while only a win can keep Fiorentina's qualification hopes alive as they welcome Olympique Lyon.

The French champions can comfortably settle for a draw to secure qualification ahead of a last match against the Bundesliga champions.

In Group C Wednesday, Sporting Lisbon take on Barcelona with both sides already qualified and fighting for the top spot in the group. (dpa)

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