PARIS — Barcelona and Bayern Munich look to clinch places in the Champions League last 16 Tuesday.
Arsenal and Chelsea also face vital encounters. Here we look ahead to Tuesday’s action:
Group E
With their final game against Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen knows it can ill afford a slip up against Belarusian champion BATE Borisov. Third-place Leverkusen trails Roma by a point but its away form in this season’s competition, including the play-off round, reads three defeats from three.
At Barcelona, Fresh off Saturday’s 4-0 mauling of archrival Real Madrid, Barcelona can wrap up top spot in Group E by avoiding defeat at the Camp Nou against Roma. Roma, firmly in the Serie A title hunt despite Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Bologna, can take confidence from the two sides’ 1-1 draw in Italy back in September, but Rudi Garcia’s men haven’t won a Champions League away game since 2010 and will also be without key attacking Gervinho and Mohamed Salah.
Group F
In London, Arsenal must avenge its opening game defeat to Dinamo Zagreb if the Gunners are to retain any hope of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Arsene Wenger’s side, which has reached the last 16 in each of the past 15 seasons, needs maximum points from its remaining two Group F matches — which includes overturning a 3-2 home defeat to Olympiakos when it heads to Greece in a fortnight.
At Munich, a draw at the Allianz Arena would send both Bayern Munich and Olympiakos through to the next round with a game to spare. Holding the Germans in check could be a tall order for Olympiakos though with Bayern, the competition’s leading scorer, having netted at least four goals in each of its past six home matches in the Bundesliga and Europe.
Group G
In Portugal, still unbeaten in Group G, Porto can clinch its place in the last 16 when it entertains Dynamo Kiev at the Estadio do Dragao.
Julen Lopetegui’s side needs only draw with the Ukrainians to ensure its progress and could guarantee first place if it betters Chelsea’s result in Israel.
Beaten narrowly at Chelsea three weeks ago, Dynamo will be eliminated if it fails to win and Chelsea betters its result.
Maccabi Tel Aviv would appear to be the ideal opponent for a still-fragile Chelsea side which could clinch qualification for the last 16 in Israel.
The Blues are second in Group G and a win away from home will take it through if Dynamo Kiev fails to beat Porto. A draw would also suffice if Dynamo lost, but it could also find itself back in third place if it loses and Dynamo win.
Maccabi is already out but a win and a defeat for Dynamo would keep alive its chances of finishing third.
Group H
At St Petersburg, the only team to win its first four group matches in this season’s competition, Zenit is already through to the last 16 and a draw at home to Valencia will guarantee top spot in Group H.
However, Valencia could join its host in reaching the last 16 if it wins and Gent does not beat Lyon in France. This will be the last Champions League match at the Stade de Gerland for Lyon. — AP
