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Tuesday March 19, 2024

Real, Liverpool eye progress as Napoli fear exit

By AFP
November 21, 2017

PARIS: Holders Real Madrid and Liverpool headline a selection of teams who can secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.Besiktas are also within reach of a spot in the knockout phase, while Serie A high-flyers Napoli are in deep trouble.


Group E


Spartak Moscow v Maribor


Sevilla v Liverpool


The winner of Liverpool’s match at Sevilla will qualify. The two sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Anfield on the opening matchday, and another point for five-time European champions Liverpool would still see them book a last-16 spot for the first time since 2008/09 if Spartak lose at home to Maribor. Russian champions Spartak cannot be eliminated on Tuesday and would secure at least third place with a draw. Slovenian outfit Maribor have to win and hope Sevilla lose to Liverpool to stay in knockout round contention.


Group F


Manchester City v Feyenoord


Napoli v Shakhtar Donetsk


Serie A leaders Napoli host Shakhtar needing to win and score at least two goals to keep their hopes alive. The Italian side lost 2-1 in Ukraine in the reverse fixture, and need to level their head-to-head record with Shakhtar to take the group to a final matchday. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will wrap up top spot in the group with a home win over pointless Feyenoord, or with a draw if Shakhtar lose in Naples.


Group G


Besiktas v Porto


Monaco v RB Leipzig


Turkish champions Besiktas are on the cusp of the last 16 and will secure top spot with a draw. If Leipzig fail to beat Monaco, then they will finish in the top two regardless. Two-time champions Porto will book their ticket to the knockout stage with a victory in Istanbul if Leipzig do not win in the principality. Last season’s semi-finalists Monaco have to win and hope Porto do not to have any chance of replicating their feats from last term.


Group H


Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham


APOEL v Real Madrid


After their famous 3-1 win over the holders at Wembley last time out, Spurs just have to match Real’s result on Tuesday to secure first place. Zinedine Zidane’s Spanish champions will qualify with a win over Cypriots APOEL, and with a point if struggling Dortmund fail to see off Tottenham. A pair of draws against the Germans have kept APOEL’s slim chances alive, but they will be out if they do not pull off a shock win over Real.