Tottenham is anxious about the fitness of leading scorer
Harry Kane ahead of Real Madrid’s visit tomorrow in a game that could decide
the winner of Group H.
The teams are equal with seven points after three matches,
having drawn 1-1 at the Bernabeu two weeks ago, but this time Spurs might be
without Kane.
The England striker missed Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to
Manchester United on Saturday with a hamstring injury and his absence resulted
in a limited attacking display from Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup.
Madrid is experiencing domestic struggles of its own. It
fell eight points behind La Liga leaders, Barcelona after a surprising 2-1 loss
to Girona on Sunday.
However, both Tottenham and Madrid can play with the comfort
of a six-point advantage over Borussia Dortmund and Apoel, and either team can
advance to the knockout stage if it wins.
Manchester United and Manchester City will be aiming to
extend their perfect group stage records. A win for United against Benfica at
Old Trafford today could secure progression from Group A, while City can do the
same with a win at Napoli in Group F tomorrow.
Chelsea and Liverpool also sit atop their groups, though
with less of a cushion. The Blues can take a big step toward qualification
today just by avoiding defeat at Roma in Group C, while Liverpool must cash in
on its Group E clash against NK Maribor at Anfield tomorrow, with sterner tests
to come from Spartak Moscow and Sevilla.
Unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain has scored nearly 50 goals this
season and will be confident of sealing its place in the knockout stage with a
win against Anderlecht.
While Barcelona and Real Madrid remain in comfortable
positions to advance to the knockout stage, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla enter
the week needing good results to keep their hopes alive.
Atletico hosts Qarabag today bidding for its first win in
Group C, which has Chelsea and Roma at the top. Atletico, after a disappointing
league draw against Villarreal, trails Roma by three points and Chelsea by
five.
Barcelona, which leads Group D with nine points from three
matches, plays at last-place Olympiakos. This could be Napoli’s year in Serie
A, and it might be affecting its Champions League campaign.
After six years of domination by Juventus, the Italian
league title is a tight contest. Napoli beat Sassuolo 3-1 on Sunday to remain
three points ahead of Juventus atop the standings.
They face Group F leader, Manchester City in the Champions
League tomorrow, and Sarri admits his players are focusing more on domestic
matters than Europe’s elite club competition.
Juventus is away at Sporting Lisbon today as it aims to keep
within three points of leading Barcelona in Group D. Jupp Heynckes is bidding
to keep his perfect record since returning to Bayern Munich when his team plays
Celtic in Glasgow today.
Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed after Bayern was humbled by
Group B leader PSG but, in his fourth spell with the German champions, Heynckes
has restored order.
Bayern beat Celtic two weeks ago in Munich and a repeat will
likely ensure progression to the knockout stage.
The path to the round of 16 is not so simple for Leipzig in
Group G. The Champions League debutant got its first victory in the competition
two weeks ago against Porto, taking its tally to four points.
But with Besiktas out of sight with nine points and last
season’s semifinalist Monaco lurking, there is pressure on Leipzig to produce a
positive result from its return fixture with Porto.
Borussia Dortmund’s chances are slimmer as it chases its
first Group H win.
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