Big shots facing a nervy last night
Tuesday 16 December 2008
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Sevilla may not be looking so cheery at the end of Matchday 5 (©Getty Images)
The UEFA Cup group stage concludes with the last round of fixtures on Wednesday and Thursday, and their could be anxious times ahead for European titans FC Schalke 04, Olympiacos CFP, Sevilla FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC, who have yet to confirm their passage to the Round of 32.
Milan battle
Wednesday pits AC Milan against VfL Wolfsburg in a tussle to finish top of Group E, a position which will guarantee the winner – or the German side in the event of a draw at San Siro – a tie against a third-placed side from another group in next Friday's draw for the Round of 32. Meanwhile, the teams finishing second in their sections will meet one of the third-placed finishers from the eight UEFA Champions League groups.
European champions
Former European champions Hamburger SV, Aston Villa FC and AFC Ajax are all level on six points going into the final Group F fixtures, while Club Brugge KV take on FC København in a winner-takes-all qualification battle in Group G. Likewise, KKS Lech Poznań will look to steal a Group H qualifying place at the expense of either RC Deportivo La Coruña or AS Nancy-Lorraine, who meet in Spain.
Schalke on edge
Thursday's ties look even more daunting than Wednesday's. Schalke need qualified Manchester City FC and FC Twente to avoid defeat against Real Racing Club and Paris Saint-Germain FC respectively if they are to cling on to third place in Group A, while Olympiacos's future in the competition hinges on avoiding defeat at home against Group B rivals Hertha BSC Berlin. Defeat at UC Sampdoria could trigger an early exit for Sevilla in Group C.
Tottenham nightmare
Group D is the tightest of all, with second-placed Tottenham hoping the roof does not cave in on them at home against FC Spartak Moskva, with both the Russian side and NEC Nijmegen capable of qualifying at their expense if results go against them. Sides from the same association cannot be paired together until the Round of 16, which will also be drawn in Nyon on 19 December.
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