UEFA Champions League Preview Matchday 6
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John Obi Mikel will be looking to rectify Chelsea’s inconsistencies in the Champions League on Tuesday night when his side takes on CFR Cluj in a do or die match.
Souleymane Diawara will also prove vital in the Bordeaux clash against Roma as a win would take them into the next round.
MTNfootball.com looks at the matches to take place on Tuesday night.
Group A
Chelsea vs CFR Cluj
The mid section of Chelsea’s Champions League group campaign has been wrought with inconsistencies, which now puts them in an awkward position this Tuesday when they face Romanian Champions CFR Cluj in a must win match on the final evening of the group.
John Obi Mikel has been shown up twice against Roma and Bordeaux, and while Cluj might not pose the same threat as those two teams technically, tactically they could frustrate the Nigerian.
When the two sides played to a goalless draw in September Romania Cluj defended superbly and could very well deploy a similar tactic come Tuesday night.
Didier Drogba could again be resigned to the bench for the fact that Nicolas Anelka has been finding goals at will of late. This does not bode well for the Ivorian, through what has been one of the most trying times of his four seasons at Chelsea.
Cluj do not have anything to play for and will look back satisfactorily on their first journey in the Champions League. Cjuj’s Burkina Faso striker, Yssouf Kone, could well be motivated by the fact that should they take any points off Chelsea it could ultimately end the English club’s Champions League dreams.
AS Roma vs Bordeaux
Roma have one foot in the next round of the competition after turning what looked like an early exit from the Champions League into a scintillating run of key wins which have put them on top of the group.
At the Stadio Olimpico all Roma need is a point to qualify them for the next round.
Bordeaux will not want to think about anything less than a win although they were humbled by a 3-1 defeat at home earlier in the group to Roma and Souleymane Diawara will know that he has a tough game on his hands.
The Senegalese international did well to stop Nicolas Anelka two week ago, as he managed to curtail the threat of Frank Lampard getting the ball to Anelka when Bordeaux held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw.
Diawara now has the assignment of ensuring that Francesco Totti is unable to set free Matteo Brighi who has been scoring at will in Serie A and the Champions League.
The defender should also watch his tackles as he does not want to give away free kicks in close proximity to goal as Totti has been making them count in recent matches.
Bordeaux’s Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh was on target in a Ligue 1 win over Valenciennes this past weekend and he will be hoping, once again, to make Joann Gourcuff’s hard work count and convert the array of chances that do come his way.
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Group B
Werder Bremen vs Intern Milan
Werder will be playing for a place in the UEFA Cup while Inter are challenging for the top spot in the group.
Jose Mourinho knows that winning the Serie A is not really what his bosses want, what they really seek is Champions League glory.
Inter have been far from their best throughout the group stages although they have made it through to the knock out rounds, and while some of the big name Inter players have not been at their best Sulley Muntari has shined when he has played in the Champions League.
Muntari who has been scoring timely goals in Serie A for Inter recently will play a vital role against what is a very talented Werder midfield.
Mourinho knows that winning the group will give his team an easier path in the next round and three points is what he will want from the trip to Germany.
Panathinaikos vs Anorthosis Famagusta
Panathinaikos scored vital away wins against Werder Bremen and Inter Milan which has kept their Champions League hopes alive. The question now is whether they can end the fairy tale of the Cypriot dreamers Anorthosis Famagusta?
In the previous meeting Panathinaikos lost 3-1 but things will be different this time around thanks to Mozambique’s Junior Simao who defended with great merit in the Werder and Inter wins where he found his feet and helped his side re-launch their campaign.
One can also expect the South African winger Bryce Moon to perhaps come in later in the game and run at the tiring Cypriot defenders; a role which he played and executed well against Bremen.
Group C
FC Barcelona vs Shakthar Donetsk
This Group was settled a long time ago and with Barcelona assured of top spot it looks as though Samuel Eto’o could find himself rested, while there could be some game time for the Malian Seidou Keita and the Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure.
Donetsk are safely through to the UEFA Cup and Barcelona are heading to the knock out stages of the Champions League.
FC Basel vs Sporting Lisbon
All Sporting really need is a draw from this game to confirm themselves as the group’s runners up.
However should they lose and Shakthar produce a big win over Barcelona, Sporting could see themselves eliminated from the Champions League, though it looks very unlikely.
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Group D
PSV Eindhoven vs Liverpool
With Liverpool already in the knock rounds Rafael Benitez could in all likelihood field a make shift team, which could help the cause of the 22-year-old Moroccan Nabel El Zahr who looks to stake his place in the Reds’ starting eleven.
The creative El Zahr was a willing accomplice supporting Steven Gerrard in midfield during Liverpool’s weekend win over Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League, and it was his quick passing which lead to Gerrard scoring Liverpool’s third goal.
El Zahr could use the opportunity to play against a PSV team lacking in confidence to boost his own and get Liverpool to the top of the group.
PSV are playing for a UEFA Cup spot and their Ghanaian defender, Eric Addo, will be looking to improve his team’s fortunes. However, in the two Champions League games that he has featured for PSV they have lost both.
With places in the Liverpool starting eleven at a premium those given a chance on Tuesday will want to make it count, so Addo will again find himself being very busy.
Olympique Marseille vs Atletico Madrid
Marseille like PSV are battling for a place in the UEFA Cup. Their course has been hampered by the fact that their Senegalese hit man Mamadou Niang will not be available, after injuring himself during a weekend Ligue 1 victory against Nice.
Without Niang much of the attacking work will be left to Bakary Kone who is also carrying a niggling injury which he received in Marseille’s previous game against Liverpool.
Taye Taiwo has been good throughout for Marseille and his job at the back could be made easier by the fact that Atletico could well rest their stars for this one having already qualified for the next round.
Cameroon
Egypt
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Nigeria
South Africa
