Mid-week European preview of the Premier League clubs in action
Mid-week European preview of the Premier League clubs in action
By Jack Lacey-Hatton
December is a busy time in the English football calendar for leagues up and down the country.
However, European action will take a winter break following this week, when the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League group stages reach the final matchday.
The final qualifiers for the UCL round of 16 will be decided, while the Europa and Conference League groups will also wrap up.
Let’s look at the Premier League clubs flying the flag across the continent over the next few days and see which teams still need a result.
UEFA Champions League
As is increasingly becoming the norm in the Champions League, all four English clubs have safely navigated the group stage, even with one matchday still to play.
Manchester City, the first PL side in European action this week, travel to Germany on Tuesday to face RB Leipzig (5.45pm) knowing they will top Group A regardless of the result.
A thrilling 2-1 win against PSG last time out puts them on an unassailable 12 points, meaning Pep Guardiola has the option of rotating his team for their final European tie of 2021.
Title-rivals Liverpool are in a similar position in Group B and will go through as group winners.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have taken the Champions League by storm this year, winning all five of their first-round games.
A win against Milan, who still need a result to qualify, in the San Siro (8pm) would send them to the knockouts with a perfect record still intact.
Manchester United confirmed their qualification and top spot with an away win in Spain over Villarreal last time out.
They could still do with a result when they host Young Boys on Wednesday night (8pm) to keep up momentum following Ralf Rangnick’s appointment. Cristiano Ronaldo will also be wanting to chase down Robert Lewandowksi in the top goalscorer charts.
United will top Group F regardless of the result, as only the Spanish side can catch their points total and the Red Devils have a superior head-to-head record.
Heading into the final week of group games, the only English side who’s final UCL group position still to be decided is Chelsea.
The reigning European champions will make the long trip to Russia on Wednesday to face Zenit (5.45pm), with Thomas Tuchel’s side on top with 12 points.
Juventus also have 12, so the Blues will need to match the Italians’ result against Swedish side Malmo to finish first.
Topping the group will ensure they are seeded, along with their fellow Premier League clubs, and face a team who qualified second in their group in the Last 16 come February.
UEFA Europa League
West Ham have the luxury of a dead rubber in their final Europa League group game, having already assured top spot in Group H.
The high-flying Hammers host Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night (8pm), but manager David Moyes may well use the opportunity to rest some of his big hitters.
They are one of six teams still unbeaten in the group stage heading into matchday six.
It promises to be a far nervier night for Leicester City who still need a result to secure their qualification to the next phase.
The Foxes face a tricky-looking trip to Napoli (5.45pm), with just one point separating the two, City have eight with the Neapolitans on seven along with Spartak Moscow. Fourth-placed Legia Warsaw are still in the running with six points to their name.
This means a defeat for Leicester could see them exit the Europa League before the knockout stage begins, while finishing third would see them drop down to the Conference League.
UEFA Europa Conference League
England’s sole representative at this stage in the Europa Conference League are Tottenham who sit second in Group G after the first five games.
Antonio Conte’s team suffered a humiliating defeat at Slovenian minnows Mura last time out but could keep alive their hopes of European silverware with a win this week.
Spurs host French side Rennes, who have already qualified for the Last 16 as group winners, on Thursday night (8pm.
As long as they match the result Vitesse manage against Mura, Spurs will hold onto the runners-up spot and advance to the preliminary knockout round.
The format in the Conference league means they would then need to win this play-off, to make the last 16.
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