Barcelona are on the verge of creating an unwanted European Champions League record — they need victory against Werder Bremen on Tuesday to avoid being the first defending champions not to reach the knockout stages.
Bremen only need a point from the match at the Nou Camp to join English champions Chelsea from Group A in the next round.
Arsenal, the club Barcelona beat in May’s final, also face a crucial game but only need a draw at FC Porto on Wednesday.
Manchester United, Benfica, AS Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, AEK Athens and Lille are also in contention to qualify as the final round of group games approach.
Barcelona are third in Group A with eight points — two points behind Chelsea and Werder Bremen — and warmed up with a 1-1 draw with Levante in the Spanish league on Saturday.
”We’re not worried nor are we frightened,” Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said. ”We have, as always, respect for the opposition. The only thing which worries me is leaving a good impression and doing my job well.”
Bremen drew confidence from their 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
”The first half was world-class,” Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese said. ”If we play like that in Barcelona, we have good chances to advance.”
Striker Miroslav Klose — the leading scorer at the World Cup — has six goals in Bremen’s last four games and played a role in eight of the team’s last nine goals.
The two drew 1-1 in Bremen on September 27, with Lionel Messi scoring an 89th-minute equaliser for Barca.
Joining Chelsea in the next round are Bayern Munich and Inter Milan from Group B; Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven from Group C; Valencia from Group D; Lyon and Real Madrid from Group E; Celtic from Group F; and AC Milan from Group H.
The third-placed clubs in each of the eight groups will drop down to the Uefa Cup — and Bordeaux in Group C and Steaua Bucharest in Group E have already secured their place.
Group G is the only one to be decided on the final day. Arsenal and Porto have 10 points, with CSKA on eight and Hamburg with zero.
Victory for Arsenal or Porto will give them first place, while a draw will carry both clubs through, with the Gunners finishing first. CSKA Moscow can only advance if they beat Hamburg and either Porto or Arsenal loses.
Arsenal will be without suspended striker Thierry Henry, but carry the momentum from their victory over north London rivals Tottenham 3-0 in the English Premier League on Saturday without the Frenchman, who was missing because of a neck injury.
”We did our job but need to continue — on Wednesday we have a very difficult game against Porto away to decide our future in the Champions League, but we go there to come back with the result,” Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva said.
Benfica again find themselves poised to eliminate Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Portuguese club’s 2-1 win in the final group rotation last season at the famed stadium ensured United missed out on the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 10 years.
Benfica then went on to eliminate 2005 champions Liverpool before losing to Barcelona in the quarterfinals.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was unhappy with his side’s missed chances in their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, which gave them a six-point lead in the Premier League.
”This is a game you cannot trifle with,” he said. ”It is too important for us. If you get chances take them — and I think we have got a chance.”
AEK Athens are one win away from advancing to the knockout stages for the first time. AEK are in second place in Group H with seven points — thanks to their 1-0 win over AC Milan two weeks ago — and have one point more than Lille. AEK are at Anderlecht on Wednesday and Lille travel to AC Milan.
AEK only have to match Lille’s result to advance. The French club will go through if the two finish level on points.
AS Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk are in contention to join Valencia in advancing from Group D on Tuesday. Roma only need a draw at home to Valencia to advance — but if they lose and Shakhtar beats Olympiakos, the Ukraine club will advance.
Bayern Munich host Inter Milan on Tuesday to decide the winner and runners-up of Group B. Bayern only need a draw to finish first.
Sporting only need a draw at home to Spartak Moscow to qualify for the Uefa Cup.
In Group C, PSV host Bordeaux and Liverpool go to Galatasaray on Tuesday. Liverpool have already won the group. — Sapa-AP