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Arsene Wenger is concerned at the pile up of fixtures (AAP File)
Half of the last 16 places in the knockout stage of the Champions League are still up for grabs and will be decided this week after the final group games. Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain reached the knockout phase in the last round of games, joining defending champion Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona.
Among the big clubs, Arsenal will clinch qualification and top spot of Group F with a win or a draw at Napoli while AC Milan needs a draw at home against Ajax in Group H. After a shaky start to its campaign, Juventus will be through with a draw at Galatasaray in Group B. Here are five things to know about this week's matches in Europe's top competition:
Arsenal's tough schedule:
Arsenal may have 12 points in Group F, but the Gunners have yet to qualify for the knockout stage. Napoli and Dortmund are both three points behind Arsene Wenger's team, which only needs a draw to be guaranteed a spot in the round of 16.
Arsenal has also been the dominant force in the Premier League so far this season but Wenger is now concerned his players' tight schedule might take its toll.
After playing Everton on Sunday afternoon, the Gunners visit Napoli on Wednesday before a trip at Manchester City three days later.
"I would like that there is an ethics committee who looks if the clubs are in the right position and have the right protection for English football to do well," Wenger said. "It is a fact the way football is sold that every television (station) has its own rights. They don't care when you have already played. They think: `Is it a nice time to play on Saturday morning this game between Arsenal and Man City? OK.' They don't look to see if we played on Wednesday. The way football is sold does not protect you."
In a mess without Messi:
Without injured forward Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Victor Valdes, Barcelona has lost back-to-back games for the first time since March and now finds itself needing a point against Celtic to ensure it finishes first in Group H on Wednesday.
Barcelona rallied for a 4-1 win at third-tier Cartagena on Friday in its Copa del Rey opener, but doubts still linger over whether Gerardo Martino's side can recover its dominant form without Messi, following defeats at Ajax in the Champions League and Athletic Bilbao in Spain.
Barcelona may only need a draw, but anything less than a victory would hardly be tolerated by the always demanding Camp Nou crowd.
"We have analyzed what we did wrong and now we can look forward to how we can improve," said Barcelona midfielder Alex Song. "We want to win the game (vs. Celtic) and have a good performance. We have a lot to show after the last game in the Champions League."
Barcelona will be hoping to recover midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez after both were rested on Friday to heal niggling muscle injuries. AC Milan hosts Ajax on Wednesday also needing a draw to finish the group in second place and book a spot in the knockout rounds. But a third setback in four games for Barcelona would allow the Italian team to claim the group
with a victory.Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, already have first place in their respective groups locked up. That means both sides may opt to give playing time to their promising youth players like they did on Saturday in the Copa del Rey when Real started Jese Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata and Atletico started Oliver Torres and Javier Manquillo.
Dortmund's injury blight:
The good news for Borussia Dortmund is that a win at Marseille would guarantee progress to the second round because of the side's superior head-to-head record against both Arsenal and Napoli.
The bad news for coach Juergen Klopp, however, is that his side has been decimated by injuries, with Nuri Sahin and Sven Bender the latest to be likely ruled out of the game at the Stade Velodrome. Both midfielders hobbled off with ankle injuries during Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
"Miracles happen again and again but not so often," Klopp said about his hopes for the players' speedy recoveries.
Sahin and Bender join first-choice defenders Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic and Marcel Schmelzer on Dortmund's injury list, together with midfielder Ilkay Guendogan, giving Klopp a conundrum for Wednesday. Defender Manuel Friedrich, signed at short notice to cover the injuries, is not eligible for the Champions League.
Marseille is bottom of the group without a point with problems of its own. The French side fired coach Elie Baup on Saturday after losing 1-0 to Nantes the day before.
Balotelli's back:
After struggling with his form, temper and injuries, Mario Balotelli has rediscovered his scoring touch.
The Italy striker scored both goals in AC Milan's 2-2 draw at Livorno on Saturday and also hit the post, giving him four goals in the Rossoneri's last three matches - a sharp turnaround after a six-match scoreless streak in all competitions.
"I've always been fine," Balotelli said. "There were never any big problems like was written." Also at Milan, Kaka continues to show solid form after rejoining the club
from Real Madrid - he set up Balotelli's opener vs. Livorno - but the Rossoneri defense has been problematic. "We need to be more attentive when our opponents go on counterattacks," Balotelli said.
Different Priorities:
Paris Saint-Germain has nothing to gain from its last group game. The French club will finish top of Group C whatever the result of its match against Benfica on Tuesday. PSG coach Laurent Blanc is now more focused on the French league and said he won't play Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Lisbon.
"The French league is our goal for the end of this year since we got the job done in the Champions League," Blanc said. "I'll try to start the best lineup for the games in the French league in order to take points. I can already tell you that Ibra will skip the Lisbon match."
Ibrahimovic has proved instrumental in PSG's success this season, netting eight goals in the lucrative European competition to be the top scorer, tied with Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
PSG leads the French league but is under pressure from Lille and Monaco.
Published: Wednesday December 11, 2013 MYT 7:32:01 AM
Updated: Wednesday December 11, 2013 MYT 7:32:01 AM
Abandoned Galatasaray v Juve match to resume Wednesday
BY ECE TOKSABAY
Didier Drogba of Galatasaray (C) and team mates react as their match against Juventus is paused for 20 minutes due a heavy snowfall during their Champions League match in Istanbul December 10, 2013. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Galatasaray's Champions League Group B match against Juventus will resume on Wednesday after it was abandoned due to heavy snowfall in Istanbul, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Tuesday.
"The UEFA Champions League Group B fixture between Galatasaray and Juventus will continue on Wednesday from 1400 CET after Tuesday's match was abandoned due to snow," UEFA said on its website (www.uefa.com).
The game was halted in the 32nd minute at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi stadium with the score 0-0.
"The match was abandoned for tonight. The referee, in consultation with the team captains and coaches, agreed that the conditions were no longer playable," UEFA Media Officer Amanuel Abate said.
"The match will be played tomorrow. Weather conditions have been quite extreme."
Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca ordered both teams off the pitch to allow the lines to be cleared by groundstaff, but the match was called off after a 20-minute break.
Juventus need a point to join group winners Real Madrid in the last 16, while a Galatasaray victory would see them claim second place and a spot in the knockout stages.
Galatasaray-Juventus to kick off at 14:00CET as planned
Dec 11, 2013 11:31:00 AM
European football's governing body has made it clear that Tuesday's postponed clash in Istanbul will be played out on Wednesday afternoon
Uefa has confirmed that the Champions League encounter between Galatasaray and Juventus at the Turk Telekom Arena will resume on Wednesday at 14:00 CET.
There were doubts as to whether the crucial Group B encounter would go ahead due to the adverse weather conditions in Istanbul that prompted the postponment of Tuesday's game, but it's now been made clear that the pitch is in good enough condition for the game to go ahead.
The match had been abandoned due to heavy snowfall in the Turkish capital, with referee Pedro Proenca ordering the players off the field in the 31st minute.
Ground staff entered the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi pitch to clear the lines but play was ultimately unable to resume, as both captains and the match officials agreed that the pitch had become dangerous to continue.
The game will therefore resume on Wednesday from the 32nd minute, with the score 0-0.
Juventus need a point to join group winners Real Madrid in the knockout phase, while a Galatasaray victory would see the hosts claim second place at the expense of the Italian champions.
Napoli 2-0 Arsenal: 10-man Gunners go through despite two-goal defeat
Arsene Wenger's side suffered defeat in Italy, with Mikel Arteta shown a red card in the second half, but the result still seems them qualify at the Italian side's expense
Arsenal qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League despite suffering defeat in Napoli on Wednesday night.
Second-half strikes from Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon sealed the win for Rafael Benitez's side but Dortmund's victory over Marseille meant that the Serie A outfit had to settle for a place in the Europa League after finishing third in the group.
The Argentine was devastated after the Partenopei became the first team in the history of Europe's premier club cup competition to be eliminated after amassing 12 points
Gonzalo Higuain has voiced his frustration with Napoli's Champions League exit after they had to settle for third spot in their section behind Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.
The Serie A side beat the Gunners 2-0 on Wednesday evening to make it 12 points from six games in Group F, but crashed out nonetheless as they needed a win by at least three goals to progress on account of Die Schwarzgelben's 2-1 win over Olympique de Marseille
"Not going through is incredible. It is an injustice, really," Higuain was quoted as saying on the official Uefa website.
"Going out with 12 points – winning four games in such an immensely difficult group with two sides as strong as Arsenal and Dortmund – when you see teams going through with only one or two wins, with six or seven points, it's disappointing.
"It cannot be anything else but bad luck, because to win four games out of six and be eliminated is not something that happens often."
Napoli last made it to the Champions League round of 16 in 2011-12 when they were eventually beaten by Chelsea.
The Armenian was overjoyed after Kevin Grosskreutz's late winner at the Stade Velodrome earned Die Schwarzgelben a place in the last 16 of Europe's premier club cup competition
Henrikh Mkhitaryan feels Borussia Dortmund have silenced their doubters by reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League courtesy of Wednesday's 2-1 dramatic win over Olympique de Marseille.
Last season's losing finalists were on the verge of elimination as they were drawing 1-1 at the Stade Velodrome, while Napoli were defeating Arsenal at the San Paolo.
However, Kevin Grosskreutz's 87th-minute winner saw Jurgen Klopp's men sensationally leapfrog both the Partenopei, who bowed out, and the Gunners to progress to the round of 16 as winners of their pool.
"It was a tough group this year and maybe there were people who doubted that we could finish top or even second this time. Perhaps we pulled off the impossible," Mkhitrayan told the Uefa website.
"It was important to finish top because Dortmund were finalists in this competition last year. I'm very proud we got it because throughout the group stage we've had problems, with red cards, injuries and so on. In spite of that, we still had players who could come in and play a great game.
"We're very proud. We played a great game and, although we didn't score all our chances, we managed to score a second goal.
"We could have ended up first or third in the group, but we did our job well and took first place."
Dortmund resume their Bundesliga campaign Saturday when they travel to Hoffenheim.
Arsène Wenger said SSC Napoli "can feel very hard done by" to bow out with 12 points after Arsenal FC lost to the Partenopei, who "must be proud of what we have done".
Rafael Benítez, Napoli coach
This game will increase our confidence, this is the key. Here at Napoli we are trying to develop something and the boys showed we are on the right track. We must be proud of what we have done so far.
We should have scored our first goal earlier in order to have more time to push. Five minutes before the final whistle it was hard to say "keep pushing" because Marseille and Dortmund were drawing 1-1 and Arsenal are dangerous on the counter and could have scored. In any case, the team made a tremendous effort, we deserved to win and qualification would have been well-deserved.
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager
We're happy to be through. We took the game seriously and we were focused, but perhaps we dropped physically in the second half. They played very well and we were on edge, but in the end we're happy to get through.
It's a hard situation in football when you have to decide whether to attack or defend. As long as we didn't score they had a chance. Perhaps Dortmund being level for as long as they were caused them to relax a bit too – who knows?
When you win the group you know you have done a good job. Coming second means you have to hope for a good draw. I feel sorry for Napoli. It was a difficult group and three teams have finished on 12 points. One team had to be knocked out, but they can feel very hard done by to be that team.
Wenger and Pellegrini... welcome to your Champions League nightmare! Sportsmail's ultimate lowdown on the European superpowers awaiting City and Arsenal
By ADAM CRAFTON PUBLISHED: 12:10 GMT, 12 December 2013 | UPDATED: 12:32 GMT, 12 December 2013
When the balls were drawn on a steamy August afternoon in Monaco, both Manchester City and Arsenal would have settled for second place in their respective groups.The cream of Germany was expected to rise, as Manchester City were confronted by the holders, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal were pitted with last season's runners-up, Borussia Dortmund.Yet now, there will be regrets.
Pointing it out: But James Milner and Manchester City toppling Bayern wasn't enough to win them the group
On strike: Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain (right) almost put Arsenal out of the Champions League altogether
Manchester City achieved the improbable in Munich, recovering from 2-0 down to win 3-2. They scored more goals in the group phase than all clubs save for Real Madrid and even in second place, their fifteen point return was better than that of five group winners, including Barcelona. Having achieved all that, it seems quite regrettable that City failed to push on and score a fourth in Munich.As for Arsenal they were too comfortable, drifting through the second-half and Napoli, inevitably, made them pay. From here, it may be nigh-on impossible. The two sides will learn their fate on Monday December 16, with the last 16 draw in Nyon, Switzerland.Manuel Pellegrini and Arsene Wenger, welcome to your worst nightmare...
Pellegrini unaware City needed one more goal to overtake Bayern
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World star: In Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid boast one of the planet's best players
Real Madrid
Reason to be fearful: Cristiano Ronaldo. A goal-scoring machine. Thirty-three goals for club and country. And it's December. Oh, and that £86million Gareth Bale chap isn't too bad either. Nor is the manager, Carlo Ancelotti, who twice won the UEFA Champions League with AC Milan.
European Pedigree: The most successful club in the history of the competition, having won the European Cup nine times. But by next May, it will be twelve years since Real last won the competition, or even reached the final. La Decima is the obsession in the Spanish capital.
Three to watch:Ronaldo, of course. He has fifteen goals in his last eight matches, including three hat-tricks. He must be a shoe-in for the Ballon D'Or. A Bale return to England would be compelling viewing, particularly at Arsenal. And Luka Modric would receive an equally generous welcome from the Emirates crowd.
Earning his Spurs: £86million man Gareth Bale would receive a hostile reception at the Emirates
Champions League form: The best in the competition. Sixteen points from eighteen and a +20 goal difference. They went to Hell and ended up in Heaven, thrashing six past Galatasaray in Istanbul. Also overcame Juventus in the Bernabeu.
Danger rating: 9/10
Reason to be cheerful: The tenth Champions League has become such an obsession in Madrid that the pressure is now huge on the players to deliver. They have been unable to for over a decade. And there are question marks defensively, with Sergio Ramos perhaps heading for the exit door next summer.
Making his point: Carlo Ancelotti's men had the best record in the group stage of any side in the tournament
Looming: Will either of the English sides get Barcelona, armed with Lionel Messi?
Barcelona
Reason to be fearful: In Catalonia, they bristle at suggestions this Barcelona team is approaching the end of their cycle of dominance. The 7-0 aggregate defeat by Bayern in last season's semi-finals will have stung - we expect a response and a fourth Champions League trophy in nine years would be the perfect riposte.
European pedigree: Perhaps a surprise that a club of Barcelona's size only have the four Champions League titles, three of which have come in the last decade.
Three to watch:Lionel Messi's return from injury will be pivotal, but Neymar isn't doing too badly in his absence, netting three against Celtic on Wednesday. He will hope to score more consistently in the second-half of the campaign. Andres Iniesta, as ever, will look to pass the other side off the park.
Jumping for joy: Brazilian £50million star Neymar is just coming into form for Barcelona
Champions League form: Not as invincible as previous years, and have come unstuck away from home. Defeat at Ajax, draw at Milan. Just a 1-0 victory at Celtic. At the Camp Nou, it's a different story, with thirteen goals in their three home matches.
Danger rating: 8/10
Reason to be cheerful: Tata Martino is inexperienced in the Champions League - perhaps this may be exposed in the latter stages of the competition. Can also be defensively vulnerable, but that has always been the case with this Barcelona team - you just need to get the ball off them, first...
Pass master: Andres Iniesta will, as ever, be a major thorn in the side for anyone Barcelona meet
Talisman: Diego Costa has been a huge part of Atletico breaking the Barca-Real stronghold in Spain
Atletico Madrid
Reason to be fearful: Some might suggest Atletico to be the easiest of the possible draws for City or Arsenal. Their form suggests otherwise. Level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga, Atletico have strolled through to the knockout round of the Champions League - and this is despite selling Falcao last summer.
European pedigree: After two Europa League triumphs in the last four years, Atletico are now staking their claim in the elite competition. Runner-up in the 1974 European Cup final, where they were beaten by Bayern Munich.
Three to watch: Diego Costa has scored in all but three of the matches in which he has appeared this season, netting nineteen goals in eighteen appearances. David Villa adds quality and experience, while young midfielder Koke is attracting the attention of Manchester United. Oh, and manager Diego Simeoneknows a thing or two about upsetting English opposition.
Star quality: David Villa's experience and striking talent make him a frightening prospect for English sides
Champions League form: A points haul only matched by Real Madrid, after five wins and one draw rewarded Atletico with sixteen points and top spot in Group G.
Danger rating: 8/10
Reason to be cheerful: Perhaps an over-reliance on Diego Costa but make no mistake, this would be an immensely tricky assignment for the English sides.
Making his point: Young midfielder Koke has shown immense promise in the Atletico midfield
Raise a hand: Zlatan Ibrahimovic still has the ability to create magic moments out of nothing
Paris Saint-Germain
Reason to be fearful: Moneybags PSG continue to grow as a European force and they continue to add quality to their squad.
Top of the French League, easily through the group stages - and they have Zlatan.
European pedigree: A UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and an Intertoto Cup in the late Nineties and early Noughties is the extent of PSG's European success. That should soon improve.
Three to watch:Zlatan Ibrahimovic has twenty-five goals for club and country this season, while Edinson Cavani has made an inspired start to his time in France, already scoring fifteen goals.
Thiago Silva is a centre-half of real authority at the back.
Mind over matter: Uruguayan star Edinson Cavani has had a blistering goalscoring start to live at PSG
Champions League form: A breathtaking start, with three wins in a row and twelve goals in their opening matches at home to Benfica, away to Olympiakos and away to Anderlecht. Since then, it' slipped a little, with defeat to Benfica this week, but the hard work had already been done.
Danger rating: 7/10
Reason to be cheerful: Is the quality of Ligue 1, week in, week out, sufficient to prepare PSG for what will be expected in the latter stages of this competition? And what happens if Zlatan has one of those sulky nights?
Look to the stars: Rock-solid centre back Thiago Silva is Brazil and PSG skipper, marshalling the back-line
Winged wonder: French superstar Franck Ribery is up for the Ballon D'Or alongside Messi and Ronaldo
Bayern Munich
(Available to Arsenal only - Manchester City cannot draw as they were in the same group as the German side)
Reason to be fearful: European Champions, Treble winners and now they have arguably the best coach in the world. Unbeaten in the Bundesliga since October 2012.
European Pedigree: Current holders of the UEFA Champions League and five time winners.
Three to watch:Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are the wizards of the wing but quality and class oozes throughout this Bayern team.
From the presence of Manuel Neuer, through to Philip Lahm and then that powerful midfield with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez, Bayern are so strong.
Wave it off: Pep Guardiola has enforced his overwhelming style of football onto Bayern Munich
Champions League form: Immaculate - until Manchester City came to town. Ten wins in a row in the competition prior to Tuesday evening's remarkable turnaround. Lucky to top the group in the end.
Danger rating: 9/10
Reason to be cheerful: Bayern may have switched off but Arsenal went to Munich and won 2-0 in March in the second leg of the knockout round. Gave the Germans an almighty fright.
On strike: Dutch star Arjen Robben cutting inside from the right wing is one of Bayern's major attacking threats
Hitman: Polish striker Robert Lewandowski's prowess in front of goal is lethal for Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
(Available to Manchester City only - Arsenal cannot draw as they were in the same group as the German side)
Reason to be fearful: Runners-up last year and their pace and movement on the counter-attack can be sensational. Demolished Real Madrid in last season's semi-finals and continue to flourish in this competition despite high-profile sale of Mario Gotze.
European Pedigree: Winners in 1997 but their return to prominence under Jurgen Klopp suggests they are here to stay.
Three to watch:Robert Lewandowski continues to fire the goals, with fifteen this season, while Marco Reus, who is being monitored by Manchester United, has netted nine from the wing. Summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan has helped offset the loss of Gotze.
Shout it out loud: Marco Reus is one of Dortmund's main attacking threats, netting nine goals this season
Champions League form: Pushed all the way by Arsenal and Napoli, and only a late, late goal in Marseille confirmed qualification.
Danger rating: 7/10
Reason to be cheerful: Ten points off the pace in the Bundesliga and defeat at home to Arsenal showed that Dortmund can be exposed. Manchester City may see the German side as a negotiable tie.
Silky skills: Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan (left) challenges for the ball with Marseille's Benjamin Mendy
The coach was furious with the hosts' time-wasting tactics at San Siro, but praised his team for playing "twice as good" as the Rossoneri
Ajax boss Frank de Boer has slammed AC Milan for playing "anti-football" after a 0-0 draw saw his side knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Riccardo Montolivo was sent off for a terrible challenge on Christian Poulsen midway through the first half at San Siro but a valiant defensive effort saw the Rossoneri clinch second spot in Group H and scrape through to the last-16.
De Boer told NOS: "Uefa always talks about respect, but if even the ballboys don't provide us the balls if we're in a hurry. They stalled the match for 20 minutes, but there was only five minutes extra-time. It's a disgrace.
"It was rather difficult after the red card. We had to search how to play. We needed a bit of luck, but we didn't get it. We had some chances, but unfortunately anti-football won today.
"Milan played their game with 10 men with their back against their own box. I'm proud of the boys and how they fought. It just felt like we played in a theatre tonight, what with all these tricks of Milan's.
"It's experienced by Milan, but the ref allowed it. The fact that he gave red had nothing to do with it. A red card is a red card. [Mario] Balotelli should have gotten red as well after he kicked Daley Blind. He didn't have any intention to play the ball.
"At these moments, the ref let the game slip out of his hands. The Milan goalkeeper took a minute for every goal kick. We were twice as good as Milan. It's something positive, but at this point it's dissapointing."
Ajax's third-place finish in Group H sees them drop into the Europa League.
It was a mudslide' - Conte insists Juventus-Galatasaray clash should have been called off
By Henry Jackson201
Dec 11, 2013 4:13:00 PM
The Old Lady were eliminated from the Champions League after Wesley Sneijder's late goal, but Conte insists his side were hampered by the condition of the playing surface
Juventus head coach Antonio Conte believes his side's 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League should never have been played.
The Turin giants were knocked out of the competition after Wesley Sneijder scored a late winner at Turk Telekom Arena, sending the home fans into raptures in treacherous wintry conditions in Istanbul.
Conte was outraged that the game went ahead because of the state of the pitch, but says he could not fault the effort of his players in such testing conditions.
"We certainly tried to have the game postponed and met with the Uefa delegate beforehand, but nobody wanted to listen. Roberto Mancini said it was dangerous and I agreed with him, I said "I think so". I don’t think my English is that bad..." he told Sky Sport Italia.
"At half-time I reiterated to the referee that it was not safe to play in these conditions. Didier Drogba said it was the same thing for both teams, but I pointed out it wasn't, because we were trying to play football.
"We are talking about a game played on a mudslide. What made me angry was yesterday the referee suspended play because it was 'dangerous' and all of a sudden today it was no longer 'dangerous'. Maybe I need to improve my English, as the officials don't seem to understand me very well.
"The only way of playing today was to kick it upfield and hope for the best. That is really not the sort of football we are accustomed to and it showed.
"I have to praise the lads, as they gave their all in a situation where we were enormously penalised, as the game resorted to a football brawl.
"I will say our mistake was to get to the last game and play everything here. With a decent pitch, I am sure we would've played our game. We couldn't have predicted these circumstances, so in my view our exit is unfair, but we also made life difficult for ourselves."
