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De Boer: Ajax disappointed with Manchester City draw
The Amsterdam giants were hoping for more after going two goals up early on, and the former Netherlands international believes his team missed a chance to deal City a huge blow
Nov 7, 2012 11:37:00 AM
By Stefan Coerts
Frank de Boer has stated that Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League draw against Manchester City left the Ajax players somewhat disappointed.
Siem de Jong netted twice in the opening 20 minutes to gift the Dutch side a 2-0 lead, but Yaya Toure pegged one back for the Citizens before the break, with Sergio Aguero eventually restoring parity after the interval, much to the dismay of the Eredivisie champions.
"Before the match started, we would have taken a 2-2 draw here. But after the match I have the feeling that the players were actually disappointed with the result," De Boer stated at a press conference.
"We could have delivered a hammer knockout blow to City. It is a good sign that the players were disappointed with this result. We could have taken a giant step tonight.
"That they scored their second goal out of nothing was very disappointing for us. But you know when you play here, it will get tough."
Ajax take on Borussia Dortmund in their next Champions League match, and De Boer has not given up hopes of making it to the knockout stages just yet.
"We aim to stay in the Champions League, and although Dortmund are very strong, we proved over there that we are capable of playing good football."
Ajax sit third in Group D, trailing leaders Borussia Dortmund by four points with two games to go.
Juventus end European hoodoo, but late Moses goal leaves them with a mountain to climb
The Bianconeri despatched Nordsjaelland with some ease, but Shakhtar Donetsk's cruel late defeat leaves Antonio Conte's men needing two huge results to progress
Nov 8, 2012 9:00:00 AM
COMMENT
By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer
For a while there, it was suddenly looking rosy. Juventus were sitting pretty in second place as their players left the field following a routine 4-0 win over Nordsjaelland, and were ready to entertain Chelsea on matchday five safe in the knowledge that a win would take them into the last 16 of the Champions League.
But the Blues were not done. In the 94th minute of the European champions’ clash with Shakhtar Donetsk at Stamford Bridge, Victor Moses rose high to earn the home side a 3-2 win and simultaneously send Juve crashing back down to earth. One minute they were one step from qualification, now they are a giant leap from their goal.
The Bianconeri had done everything they could do on the night. From the moment Claudio Marchisio side-footed home Mauricio Isla’s low driven cross, the floodgates were always bound to open for a side who had drawn their previous nine European fixtures. Arturo Vidal even managed to double the lead in making a tackle, such was the tone of the evening, before Sebastian Giovinco finally broke his European duck by collecting Andrea Pirlo’s reverse pass with the outside of the boot and finishing with aplomb.
MATCH FACTS | Juve 4-0 Nordsjaelland
JUVENTUS
NORD'LAND
Shots
19
3
On Target
11
1
Possession
56%
44%
Corners
9
1
Bookings
2
0
<tbody>
</tbody>
It was all a far cry from the Parken Stadion a fortnight ago, where Juve failed to break down the Danes until 10 minutes from time, by which time Mikkel Beckmann had breached their own defence. The job they were completing with something to spare - stretching the opposition, playing penetrating through balls, getting in behind the defence inside the 18-yard area - was simply what they should have been doing in Denmark. They were dominant and destructive, but they were two weeks too late if they wanted to soften their path.
Going into the break 3-0 up, their job was already done and it was all about whether Shakhtar would be rewarded for their sometimes sumptuous football at the Bridge. As Fabio Quagliarella turned in a fourth, things were also going their way in England. It looked as though those dropped points in Copenhagen would not carry such a heavy punishment. But by the time both referees had whistled for full-time, Group E was suddenly looking daunting again.
Instead of standing one game away from the promised land, they are now facing the challenge of getting four points from their next two matches. Make no mistake, both Shakhtar and Chelsea will take their full complement of points from their clashes against Nordsjaelland, so the Bianconeri will have to do all the work themselves. They can certainly expect no favours.
As if facing the champions of Europe is not enough of a task, they must also travel to Donetsk to face a Shakhtar side who have practically dominated Chelsea over the course of their two clashes and have already proven once that their style of play is very tough for Juventus to handle. If any side is built to beat a team that play as Antonio Conte’s men do, it is the Ukrainian champions.
The Moses goal was a stroke of bad luck for Juve, but they cannot feel too hard done by. They are in the position they are in as a result of their own failings. Despite having had the benefit of playing Nordsjaelland twice already, they’re still playing catch-up, and the blame for that lies only with the Italians. A win and a loss is better than two draws, they say, and they are learning that right now to their detriment off the back of nine European games without a victory.
Wednesday night was about breaking a duck; for the first time since the summer of 2010, Juventus won a European fixture. But the job is only just starting. Nordsjaelland are no kind of preparation for the real task which lies ahead over the final 180 minutes of their group campaign, and Moses’ goal has doubled the work they have to do. They are in with a chance, but it remains a slim one.
Xavi: We must move on from Celtic defeat
The 32-year-old called on his side to forget their defeat in Scotland and focus solely on their next Champions League game in Russia
Juventus are world-class, says Beckmann
The Denmark international was impressed with the Scudetto holders, who dismantled Nordsjaelland 4-0 in Turin on Wednesday in the Champions League
Pellegrini targets top spot in Group C after securing Champions League progession
The Chilean coach is delighted that his Malaga side sealed their place in the knock-out stages of the competition, but has urged them to finish what they have started
Lucescu: We should have beaten Chelsea
The Shakhtar Donetsk head coach disagreed with Roberto Di Matteo's assessment that the Blues were good value for their 3-2 victory in the Group E clash at Stamford Bridge
Torres: Chelsea cannot repeat Shakhtar performance
The west London outfit needed a 90th-minute winner to beat the Ukrainian side on Wednesday evening and the Spaniard insists they must improve upon that showing
Willian: Chelsea loss a big blow for Shakhtar
The creative midfielder was frustrated with the Donetsk outfit's loss at Stamford Bridge, but remains hopeful they can reach the next round
Luiz: Chelsea will have gone backwards if they fail to retain Champions League
The 25-year-old centre-back has his sights set on becoming the first ever club to retain the title after the Blues secured an important win against Shakhtar at Stamford Bridge
Marchisio: Two more finals await Juventus
The Italy international has underlined the importance of his side's remaining group games after the Chelsea - Shakhtar match did not go their way
Yaya Toure: It's the referee's fault that Manchester City didn't beat Ajax
The 29-year-old midfielder believes poor officiating during Tuesday's Champions League draw with the Dutch outfit cost the Premier League side a crucial victory
Javi Martinez: I will only get better at Bayern
The Spanish midfielder is satisfied with his recent improvement at his new club, and revealed his delight with die Roten's 6-1 Champions League win over Lille on Wednesday night
Fabregas: There's no such thing as injustice or justice in football
The former Arsenal man feels that Barcelona lacked a killer-instinct in the 2-1 loss against Celtic, but is pleased with his side's displays so far this term
Lennon: Barcelona win one of the greatest nights in Celtic history
The Northern Irishman has admitted he will struggle to top Wednesday night's Champions League win over the Spanish giants for the remainder of his managerial career
Moses takes Chelsea a step closer to the promised land but Champions League luck will not last forever
The Blues put themselves in a healthy position in Group E following the former Wigan star's winner but the holders will need to improve if they wish to advance through the rounds
Vilanova: Nothing to blame Barcelona players for
The Blaugrana coach feels that his side deserved victory at Parkhead on Wednesday night, and refused to point his finger at any of his players after their continental defeat
Pellegrino: Valencia took important step with BATE win
The Los Che coach acknowledged his side's upcoming clash with Bayern Munich remains crucial to their qualification hopes, but was pleased to have beaten the Belarusians
Buffon: Juventus' destiny remains in our own hands
The experienced goalkeeper has made it clear that nothing has been lost yet for the Bianconeri, and they can still make it to the knock-out stages
Heynckes: Everything went like clockwork
The Bayern Munich coach saluted the motivation of his players after their victory and also highlighted the quality of their attacking play
Giggs hails Manchester United mentality after last season's Champions League disappointments
The veteran is delighted with the way that his side have bounced back from disappointment in the competition last year to qualify from Group H with a 100 per cent record this term
Juventus could have scored more than four, claims Alessio
The assistant coach was pleased with the number of chances the Bianconeri created and stated his side must now beat Chelsea in their next European encounter if they are to qualify
Moses delighted with last-gasp winner for Chelsea against Shakhtar
The 21-year-old came off the bench to head home Juan Mata's late corner against the tough opposition and continue his recent scoring spree, as the Blues move joint-top of Group E
Messi: The ball would not go in
The Argentine said his side played better in the defeat to Celtic than they did in their victory over the Glasgow side a fortnight ago, but that luck was not on their side
UEFA Champions League Group E preview: Crucial clash for Chelsea, Juve
19 November 2012
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres could be dropped to the bench for Tuesday's crunch Champions League tie with Juventus.
The Spaniard came off 28 minutes from the end of Chelsea's disappointing 2-1 loss at West Brom on Saturday after yet another fruitless afternoon in front of goal.
And with manager Roberto Di Matteo contemplating a change in system for the crucial clash at Juventus Stadium, Torres may be the man left out.
"Maybe we need to sacrifice a little bit the attacking options to go a little bit more defensive," Di Matteo said after the West Brom loss.
"We are playing a little bit different but we may have to go a little bit back to win games.
Group E is one of the most evenly poised of the eight pools, with Shakhtar Donetsk top on seven points from Chelsea and Juventus (both six).
A win for Di Matteo's side in Italy would ensure their progression to the last 16 ahead of the final round of fixtures.
The Blues looked far more dangerous at The Hawthorns when Daniel Sturridge replaced Torres, while the introduction of Oscar and Juan Mata also saw an improvement, yet Juventus away will pose a greater threat than in-form West Brom.
Antonio Conte's side are top of Serie A, having lost just one league game in their past 52.
Juventus dominated Lazio in a 0-0 draw on Saturday, with only goalkeeper Federico Marchetti sparing the visitors from defeat.
Likewise for Shakhtar, a win against Nordsjaelland (one point) would guarantee their spot in the next round.
The Ukrainian side have impressed as much as any in this year's competition, surprising many with their command of the group.
Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano is being tracked by a host of Premier League clubs but his primary goal will be firing Shakhtar into the next round when they face the Danish side in Cophenhagen on Tuesday.
Mircea Lucescu's side were desperately unlucky to go down 3-2 to Chelsea on the last matchday after a lion-hearted display at Stamford Bridge.
UEFA Champions League Group F preview: Valencia eye Bayern scalp
19 November 2012
Valencia coach Mauricio Pellegrino will seek retribution when his side hosts Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The former Valencia player will remember only too well the spot kick he missed against the German giants that decided the 2001 final.
Both teams are on nine points in Group F, while Belarusian side BATE Borisov (six) can ill-afford to lose at home to pointless Lille if they harbour hopes of making the last 16.
Valencia, who are struggling down in eighth in La Liga, don't have history on their side either having only defeated Bayern once in the sides' past eight meetings.
Last time they met in September, Bayern saluted 2-1 with goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos.
Jupp Heynckes' side are flying at the top of the Bundesliga and could well be strengthened by the return of Mario Gomez and Franck Ribery.
Gomez scored four goals against a regional side last week and would provide a huge boost up front after overcoming a long-term ankle injury, while Ribery is in line after a brief stint on the sidelines with bruised ribs.
Winger Arjen Robben, meanwhile, is unavailable after suffering a thigh injury playing for the Netherlands in last week's friendly against Germany.
Both sides will have one eye on BATE's result in Minsk, with a loss for the Belarusian champions meaning Valencia would go through regardless of what happens at the Mestalla.
Likewise for Bayern, a win in Valencia would seal safe passage for last year's Champions League runners-up.
BATE defeated Lille 3-1 in France when the sides met in September and the French side will have nothing to play for but pride on Tuesday.
UEFA Champions League Group G preview: Celtic aim for top spot
19 November 2012
Celtic could take surprise control of Group G if results go their way during UEFA Champions League action against Benfica on Tuesday.
Fresh from their historic victory over Barcelona on matchday four, the Scottish Premier League champions are in a solid position to qualify for the knockout phase of Europe's most illustrious club competition.
Neil Lennon's side have taken seven points from four matches, while Barcelona top the group with nine points.
Victory in the Portuguese capital, together with a Barcelona defeat, would not only guarantee qualification but it would see the 1967 European Cup winners go top.
And their form suggests another win could be on the cards, with the Glasgow giants unbeaten in six competitive fixtures.
However, Celtic will be facing a Benfica outfit desperate to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Despite Benfica making an unbeaten start in Portugal's top flight, Jorge Jesus' men have struggled to transfer that form into the Champions League.
The Lisbon-based club occupy third position, with one win, one draw and two defeats in four outings.
And with Barcelona their opponents on matchday six, Benfica are aware a loss could spell the end of their Champions League campaign.
In Group G's other fixture, Spartak Moscow welcome Barcelona to Russia.
Spartak may languish at the foot of the table but that is not a true reflection of how the Russian side have performed this year.
Unai Emery's men were unfortunate to taste defeat in their opening match against Barcelona, falling to a 3-2 loss at Camp Nou despite leading 2-1.
Spartak went on to lose two of its next three games but never looked out of place.
However, they will find the going tough on Tuesday with several players set to miss out.
Captain Sergei Parshivlyuk, leading striker Welliton, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Romulo, Aiden McGeady, Nicolas Pareja and Artem Dzyuba will watch from the stands, while all three goalkeepers are nursing injuries.
As for the Spanish giants, nothing less than a win would be expected by Tito Vilanova as they aim to avenge their defeat to Celtic.
Led by the prolific Lionel Messi, Barcelona continues to dominate in the attacking third but it is their defence which is causing the most concern.
Club captain Carles Puyol has stated publicly the defence needs to improve, highlighting the team's vulnerability at set-pieces.
"We have had a fantastic start," he said.
"Although we need to sort out the defensive situation and we are working on that.
"Generally the problems have been on set-plays where we have been caught out."
UEFA Champions League Group H preview: Three-way fight for second
19 November 2012
Galatasaray, Cluj and Braga are set to scrap it out for second place behind Manchester United in Group H of the UEFA Champions League.
English Premier League heavyweights United are eight points clear at the top of the group and have already secured passage to the knockout stages of the 2012/13 competition.
United's 100 percent record to date is a far cry from their dismal showing last term, when they were spectacularly dumped out at the first hurdle after finishing third behind Basel and Benfica.
Four victories from four matches played means Alex Ferguson's men are sitting pretty on 12 points, with Turkish giants Galatasaray second on four points, level with Romanian side Cluj, who are third.
Portuguese side Braga are just one point back in fourth spot, and cannot be discounted in the tight tussle to join United in the round of 16.
Cluj have a surprise 2-0 win at Braga on matchday one to thank for their competitive position in the group, a result which was followed by defeat at home to United and a credible 1-1 draw at Galatasaray.
They went down 3-1 in the return fixture against Galatasaray last time out, and now welcome Braga to Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu, followed by a daunting assignment away to United on the final matchday.
In less than ideal preparation for the key clash, Cluj went down 2-0 at home to Astra Giurgiu in domestic action on Saturday.
Braga meanwhile recorded a comfortable 3-1 win at lower-league club Pampilhosa in the Taca de Portugal.
The other game on Tuesday sees United travel to Galatasaray, a re-run of the two clubs' famous second-round meeting in the 1993/94 European Cup.
United gave up a 2-0 lead to be trailing 3-2 in the first leg at home, before scrambling a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford.
They were met with an extraordinarily hostile reception in the return fixture in Istanbul, and duly held to a 0-0 draw as the Turkish side progressed on away goals.
It may come as some relief to Ferguson that his team do not need a result this time around as they return to the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi 19 years later.
One man able to provide his insight into the clash is assistant manager Mike Phelan, who started the match alongside the likes of United greats Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona.
Remarkably, there is a chance Ryan Giggs, who patrolled the left flank in the same team, could feature on Tuesday, with the evergreen Welshman still playing at the highest level as he nears his 39th birthday later this month.
UEFA Champions League Group E wrap: Juve crush Chelsea
21 November 2012
Chelsea's defence of their Champions League crown was left in tatters as Juventus put the Blues to the sword in a convincing 3-0 win.
Fabio Quagliarella opened the scoring for the hosts in Turin on Tuesday, before Arturo Vidal and Sebastian Giovinco rounded off the victory.
The Blues' chances were almost dealt an early blow as Mirko Vucinic's clever back-post cross required Petr Cech to pull off a stunning point-blank save from Stephan Lichtsteiner.
The giant Chelsea shot-stopper was at the heart of the action, parrying well from Claudio Marchisio's first-time effort on 15 minutes.
At the other end, Oscar carried Chelsea's threat as he glided past several Juve defenders and released Eden Hazard, who seemed certain to score until Gianluigi Buffon's trailing leg diverted his low shot just wide.
It was not until the 35th minute that Chelsea mustered another clear-cut chance, Brazilian Oscar again threatening but seeing his shot cut off by Leandro Bonucci's well-timed tackle.
The deadlock was broken three minutes later in fortuitous circumstances, Quagliarella diverting Andrea Pirlo's tame 25-yard effort past a sprawling Cech to give Juventus the lead.
Chelsea's defensive line came under question straight after the interval as Gary Cahill appeared to tug the problematic Vucinic to the ground in the penalty area, though no spot-kick was awarded.
The Juventus forwards continued to threaten and Quagliarella had two fine chances to double his haul for the match, but was left ruing the determined goalkeeping of Cech.
The Czech stalwart could not deny Vidal extending the lead, however, the Chilean midfielder pouncing on Kwadwo Asamoah's drive into the box to make it 2-0.
Chelsea continued to chase the game but it was the hosts who looked more dangerous, with Juve sealing the points when substitute Giovinco prodded past Cech.
The result saw Juve leapfrog Roberto Di Matteo's side into second in the group standings, which are lead by Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk, who won 5-2 at Nordsjaelland.
Luiz Adriano struck a hat-trick and Willian added a brace for the victors, who trailed on two occasions after Morten Nordstrand and Kasper Lorentzen had given the Danes the lead.
Shakhtar top the standings on 10 points with one match remaining, while Juventus are a point back in second and third-placed Chelsea on seven points.
UEFA Champions League Group F wrap: Bayern deny Valencia
21 November 2012
Valencia narrowly missed out on moving to the top of Champions League Group F with a hard-fought 1-1 draw Bayern Munich at the Mestalla.
Mauricio Pellegrino's Valencia already had their place in the next round assured before the game but Bayern also booked their place in the draw for the last 16 with a late equaliser from Thomas Mueller, which cancelled out Sofiane Feghouli's opener.
Bayern put the hosts' defence under early pressure with a high pressing game and the visitors' task was made easier in the 33rd minute when Valencia's Antonio Barragan was dismissed for a second yellow card after a late tackle on David Alaba.
But Valencia were unperturbed by the setback, attacking the Bavarians after the interval and testing Manuel Neuer's goal through Roberto Soldado.
Bayern were unable to make their man advantage count and they were given a reprieve when Soldado sprung the offside trap but blazed well over the bar on the hour mark.
Spurred on by the scare, Bayern finally forged a chance of their own as Franck Ribery cut back for Mueller, though the German failed to make a decent connection with the ball as Vincente Guaita saved with ease.
Somewhat against the run of play, a tiring Valencia took the lead through Feghouli, who won the ball in the opposing half and dribbled his way to the top of the box before sending a deflected shot beyond Neuer's reach.
With nothing to lose, Bayern threw men forward and Mario Gomez made his first contribution on return from injury by setting up Mueller to send the ball into the net on 82 minutes.
In the group's other match, Lille notched their first points of the campaign with a 2-0 win at BATE Borisov.
Maiden Champions League goals for Djibril Sidibe and Gianni Bruno saw the French side avenge their opening-round defeat to the Belarusians, keeping Rudi Garcia's men in the hunt for Europa League qualification.
UEFA Champions League Group G wrap: Barca take top honours
21 November 2012
Barcelona qualified for the Champions League Round of 16 with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Spartak Moscow on Tuesday.
Brazilian defender Dani Alves opened the scoring at the Luzhniki Stadium in the 16th minute with a well-taken half-volley as the visitors asserted their authority early on.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi netted the first of his two goals of the match 11 minutes later, showing predatory instincts to pounce on a rebound inside the penalty area.
Messi finished off a quintessential Barca passing move to complete his brace at the end of the first half, with only the heroics of Spartak goalkeeper Andriy Dykan preventing Tito Vilanova's side from adding to the scoreline after the interval.
The loss spelled the end of Spartak's Champions League campaign, while Barca move to an unassailable 12 points in Group G.
In the group's other match, Benfica recorded a 2-1 home win over Celtic.
Jorge Jesus' Benfica took the lead against the Scottish champions in the seventh minute through Ola John, with Oscar Cardozo getting the assist.
Greek striker Giorgos Samaras levelled proceedings in the 31st minute, but Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay netted what would prove to be the winner 20 minutes from time.
Benfica leapfrog Celtic into second place in the standings, though both teams sit on seven points and will vie for qualification in next month's final matchday.
UEFA Champions League Group H wrap: Galatasaray stun United
21 November 2012
Manchester United's 100 per cent record in the Champions League this season came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray on Tuesday.
Burak Yilmaz scored the only goal of the game in Istanbul as he headed powerfully beyond Anders Lindegaard, who made several good saves to deny the Turkish side.
Nick Powell hit the bar on his first competitive start for United, but the home side were in control for the majority of the game and kept their hopes of progression to the knockout stages alive.
United will finish top of Group H and are on 12 points from Galatasaray and CFR Cluj (both seven), while Sporting Braga were knocked out after their 3-1 defeat to the Romanian side.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rested a number of big names and welcomed back Phil Jones for his first game of the season after injury.
The visitors had a chance in the second minute as Danny Welbeck latched on to a poor Nordin Amrabat pass and fed Tom Cleverley, but the England international's shot deflected into Fernando Muslera's arms.
Burak was quick to respond for the home side with a long-range effort which Lindegaard fumbled and Jones cleared to safety.
The Turkey international could have opened the scoring on two further occasions inside the first 25 minutes, but first failed to connect with a corner after some poor defending, before heading a free kick over the bar.
And the home side felt they should have had a penalty shortly after, when a Selcuk Inan cross struck Alexander Buttner's arm, but appeals were turned down by referee Carlos Velasco.
Galatasaray remained on top at the start of the second half and Lindegaard was again called into action, this time diving to his right and holding on to a sweetly struck Albert Riera volley.
Lindegaard made another save from close range to keep out a Felipe Melo header from an Emmanuel Eboue cross, but there was little the Dane could do about the opening goal as Burak rose to meet a Selcuk corner and power it into the net.
United stirred after falling behind and nearly equalised on the counterattack, but Javier Hernandez saw his shot deflected safely into Muslera's grasp.
With 15 minutes of normal time to play Sir Alex Ferguson made a double substitution, bringing on Ashley Young and Federico Macheda but Galatasaray had the best chance to score again when Altintop thundered a 20-yard shot into the bar.
In the other Group F fixture, Cluj put on a masterful first-half display to defeat Braga 3-1 in Romania with Rui Pedro bagging a delightful hat-trick.
The hosts took the early lead through Brazilian Rafael Bastos, who set up his Portuguese team-mate Pedro to break the deadlock in the seventh minute.
Cluj did not rest on their laurels with Rui Pedro soon sneaking his way in between two Braga defenders to steer the ball home with his second just eight minutes later.
UEFA Champions League Group A preview: Kiev bid to stay alive
20 November 2012
Dynamo Kiev will be fighting for their Champions League survival when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Group A action on Wednesday.
The equation is quite simple for Kiev - win and their hopes of progressing to the round of 16 remain intact.
But only victory will do for the Ukrainian outfit, as a draw or a loss for them on Wednesday would ensure the group's top two, FC Porto and PSG, make it through to the knockout phase of the world's most prestigious club competition.
And while the French heavyweights find themselves in the top three of the Ligue 1 table, they have experienced a recent patch of uninspiring form which has seen them win just one match out of their past four engagements in all competitions.
That fact will surely give Kiev some sort of confidence boost for what appears to be a daunting task on the face of it.
The match will also be held at Dynamo's home, the Olympic National Sports Complex, where they held Porto to a 0-0 draw on November 6 and recorded their only win of the group stage so far against Dinamo Zagreb (2-0) on October 3.
But PSG are second in the group for a reason, despite their recent struggles.
Carlo Ancelotti's men have been one of Group A's form teams with three wins from four matches and will take comfort from the fact that they kicked off their Champions League campaign with a thumping 4-1 win over Kiev back on September 18.
In the group's other match, leaders Porto simply have to grab a point from their home meeting with cellar-dweller Zagreb to ensure their passage to the round of 16.
The Portuguese side have not suffered defeat so far this campaign with three wins and a draw from their four matches - their only blemish a scoreless stalemate with Kiev.
Conversely, the end cannot come quick enough for Zagreb, who have already had their dreams of featuring in the next round dashed with four losses from as many outings.
The Croatian team have leaked 10 goals in those four matches and considering Porto have not tasted defeat yet across 13 matches in the Liga Sagres and Champions League so far in 2012/13, this top-versus-bottom encounter appears destined for only one outcome.
UEFA Champions League Group C preview: Malaga set to advance
20 November 2012
Malaga can seal their spot in the Champions League's last 16 while the battle for second in Group C could go down to the wire.
Realistically Malaga need only a point away to Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday to guarantee their place in the knockout stage.
The Spanish side lead the group with 10 points from pursuers AC Milan (five), Anderlecht (four) and Zenit (three).
Zenit's big-money signing Hulk is set to return for the clash at the Stadion Petrovskij though, and Russia is a notoriously difficult place to go for any side with three points on their mind.
The Brazilian striker has scored only three goals in 11 games since his 50-million euro move from Porto but head coach Luciano Spalletti will hope he has his shooting boots on for Malaga's visit.
The Russian side's preparations have been far from ideal with their Premier League match against Dynamo Moscow abandoned on Sunday after Zenit fans struck Dynamo keeper Anton Shunin in the eye with a firecracker.
The fallout from the match in Moscow could see Zenit handed a 3-0 league defeat and a hefty fine.
Anything other than a win for Zenit on Wednesday would allow AC Milan to seal second spot and a place in the next round with a win over Anderlecht at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock.
In-form Italian international Stephan El Shaarawy scored another brace against Napoli on Saturday and will be the key figure for Milan in Belgium.
But Anderlecht are a tough nut to crack at home, having lost only once all season on their patch, against Malaga.
Milan have been rather disappointing in both Serie A and the Champions League this season during a rebuilding phase but are still favourites to go through second in the group if they can earn a positive result against Anderlecht.
UEFA Champions League Group D preview: Dortmund, Real in control
20 November 2012
Both Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid can ensure their qualification for the Champions League knockout stage with wins on Wednesday.
The German and Spanish champions have control of the so called 'group of death' and will progress to the last 16 with wins over Ajax and Manchester City respectively.
For Manchester City, their second Champions League campaign has been nothing short of a disaster, with two points accrued from four games in Group D making qualification for the knockout stage a near impossibility.
City thrashed Aston Villa 5-0 in the English Premier League on Saturday but Real Madrid will be a far more dangerous proposition for Roberto Mancini's side.
Already, Mancini appears to have turned his attentions to third place in the group and Europa League qualification, a competition he may feel he needs to win to keep his job.
"We don't have any chance to go through to the next stage but, like goalkeepers, football is strange," Mancini declared this week.
"We have two games and we want to be in the Europa League.
"Maybe when you play in February, March, April it can be a problem but if you can reach the final, the Europa League is an important trophy."
Striker Mario Balotelli may miss out again with a back injury but City should at least take some new-found confidence to Etihad Stadium on Tuesday after the Villa win.
Anything but victory over Real will signal the end of City's aspirations in the competition for another season, leaving them scrapping for third spot and a route into UEFA's second-tier tournament.
Like City, Real go into the match in good form having dispatched Athletic Bilbao 5-1 in Liga action on Saturday.
Regardless of the result in City's match against Real, Dortmund will top the group if they defeat Ajax in Amsterdam.
Juergen Klopp's have been superb in the Champions League this season but have struggled to maintain their recent dominance of the Bundesliga, although they comfortably brushed aside Greuther Fuerth 3-1 last time out.
Ajax meanwhile warmed up for the key clash with a 2-0 win at home to lowly VVV Venlo.
UEFA Champions League Group B preview: Arsenal, Schalke primed
11/20/2012
Arsenal will be out to return to winning ways, while Schalke can qualify for the next phase in Group B of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Arsenal, coming off an away draw and home loss to Schalke, play host to Montpellier, who they defeated 2-1 in France at the start of the campaign.
The north London club, second in the group on seven points, have never beaten a French rival at home, with two draws and two losses from four games.
Arsenal are one point behind group leaders Schalke and one ahead of third-placed Olympiakos with two games remaining, while Montpellier are out of contention with just one point.
"The group is pretty tight, so I think you can say we have to win that game," midfielder Aaron Ramsey told the Arsenal website.
"We are at home, so hopefully we can do that and put ourselves in a strong position to qualify."
Arsenal head into the clash following a 5-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates in the English Premier League, while Montpellier played out a 1-1 draw away to Valenciennes in Ligue 1.
Schalke coach Huub Stevens will be hoping for an improved performance when his side entertain Olympiakos.
Stevens delivered a scathing review in the wake of Saturday's 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
"It was a collective failure. I could have replaced nine players," Stevens said. "If you don't put in a performance, you can't win a game. We were begging to lose."
Schalke, who overcame Olympiakos 2-1 on the opening day in Piraeus, can secure their berth in the knockout stage with three points in Gelsenkirchen.
Olympiakos, on the other hand, can leapfrog the German team on the table with just their second win from six attempts away to Bundesliga opposition.
Ramos surprised by Manchester City’s poor Champions League form
The centre-back expected their English counterparts to be Real Madrid's main rivals in Group D and insists Wednesday's fixture is still significant despite the Blues' failings
David Silva backs Messi for Ballon d'Or
The Spain attacker believes the 25-year-old deserves to be voted as the world's best player ahead of his rivals, though he would like to see a Spaniard rewarded for their form
Walcott out of Arsenal's Champions League clash against Montpellier with shoulder injury
The winger, along with Andre Santos, will miss Arsene Wenger's side's fixture against the French champions but Kieran Gibbs and Gervinho return
Gullit doubts Chelsea’s Champions League credentials
The former Blues' boss believes Roberto Di Matteo's remodelling of the team into a more attacking outfit will take time to settle in Europe, but is positive on a domestic front
Siem de Jong: Ajax are a team to be reckoned with
The attacking midfielder is satisfied with his side's performances so far, and is hopeful of getting a good result against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday
Giroud urges caution ahead of 'must-win' Montpellier clash
The Frenchman has spoken out about the importance of getting a result against his former club with the Gunners just a single point ahead of third-placed Olympiakos in Group B
Silva calls for patience in face of Champions League elimination
With early elimination from the competition almost certain for the Blues, the midfielder has highlighted the club's status as relative newcomers for a reason to remain grounded
Heynckes keen for Bayern to learn from Valencia draw
Having been held by the Liga outfit at Mestalla, the veteran coach believes that his troops must work on finding more space against defensively solid teams
Allegri: Qualification will be decided on matchday 6
The coach believes that his side side will face a stern test against Anderlecht on Wednesday, but insists that defeat will change nothing
'Luiz Adriano scored with his instinct' - Lucescu defends Shakhtar striker following drop-ball goal
The Ukrainians' coach has apologised for the controversial nature of his side's first strike but will not punish the Brazilian, who was accused of unsportsmanlike behaviour
Young Manchester United side put up a 'reasonable show', argues Sir Alex Ferguson
The Red Devils boss was happy with his inexperienced team's performance despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Turkish giants, having already won their Champions League group
Benfica will go to Barcelona to chase qualification, says Jorge Jesus
The 58-year-old believes that his side thoroughly deserved to beat a "lucky" Celtic side in Lisbon on Monday, and is optimistic ahead of the trip to Camp Nou
Cech: Chelsea defeat to Juventus a huge disappointment
The Blues keeper expresses his despondency at the fact that the club's Champions League progression is no longer in their own hands following a 3-0 humbling in Italy
Celtic boss Lennon prepared to lose Brown to surgery
The Scot has been playing through the pain barrier with a hip issue but was substituted during his side's defeat to Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday evening
Ribery: Bayern's failure to beat Valencia not a catastrophe
The Frenchman has played down his side's inability to overcome Los Che, claiming their opponents were good value for the point, despite finishing the match with 10 men
Samaras blames nerves for Celtic defeat
The Greek striker believes the Scottish league leaders were anxious against Benfica due to being just a point away from qualification for the Champions League knockout stages
Terim: Galatasaray played fantastically against Manchester United
The Super Lig giants are still able to escape their Champions League group, after a close fought victory in Istanbul against the current leaders keeps them in the running
Manchester United deserved more from Galatasaray clash, says Fletcher
The Red Devils put in a strong display against the Turkish champions but lost out to a Burak Yilmaz header and the Scot believes that his side merited at least a draw
Di Matteo doubts intensify as Chelsea's European lucky streak ends in embarrassment
The Blues survived the hosts' onslaught for 38 minutes but were eventually overpowered comprehensively by a Juve side with more fight, more discipline and more of a plan
'Juventus have proved doubters wrong' - Buffon
The veteran keeper has hailed his side's win over Chelsea as one for the whole of Italy, and believes they dominated the European champions in every department
Barcelona are more important than Muller's record, says Messi
The Argentine took his personal tally for 2012 to 80 goals with his double against Spartak Moscow on Tuesday, but is more focussed on collective success
Juventus destroy the European champions to prove they are back among the elite
The Bianconeri thrashed Chelsea to move to within a single point of the last 16, and with it made a clear statement of intent to the continent's big boys
Mourinho looking forward to England return
The Portuguese coach remembers his time in the Premier League fondly, and believes that Manchester City have all the quality to triumph on the Continent
De Boer: Ajax must go for the win against Dortmund
The Dutch coach has warned his side that a draw would likely see them eliminated from the competition, and has picked out Robert Lewandowski as the opponents' biggest threat
'I get a raw deal from referees' - Pepe
The Portuguese defender believes that he is given harsh treatment from match officials, and spoke in support of his team-mate and countryman Cristiano Ronaldo
'San Siro more special than the Bernabeu' - Mourinho
The Real Madrid trainer revealed that the fans were louder whilst he was at Inter as he prepares for his 100th Champions League match
Verratti backs PSG to bounce back from defeats
The young Italy midfielder believes that the Parc des Princes outfit can recover from their recent run of poor results while he denied rumours of dressing room unrest at the club
Youthful Manchester United should beat Galatasaray, says former keeper Schmeichel
With their passage to the knockout stages already secured, the Red Devils have taken a youthful squad to Turkey but their former goalkeeper still expects them to perform
Kahn backs German sides to triumph in Europe
The ex-Bayern Munich shot-stopper believes that teams in the country have a good chance of bringing a European trophy back to Germany for the first time since 2001
Vialli: Juventus have 12 men with Pirlo
The former Italy striker believes the midfielder gives Antonio Conte's side an edge whilst he does not see Didier Drogba as the answer to the club's striking problems upfront
Capello believes under-fire Fernando Torres 'is slowly losing it'
The Italian thinks the misfiring Chelsea striker has been on a downward spiral since playing under Rafael Benitez at Liverpool and has also backed Juventus to beat the Blues
The German coach has told his players to go for a win when they face Ajax on Wednesday, but Marcel Schmelzer is anticipating a tough match in Amsterdam
Nov 20, 2012 8:25:00 PM
By Simon Harrison
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has urged his side not to play for a point when they travel to Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The German champions are in a good position to qualify for the last 16, but the former Mainz boss does not believe that participation in the knock-out stages is certain.
"We don't play for just a point," he told reporters.
"Ajax are an inventive team that always try to find a solution by playing good football. But if you play football, it does not mean that you win. Ajax have the chance to win because they attack, but so do we.
"Both teams have grown since the first match. The competition is progressing and you can see tomorrow's game as a semi-final in this group. It is a very important game for both teams.
"We have no certainty at this moment. There is a chance to go to the next round. We can't restrict ourselves with our own expectations.
"It's important that we are performing steadily on a firm base. Eight points sounds good, but it could have been more. Equally, Ajax haven't got all the points they deserve."
Left-back Marcel Schmelzer echoed Klopp's battle-cry for an away win, but admits that the trip to the Netherlands will not be an easy one.
"We are not playing for a draw," the 24-year-old explained.
"It's important that we give our best for 95 minutes and give everything. We want to show our qualities.
"Ajax have a good defence and it's hard to create chances against them. We did it in our home game, but it will be more difficult in Amsterdam," he conceded.
De Boer: Ajax must go for the win against Dortmund
The Dutch coach has warned his side that a draw would likely see them eliminated from the competition, and has picked out Robert Lewandowski as the opponents' biggest threat
Nov 20, 2012 9:00:00 PM
By Simon Harrison
Ajax coach Frank de Boer has told his troops to go for all three points against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Dutch side are currently third in their group, and the former Netherlands international believes that failure to win would likely result in their elimination.
"We don't want to aim for a draw because we want to stay in the Champions League," the 42-year-old told reporters.
"Maybe we will be satisfied with a point if there are ten minutes left and we are drawing, but not before the match.
"Dortmund are comparable with Ajax. They always want to play football and they do this with a relatively young squad.
"That's why I have a good relationship with [coach] Jurgen Klopp. We congratulated each other win the results against Manchester City and Real Madrid last two matches.
"Dortmund are a very good team, with fantastic players. They move a lot in their front line, so that's hard to defend. If we play our own style, I think we can create chances. But it's going to be tough, that's for sure."
De Boer went on to pick out Robert Lewandowski as the German champions' main attacking threat, citing his part in his side's goals in the 2-2 draw with Real Madrid a fortnight ago.
"Lewandowski is a very good striker. He is technical, physically strong and has a great header. When you put pressure on Dortmund, he gets very dangerous.
"That's what we saw in Madrid, where [Roman] Weidenfeller had a long ball and he flicks it with one touch to Reus, who scores the goal," he said.
Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld is aware that he faces a tough task in keeping the Polish forward quiet, but says he will not neglect his other duties.
"It's a big challenge for me to stop Lewandowski. He's very good and I will see a lot of him in my zone. As a defender I have to try to play my own game because we can get out of the pressure in that way.
"If we stay focused and keep playing our own style, we will create chances."
Allegri: Qualification will be decided on matchday 6
The coach believes that his side side will face a stern test against Anderlecht on Wednesday, but insists that defeat will change nothing
Nov 21, 2012 1:10:00 AM
By Simon Harrison
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri believes his side face a difficult match against Anderlecht on Wednesday, but is adamant that nothing will be decided until the final round of matches.
The Rossoneri are currently second in Group C with five points from four games, and although the 45-year-old admits things have not gone as planned, he is hopeful that they can get a decisive victory.
"It is going to be a very difficult game, just like all the ones we have faced recently," he told reporters. "I have always said the Champions League group would be balanced and it will be until the end.
"By the time we play tomorrow, we will already know Zenit's result against Malaga, but I think qualification will not be decided until the final game.
"Of course I am not satisfied with our points tally in this group, but if we have these results then it means we deserve them."
The former Cagliari boss went on to say that Alexandre Pato could make the difference for the Serie A giants, having returned from injury.
"Pato is a player who is important on an European level. This could be his game. Kevin-Prince Boateng had a good performance in terms of intensity and technique on Saturday, which was a good sign for him and for us.
Defender Philippe Mexes also spoke of the difficult test that Anderlecht pose, but insisted that his side can turn around their fortunes by staying united.
"The Champions League is a different tournament [to Serie A] entirely and we are in a very balanced group," reasoned Mexes to reporters.
"Anderlecht have shown they've got quality, but we will all fight together to get through to the next round.
"Things are not going the way they should. We lacked some good fortune but also make individual mistakes. The only way out of this is to stay united and work together in the same direction."
