Premiership giants Chelsea and Liverpool will be eyeing a spot in the Champions League knockout round today as Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Glasgow Rangers and Schalke 04 also target qualification.
The Merseysiders lead Group G with 10 points after four games and a draw would be enough to seal the title-holder's place with a game to spare against third-placed Real Betis at Anfield.
Betis, however, defeated Chelsea last month and, if they can repeat that feat, Liverpool would find themselves having to avoid defeat at Chelsea next month to be sure of progressing.
PHOTO: AFP
Liverpool are hoping Luis Garcia, who scored in the 2-0 win over Betis in Seville in September, and fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso will both be fit.
Garcia suffered a hip injury in Saturday's Premiership win over Portsmouth and Alonso was also substituted, because of a knee problem.
Chelsea lie second, three points behind Liverpool, and want to get back to winning ways at Anderlecht, who have lost their last eleven games in the competition.
Chelsea have not won away from home in Europe in over a year and their last defeat to Real Betis sparked suggestions that Jose Mourinho's side were heading for a slump.
Victory for Chelsea will almost certainly assure them of a place in the knockout phase although Liverpool remain favorites to finish top of the group.
A win over Artmedia Bratislava would see Group H leaders Inter Milan advance at the San Siro.
The Italians have nine points from their four matches played, four more than than the Slovakian champions and Glasgow Rangers.
Rangers could however become the first Scottish club to qualify from the group stages. If the Scottish champions beat last year's winners FC Porto, while Inter Milan defeat Artmedia Bratislava, they will qualify alongside the Italians.
Alex McLeish remains hopeful his team can repeat the success of their 3-2 win over Porto at Ibrox earlier in the competition, although he still faces the axe as his side have failed to win in five games and Saturday's loss to Celtic leaves them 15 points behind their rivals.
But he will be without star striker Dado Prso who limped off Saturday with a hamstring injury, joining Thomas Buffel, Nacho Novo, Federico Nieto, Julien Rodriguez and Olivier Bernard, also on the sidelines for the Porto game.
Porto, meanwhile, warmed up with a 5-1 win against Academica on Saturday.
Dutch giants PSV top Group E on seven points and know victory over Schalke in Gelsenkirchen will see them qualify, and even a draw could be enough if AC Milan defeat Fenerbahce of Turkey in the other group game.
PSV, last year's semifinalist, have yet to score away from home in Europe this season but a 4-4 draw with RKC Waalwijk at the weekend showed their prowess in front of goal.
The Dutch have won just one of their last 16 European ties in Germany but manager Guus Hiddink has fond memories having led Eindhoven to 1988 European Cup glory with a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Benfica in Stuttgart.
Schalke are level with Milan on five points in one of the tightest groups, with Fenerbahce one point behind.
Group F sees a battle between already-qualified Real Madrid and Lyon at the Santiago Bernabeu with the Spaniards gunning to end their opponents unbeaten record and avenge their 3-0 defeat in France earlier in the campaign.
Best `hanging in there'
George Best, one of the finest footballers in the history of the game, is desperately ill on a life-support machine in the Cromwell Hospital in London but is still "hanging in there," his doctor said on Monday.
Professor Roger Williams said Best was critical and that that the 59-year-old needed to show signs of improvement if he was to survive his latest illness.
The former Manchester United player, who has been in hospital since the beginning of October, underwent a liver transplant after years of heavy drinking.
Best's family have remained at his bedside since he was re-admitted to intensive care last Friday.
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