Manchester United and Arsenal will be among eight teams battling to finish first in their respective Champions League groups when this phase of the competition ends today.
With all places for the lucrative knockout phase already secured, the focus should be on claiming the first place in the group which, in theory, proffers an advantage ahead of the draw for the last 16.
A parallel battle will be going on between the teams aiming to finish third in each group to grab a place in the UEFA Cup.
Steaua Bucharest will welcome Fiorentina to Romania hoping they can grab the win that would allow them to finish third in Group F, a similar scenario in Group G, where Dynamo Kiev will host Fenerbahce in the hope of avoiding the defeat that would hand the Turkish giants a ticket to the UEFA Cup last 32.
Zenit St Petersburg, the reigning UEFA Cup champions, will have a chance to go on and defend their title following their final Group H game against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu as they are already assured of third place.
Although some managers have played down the importance of topping the group ahead of next week’s last 16 draw, others will be making it a point of principle.
Reigning champs Manchester United sit ahead of Villarreal on goal difference and host Aalborg knowing victory would move them forward as group winners, unless Villarreal can win at Celtic by two goals more than the holders.
Coming top of Group F, and going even further, is the objective of Bayern Munich, who travel to injury-hit French champions Lyon.
Victory for the hosts or a goalless draw would keep Lyon on top, but Claude Puel’s seven-time French champions will be without midfield star Juninho and striker Karim Benzema, both of whom are still injured.
The pair were missed sorely on Saturday when Nantes stunned Lyon 2-1, thanks mainly to a dubious penalty award.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s Bayern side will be odds-on to make life difficult for Lyon, especially as they could field Turkish international Hamit Altintop, who returns from ankle surgery and a long lay-off.
Klinsmann, however, isn’t rushing things and could also delay the return of Lukas Podolski, who has recovered from a back injury but was absent for Friday’s league clash against leaders Hoffenheim because of a stomach bug.
Former Bayern captain Oliver Kahn said he believes the Germans can go all the way this year.
To listen to Arsene Wenger, Arsenal are feeling no pressure ahead of their trip to 2004 champions FC Porto where a point would leave the Londoners top of Group G.
The Frenchman echoed Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez’s thoughts when he said that finishing first is no automatic advantage for the knockout phase.
“Maybe there is an advantage to play the second game at home, but if you look at all the groups, there is not a big difference between some teams finishing first or second,” Wenger said.
Real meanwhile face an uphill climb if they want to dislodge Juventus from the top spot in Group H.
The Italians have a two-point advantage over the Spanish giants, as well as a superior head-to-head record meaning they need only draw with visitors BATE Borisov to secure top spot.
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