Madrid on the brink in CL group stage; Messi vs Ronaldo

Real Mrid is used to breezing through Champions League, rar than facing must-win matches near end of group st. But poor performances this season have left Zinedine Zidane’s team needing a victory on Wednesday against Borussia Mönchenglbach to ensure record 13-time European champions don't miss out on kckout phase for first time in club's Champions League history.

With a draw, Mrid can still squeak through to round of 16 if Shakhtar Donetsk loses at Inter Milan.

Mrid has never failed to get past group st in its 25 previous campaigns. Before falling in last season's round of 16, Mrid h reached at least semifinals for eight consecutive seasons, winning title four times in that stretch.

Lionel Messi's latest meeting with old rival Cristia Ronaldo features as or main attraction in last of group games. Messi's Barcelona hosts Ronaldo's Juventus on Tuesday with both alrey qualified.

Group B has proven to be most competitive. Glbach les it with eight points. Mrid and Shakhtar each have seven, two more than last-place Inter. All four can still vance, and all four can still miss out.

When Glbach hosted Mrid in October, German club was leing 2-0 until Karim Benema and Casemiro scored late to salv a 2-2 draw.

Mrid’s only two wins both came against Inter. It was beaten twice by Shakhtar.

Struggling in attack, Mrid has also h problems in defense, conceding nine goals in five group games, its worst defensive record up to this point in competition. A hamstring injury has sidelined defensive leer Sergio Ramos for last two weeks. Injuries to right backs Dani Carvajal and Álvaro Odriozola have forced Zidane to play a forward, Lucas Vázquez, in ir spot.

Mrid has underperformed for a squ of its caliber in Spanish league as well. It h gone three rounds without a win until it eked out a 1-0 victory at Sevilla last Saturday thanks to a goalkeeping blunder. “We’re going through a bit of a tough spell lately,” Zidane said after win at Sevilla. “ recent days have been difficult, (but) this team is full of character. It thrives on challenges and this win is hugely important for what is to come”.

Glbach can go through with a draw. In case of a loss at Alfredo Di Stéfa Stium, it would need Shakhtar and Inter to draw.

STALEMATE

Two of trio of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Leipzig will vance from Group H; or having to settle for Europa League. All three are tied on nine points.

Last year’s losing finalist PSG can win group with a victory over eliminated Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday. It can even vance with a loss as long as United's game at Leipzig does t end in a draw.

A draw in Germany would be eugh for United. Leipzig will aim to beat United because a draw will leave German team needing Basaksehir to upset PSG.

If he plays, PSG star Kylian Mbappe will be trying to break his 13-match, nine-month scoring drought in Champions League.

Here's a look at or group games:

TUESDAY

GROUP E

Chelsea welcomes Krasdar and Sevilla is at Rennes with absolutely thing at stake. Chelsea is alrey through as group winner and Sevilla is through in second place. Krasdonar is going to Europa League; Rennes will place fourth.

GROUP F

Borussia Dortmund is alrey classified but can claim group outright if it wins at eliminated Zenit St. Petersburg. Lazio can vance for first time in 20 years if it avoids defeat against Brugge, which must win in Rome to progress to next st.

GROUP G

Barcelona will win group unless Juventus can overtake it in he-to-he goals. Barcelona won 2-0 in Turin. Ronaldo missed that possible rematch with Messi after catching coronavirus.

two best players of ir generation have t faced ar since Ronaldo left Real Mrid in 2018.

Dynamo Kyiv hosts Ferencvaros. Both teams have one point.

WEDNESDAY

GROUP A

With defending champion Bayern Munich alrey through as group winners, second spot is down to eir Atlético Mrid or Salzburg when y face off in Austria.

Diego Simeone’s Atlético has only lost once in all competitions this season. A draw is eugh to send it through, while Salzburg must win.

Bayern is likely to rest players for its game against Lokomotiv Moscow. Lokomotiv must win to have hope of taking third place and a Europa League spot.

GROUP C

Manchester City and FC Porto have alrey booked ir spots in last 16. Olympiakos faces Porto, while City hosts Marseille. Olympiakos will take Europa League berth as long as it matches result of Marseille.

GROUP D

Liverpool is alrey through, leaving Atalanta and Ajax to decide who joins English champions. Atalanta can go through with a win or draw in Amsterdam. Liverpool visits Danish club Midtjylland.