Jose Mourinho faces a decisive and defining moment as the beleaguered Chelsea manager bids to avoid a catastrophic exit from the Champions League against his old club FC Porto on Wednesday night.
The crisis-torn Premier League champions are languishing just two points above the drop zone having suffered a stunning 1-0 home defeat against lowly Bournemouth
Chelsea need only a draw at Stamford Bridge in their final Group G fixture to be certain of a place in the knockout stages, but what in previous years would have been a forgone conclusion for a team managed by Mourinho now looks a decidedly more taxing task.Once virtually unbeatable at the Bridge under the Portuguese, the west Londoners have lost four times on home turf and 11 matches in all competitions this season.
Porto, who need a win to be sure of progressing, are unlikely to prove a pushover after beating the Blues in Portugal earlier this season.
It would be the ultimate irony if Porto, where Mourinho made his name by winning the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 Champions League, deliver the final blow that ends his second spell with Chelsea.
And after so many unexpected setbacks this season, Mourinho admits he can take nothing for granted against his former employers, although they have been boosted by the news that captain John Terry and Ramires both trained on Tuesday and are available, but Radamel Falcao is still out despite taking a limited part in training.
Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes rest on a knife edge with the Gunners knowing they have to beat Olympiakos by two clear goals or more to pip their opponents to second spot in Group F.
Arsene Wenger's men are bidding to reach the last 16 of the tournament for the 16th straight season but that run is in jeopardy, not so much due to a 5-1 hammering at group winners Bayern Munich but because of defeats suffered in the opening two games, including a shock 3-2 defeat at home to the Greeks.
However, the injuries continue to pile up for the Premier League outfit who will be missing seven key players, including Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere.
Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla has also been ruled out for up to four months with a knee injury to add to Wenger's woes while Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are continuing their rehabilitation.
Olympiakos are relatively injury-free but Portuguese coach Marco Silva must decide whether to include fit-again Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso in place of Luka Milivojevic or Pajtim Kasami.
Brown Ideye, who spent last season at West Brom, will come back into the attack after being rested at the weekend.
Silva, who has won widespread praise for Olympiakos' European performances, has led the Greeks to 12 successive Super League victories since the season kicked off as they chase a host of club records, but Wednesday night would be a defining moment if they were to progress.
Barcelona are looking to end the group stage undefeated for the first time in three seasons as they head to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Bundesliga outfit still harbour ambitions of reaching the knockout stages but must break their six-match losing streak against the reigning champions.
They would then still need Roma to drop points against BATE Borisov in the group's other game to reach the last 16
Leverkusen lost 2-1 at the Camp Nou in October, despite taking a shock lead, but will want to avoid a repeat of the 6-1 pounding Barca dished out to Roma a fortnight ago when Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi ran riot.T
They are struggling for form, however, having dropped to eighth in the league after their 2-1 defeat at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
But they do have a striker Javier Hernandez, who has scored 11 goals in his last 10 Leverkusen appearances and netted their consolation in Berlin - their third defeat in five Bundesliga games.
Leverkusen will be relying on the former Manchester United striker to be in red-hot form again at the BayArena.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez have scored 126 goals between them in 2015, and the Leverkusen's cause has not been helped by the inclusion of all three players in the travelling party.
The Germans are aiming to reach the last 16 for the third year running, but have not won in Group E since beating BATE 4-1 in September.
Head coach Roger Schmidt will hope to have captain Lars Bender back, but the midfielder faces a race to be fit as he tries to shake off an ankle injury.
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This game will be live on SuperSport, your world of champions.
- See more at: http://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2015/December-8th/ucl-preview-manchester-united-face-tricky-test-city-and-real-to-cruise-on-last-matchday.php#sthash.kaJ8abM5.dpuf-
This game will be live on SuperSport, your world of champions.
- See more at: http://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2015/December-8th/ucl-preview-manchester-united-face-tricky-test-city-and-real-to-cruise-on-last-matchday.php#sthash.kaJ8abM5.dpufLatest Stories
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