Last chance for Deportivo to make it to next phase

Despite doing the double over Bayern Munich, Deportivo Coruna find themselves needing to win their final Champions League Group G game at AC...

Despite doing the double over Bayern Munich, Deportivo Coruna find themselves needing to win their final Champions League Group G game at AC Milan on Wednesday to guarantee progress to the second group phase.

RC Lens, who trail the Spaniards by two points, have battled back into contention and would go through with victory at Munich — who are already condemned to finish fourth in the group — if Deportivo fail to win. Teams who finish on the same points total are split first by their head-to-head records in their two group meetings and then by goal difference.

Barcelona have already wrapped up top spot in Group H with five wins but the three other teams are all in contention for second place.

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Club Bruges, with five points, are in the driving seat and will go through with a victory at Lokomotiv Moscow (four points).

Galatasaray also have four and will need to beat a virtual reserve Barcelona team at the Nou Camp to have a chance of progress.

Bayern Vs Lens

With nothing at stake but pride for Bayern, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is expected to rest many of his top players and rely heavily on reserves.

The 2001 Champions League winners, who belied their poor European form with a 2-1 win over champions Borussia Dortmund on Saturday to go five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, will finish last in Group F and out of Europe even if they beat Lens.

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Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto will definitely miss Wednesday’s match because of a torn thigh muscle. Playmaker Michael Ballack could not train on Monday because of a painful Left ankle but would probably have been left out anyway.

AC Milan Vs Deportivo

Already-qualified Milan will again field a second stringside — which will suit Deportivo who might need to win to join them in the second phase.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko, who has been unable to break into the starting line-up since his return from injury, will feature in attack along with Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson.

In the wake of Sunday’s 2-1 Serie A defeat to Juventus, coach Carlo Ancelotti will rest Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Nesta, Brazilian Rivaldo and midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Rui Costa while Clarence Seedorf is suspended.

Lokomotiv Vs Bruges

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Lokomotiv, who beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 on Sunday to keep alive their hopes for the Russian title, must on Wednesday to have a chance of advancing into the second phase.

Although winning the first league title in the club’s 67-year history remains Lokomotiv’s main target, coach Yuri Syomin said he wants his side to succeed on both fronts.

But they are still missing Russia international midfielder Marat Izmailov. Lokomotiv’s leading player last season is out for the rest of the year with a stress fracture in his leg.

Barcelona Vs Galatasaray

With five wins out of five, Barcelona are already assured of finishing top of the group and coach Louis van Gaal will take this opportunity to give several youngsters and under-used squad members time on the pitch. Spanish forward Luis Enrique and Dutch winger Marc Overmars are both out with injuries, while Patrick Kluivert, Javier Saviola and Frank de Boer could all be rested.

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Turkish champions Galatasaray look to be in deep trouble ahead of a game they have to win to advance and whre a draw could knock them out of Europe for the season. A 6-0 defeat in the Turkish Super League at the hands of bitter rivals Fenerbahce was followed by a lacklustre 0-0 draw against eastern minnows Adanaspor at the weekend.