Chelsea, Bayern and Real Madrid book Champions League passage

With four matches down and only two left to play, just three sides have booked passage to the Champions League knockout stages.  Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid earned their places in the final 16 with results this week.  The other 13 spots will be decided in the final two stages.

Group A is wide open with Tottenham and Inter Milan sitting on top with 7 points and FC Twente close behind on 5 points.  In matchday 5 Tottenham host last place Werder Bremen while Inter host Twente.  Both home sides can book passage with wins on November 24th.  Group B is wide open as well.  Leaders Lyon (9 points) must travel to second place Schalke (7 points) later this month.   Benfica is still in the hunt (6 points) and face a must win to Israel to face last place Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Manchester United is in control of Group C after sweeping the home and home with Bursaspor.  Rangers and Valencia are fighting it out for second place with Valencia in the drivers seat after their 3-0 win over Rangers this week.  In Group D Barcelona and FC Copenhagen look comfortable to go through both needing one more result to gaurantee advancement.

Bayern Munich have clinched passage from Group E after going perfect through their first four Champions League matches.   Roma hold the advantage for second leading Cluj and Basel by three points.  Roma faces a difficult test in hosting Bayern this month.  A loss would allow the winner of the Cluj-Basel match to draw even.

Chelsea have won Group F also perfect through four games.  Spartak Moscow and Marseille are even on points.  Spartak could take a huge step towards the knockout round in their next group match when they host Marseille in Russia.  Real Madrid are comfortable in Group G after their rally in Italy yesterday earned a draw against AC Milan.  The other three sides are alive and kicking with two matches to go.  On the next matchday Ajax hosts Real Madrid while AC Milan faces a difficult trip to France to face Auxerre.

Group H was thrown into disarray this week when Shakhtar Donetsk shocked Arsenal at the Emirates 2-1.  The result leaves Shakhtar and Arsenal both tied on 9 points with Braga just behind on 6.  Arsenal must next travel to Braga where a Braga win would further complicate the group.  An Arsenal victory would clinch their passage to the knockout rounds.