MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Copenhagen and Galatasaray face each other on the sixth and final day of the group stage of the Champions League at the Parken Stadium with second place in Group A at stake and with both teams depending on themselves to advance to the round, while Manchester United receives Bayern Munich, which has already certified first place, forced to win and wait for a draw between the Danes and Turks to be able to celebrate progress to the round of 16 of the highest continental competition.
Copenhagen and Galatasaray reach the last day of the Champions group stage with the possibility of continuing in the competition, going to the Europa League or even being eliminated. Both teams face each other this Tuesday at the Parken Stadium in the Danish capital (9:00 p.m.) in a true final. Both Turks and Danes arrive at the decisive event tied at 5 points, but with the goal average favorable to the locals, who would benefit from a hypothetical draw.
However, the Danes cannot speculate, since they could be left out if United manages to beat Bayern Munich in the other group match at Old Trafford (9:00 p.m.). In fact, this is the only combination that allows them to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League two seasons later. For its part, Bayern will experience as a guest a last heart-stopping day in Group A with the duties of being first in the group already done.
Copenhagen will try to achieve the goal of advancing from the group stage of the Champions League for the second time in its history. To do this, they need to achieve victory or draw and hope that United fails to beat Bayern. It will not be easy for the Danes to achieve victory, since their precedents in the top continental competition indicate that they have only won 2 of the last 8 games they have played at home in the group stage.
For its part, Galatasaray, which also depends on itself, only wins is enough to join Bayern as qualified teams for the round of 16 draw. The Ottoman team, which has not won any of the last two games it has played in this edition of the Champions League, wants to return to being among the 16 best European teams 10 years later.
The bad news for the Turks' coach, Okan Buruk, is the loss of one of the team's defensive pillars, Davison Sánchez, who has not recovered in time to play the momentous match.
The team that has the most difficulty in sealing a ticket to the round of 16 is Manchester United. The English, who need to beat Bayern Munich, have only managed to beat the German giant in 2 of the 12 direct confrontations in the top continental competition. Three points at stake that would ensure Ten Hag's team continue competing in Europe, whether it be the Champions League or Europa League. Although, they need a draw in the other group match to be in the round of 16.
The 'Red Devils' are not at their best. In the last Premier game they fell resoundingly against Bournemouth 0-3, with only one win in the last four games played. Furthermore, to the countless casualties of the English team, Lindelof has been added, a regular starter in Ten Hag's lineups, but who was no longer available in the defeat against Iraola's team.
In the Real Madrid group, Naples and Sporting de Braga will fight at the Diego Armando Maradona (9:00 p.m.) for a place in the round of 16. The advantage lies with the Italians, who even need a one-goal defeat to maintain second place in Group C. The Portuguese will have to beat the current Italian champion by 2 or more goals if they want to advance to the crossroads for the first time. in their history, something they have only achieved in the Champions League away from home once in their history (0-2 against Galatasaray in 2012).
Finally, Salzburg and Benfica meet this Tuesday at the Red Bull Arena (9:00 p.m.) in the Real Sociedad group with the Europa League prize at stake. To do this, the Portuguese need to win by two goals difference, while the rest of the results would give the Austrians a place in the play-offs of the second continental competition. In addition, PSV and Arsenal face each other at the Philips Stadium (6:45 p.m.) without much more than the UEFA victory bonus at stake.