Paris (AFP)
Real Madrid and Zinédine Zidane play their survival against Mönchengladbach on Wednesday in the Champions League, on a final group day between Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in Marseille, already eliminated and with little hope of catching the League Europa.
- Group A: a "final" for Atlético -
(9 p.m.) RB Salzburg (AUT) - Atlético Madrid (ESP)
Bayern Munich (GER) - Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS)
Undefeated leader of Liga with 8 wins in 10 matches, Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid struggles more in the Champions League to the point of finding themselves at the foot of the wall on this last day of the group stage.
"In Salzburg, we will play a final," admitted coach Diego Simeone after the draw against Bayern (1-1) last week.
The Bavarians, who receive Lokomotiv Moscow, being assured of first place and qualification, the stake in this group is to be sought in this Salzburg-Atlético Madrid, where the second available ticket is still within reach of the two clubs.
With an advantage for the Colchoneros (6 pts): a draw is enough for them against the Austrians (4 pts), whom they had already beaten 3-2 in the first leg thanks to a double from their nugget Joao Félix.
The Portuguese was preserved this weekend in the league, he did not enter until the hour mark against Valladolid (2-0 victory) for Wednesday's shock.
- Group B: Real and Zidane under pressure -
(21H00) Inter Milan (ITA) - Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Real Madrid (ESP) - Mönchengladbach (GER)
In danger, Real Madrid find themselves third in their group before the last day of the Champions League, the fault of their rout against Shakhtar Donetsk (2-0) last week.
The scenario of an absence of the Madrilenians in the European top 16, a first since 1997, is possible.
Any other result than a victory against Mönchengladbach, who also plays his life in C1, would make Real depend on a disappointment by Shakhtar against Inter in this group B, where everything is still open, including for Interists, last.
On the way to Germany, the men of "ZZ" could not do better than a draw (2-2).
A point saved in extremis by goals from Karim Benzema and Casemiro at the very end of the match (87th and 90th + 3), while the Germans led 2-0.
More reassuring, Real Madrid, who remained on two defeats in all competitions, raised their head in Seville on Saturday (1-0) and offered a breath of air to Zidane, who should find Wednesday his captain and defensive pillar Sergio Ramos , back from injury.
- Group C: last stand for Marseille?
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(21H00) Olympiakos (GRE) - Porto (POR)
Manchester City (ENG) - Marseille (FRA)
OM, which found the music of the Champions League, 7 years later, hopes to end on a high note its disappointing European campaign on the ground of Manchester City.
The honor except after its success against Olympiakos (2-1), Marseille has an opportunity to finish beautiful against the Citizens, assured of 1st place and therefore undoubtedly very reworked Wednesday.
On paper, the third place synonymous with the Europa League is still within reach of the Marseillais even if it will be necessary to count on a poor performance of the Greeks in Piraeus against a team from Porto already qualified in the round of 16 of C1.
- Group D: Ajax fireworks - Atalanta -
(6:55 p.m.) Midtjylland (DEN) - Liverpool (ENG)
Ajax Amsterdam (NED) - Atalanta Bergamo (ITA)
Only one ticket remains to be distributed between Ajax Amsterdam and Atalanta Bergamo in this group where Liverpool, traveling to Midtjylland, secured the first place.
This Group D final in Amsterdam promises goals because the two clubs share, in addition to a name inherited from Greek mythology, a resolutely offensive game.
Ajax are Eredivisie's current best attack (43 goals in 11 matches), Atalanta that of last season in Serie A (98 goals).
Surprised guest in the quarter-finals of C1 for its first participation in 2019-2020, the "Dea" (8 pts) dreams of enjoying the final phase and only needs a draw for that.
Imperative victory on the other hand for Ajax (7 pts) in its Johan-Cruyff Arena.
© 2020 AFP