Champions League last round continues! Welcome to our All Football Champions League Preview!
Real Madrid vs CSKA Moscow
Kick off: 18:55(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Team News
Nacho is ruled out for Real Madrid, while Casemiro is a doubt for Los Blancos.
With top spot already wrapped up, Santiago Solari could ring the changes here.
Federico Valverde, Lucas Vazquez and Mariano may feature in attack, while Keylor Navas is likely to start between the sticks.
Focus:
With top spot sewn up in group G, Real Madrid can take things easy in the welcome of CSKA Moscow, and instead focus on the weekend's welcome of Rayo Vallecano. The European champions lost the reverse fixture, so will be keen to exact some measure of revenge.
In CSKA's final game of 2018, they'll be looking to see out the year on a high. Their away form of late, though, has been iffy having won just one of their last four on the road, and they need to better Viktoria Plzen's result if they are to secure a Europa League place.
Real Madrid have won their last four competitive matches and with a weakened XI set to be named, the home side should manage to eke out a win regardless.
Prediction:
Real Madrid 2-0 CSKA Moscow
Viktoria Plzen vs Roma
Kick off: 18:55(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Focus:
Edin Dzeko is sidelined for Roma, with Patrick Schick in line to lead the attack here.
Stephan El Shaarawy, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Daniele De Rossi are all doubts for Roma, but are unlikely to be risked with their place in the next round of the Champions League secured.
Indeed, Eusebio Di Francesco could make a couple of changes to his strongest XI, with Davide Santon, Juan Jesus, Rick Karsdorp and Javier Pastore all in line to start.
Prediction:
Viktoria Plzen 1-1 Roma
BSC Young Boys vs Juventus
Kick off: 21:00(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Focus:
Alex Sandro has resumed training with a view to making Wednesday's match against Young Boys.
Emre Can came off the bench to make his first appearance in almost two months in Friday's 1-0 win over Inter.
Medhi Benatia will not travel with the rest of the Juventus squad after suffering a slight knee injury, joining Sami Khedira and Andrea Barzagli on the sidelines.
Focus:
Young Boys cannot improve on a fourth place finish in Group H no matter what happens on Wednesday. Juventus, meanwhile, only need to match Manchester United's result against Valencia to secure top spot.
Juventus have won five games in a row without conceding since losing to United over a month ago.
Juventus have a 100 per cent record away from home in all competitions and have kept six clean sheets in their last seven matches on the road.
Prediction:
BSC Young Boys 0-3 Juventus
Valencia vs Manchester United
Kick off: 21:00(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Team News
Jose Gaya is suspended for Valencia, while Daniel Parejo, Carlos Soler and Geoffrey Kondogbia are one booking away from a one-match ban in the Champions League.
Valencia are guarenteed third place and will likely give chances to some fringe players against United.
Mourinho confirmed on Saturday that ouf of favour midfielder Paul Pogba will start against Valencia.
Anthony Martial picked up an injury against Arsenal last week and failed to recover in time to face Fulham on Saturday.
Having already secured progression to the next round, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will likely make wholesale changes on Wednesday with an eye on the weekend's clash with Liverpool.
Focus:
Manchester United scored a dramatic late winner against Young Boys last time out in the Champions League to secure a top-two finish. Jose Mourinho's side can still finish top but that would require Young Boys beating Juventus to have any chance of leapfrogging the Old Lady.
Valencia cannot improve on a third place finish and are also four point clear of bottom side Young Boys. They held United to a draw at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture and will hope to do at least the same here against an experimental United XI.
Valencia have only lost twice at home all season, though there have been five 1-1 draws in 11 games.
Prediction:
Valencia 1-1 Manchester United
Ajax vs Bayern Munich
Kick off: 21:00(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Team News
Kingsley Coman came off the bench in Bayern's 3-0 win over Nuernberg and continues to build his fitness up following a long spell out injured.
James Rodriguez and Corentin Tolisso are still sidelined for Bayern Munich, while Arjen Robben remains a doubt.
Bayern Munich are still not guarenteed top spot and that should mean Robert Lewandowski starts in Amsterdam.
Focus:
Ajax and Bayern Munich are guarenteed a top two finish in Group E but the outcome of this match will decide who finishes first. Bayern have a two point advantage heading into Wednesday's match.
Ajax are unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions and have won their last 11 home matches, impressively scoring at least three goals in nine of those games.
Bayern haven't been entirely convincing this season but remain favourites. They have scored exactly two goals in each of their last five away matches.
Prediction:
Ajax 1-2 Bayern Munich
Benfica vs AEK Athens
Kick off: 21:00(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Focus:
This match is a dead rubber. Benfica can only finish third and AEK Athens can only finish last.
Benfica have won their last three without conceding.
AEK Athens have won successive games following a run of four straight defeats.
Prediction:
Benfica 2-0 AEK Athens
Manchester City vs Hoffenheim
Kick off: 21:00(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Team News
Pep Guardiola has confirmed Sergio Aguero will miss out for Manchester City but could return to the matchday squad at the weekend.
Gabriel Jesus will hope to start in Aguero's place against Hoffenheim after being overlooked in the weekend's defeat to Chelsea.
David Silva is sidelined for a few weeks, while Kevin De Bruyne and Danilo will also miss out for the home side.
Focus:
Manchester City are already through to the knockout stage of the Champions League but still need to secure top spot in Group F. They just need to avoid defeat at home to Hoffenheim to achieve that.
Hoffenheim cannot finish in the top two but can still finish third and drop into the Europa League knockout stage. In order to achieve that they must beat City and hope Shakhtar lose at home to Lyon.
Pep Guardiola will demand a response from his side after they lost their first Premier League game of the season at the weekend. It would be a surprise if they didn't get the result they need to top the group.
Prediction:
Manchester City 2-0 Hoffenheim
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Lyon
Kick off: 21:00(CET)
Date:Wed, 12-Dec-18
Probable Lineups:
Focus:
Lyon are unbeaten in the Champions League this season but still have it all to do to qualify for the next round.
Lyon, who are two points above Shakhtar Donetsk, will go through if they avoid defeat on Wednesday. They will top the group if they win and Manchester City lose at home to Hoffenheim.
Shakhtar Donetsk are unbeaten in five matches since being thumped 6-0 away to City. Despite only winning one of five Champions League group games, they still have a real chance of going through.
The reverse fixture ended 2-2 and a similarly entertaining match is anticipated on Wednesday. Lyon have conceded two goals in each of their last three matches.
Prediction:
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Lyon