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Sports / Soccer |
Real and Liverpool need to prove their mettle(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-11 13:48 PARIS - Real Madrid and Liverpool have won 14 European Cups between them but need to show their teeth on Tuesday if they are to make the knockout stages of this season's Champions League. Nine-times champions Real would be guaranteed a place in the last 16 with a home draw against Lazio in their final Group C match. The Spaniards have won all their matches at the Bernabeu this season and Lazio are likely to struggle. Werder Bremen, who kept alive their hopes by outpunching Real 3-2 in a thrilling contest late last month, must win at Olympiakos to go through. Liverpool's task looks more complicated than Real's. The five-times champions might qualify with a draw at Olympique Marseille but need a win to be absolutely sure to survive a tight Group A. Marseille are in a similar situation and can turn to recent history for inspiration, having stunned Liverpool 1-0 in October, which made them the first French side to win at Anfield. Liverpool warmed up for the game by losing their unbeaten Premier League record with a 3-1 defeat at mid-table Reading but Marseille will take nothing for granted against a side who have scored 12 goals in their last two European outings. Porto, showing glimpses of the form that made them the 2004 champions, top the group and receive Besiktas needing just a draw. Schalke 04 welcome Rosenborg in Group B with the Gelsenkirchen club needing to beat the Trondheim outfit to survive. A draw would enable the Norwegian team to join group winners Chelsea, hosting Valencia in a meaningless tie. |
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