Champions League group stage: Big names work hard to make it to last 16

The pressure is on Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea players to avoid an early exit in Europe, even more so after the Blues were condemned to a stunning 1-0 home loss against Bournemouth at the weekend which left them just two points clear of the drop zone. Chelsea go into their final group game top of the pile on 10 points, level with Porto, and will go through as group winners with a victory while a draw would see them advance as runners-up. Porto's setback against Dynamo Kiev on matchday five has left the Portuguese requiring a win to guarantee qualification. A draw could also be enough to go through, in first as well, but only if Kiev don't win.





GUNNERS NEED TO FIRE BIG TIME

Arsenal's qualification hopes rest on a knife edge with the Gunners knowing they have to beat Olympiakos --either by two goals or by scoring at least three times -- to pip the Greeks to second place. Arsene Wenger's men are bidding to reach the last 16 for the 16th straight season but the injuries continue to pile up for the outfit with midfielder Santi Cazorla ruled out for up to four months with a knee injury. However, Aaron Ramsey, who scored a late third in Saturday's 3-1 win over Sunderland, is confident Arsenal can keep their streak intact. "It was never easy after the start (to the group) we had but we have done well to come back into the position that we find ourselves in and it is in our hands -- we know what we have to do," the Welshman told the club's website.

NEVILLE’S FIRST TEST

Incoming Valencia boss Gary Neville will have little time to settle into his new role as the Spaniards need to beat Lyon to stand any chance of overhauling Gent for second place.

Former England and Manchester United right-back Neville held his first training session on Monday, two days after Valencia held Barcelona to a creditable 1-1 draw in La Liga, and there is little margin for error against crisis-hit Lyon. Los Che must better Gent's result against Zenit to avoid dropping into the Europa League, but bottom side Lyon will be determined to stop the rot having crashed to a fourth defeat in five outings at home to Angers in L i g ue 1, prompting midfielder Ma t h i e u Valbuena to label recent performances as of the team 'catastrophic'.