Almost half way through the group stage and things are hotting up. While some teams go from bad to worse, others look to cement themselves in a qualification place before reaching the last two games.

Arsenal, though, could only manage a draw away to AZ Alkmaar, putting them only one point clear at the top ahead of Olympiakos, who defeated Standard Liege at home 2-1. Wenger’s early qualification aims, then, look a little far from reach.



Barcelona continue their run of bad form in Europe, sitting on only four points with Dynamo Kiev and expected group whipping boys Rubin Kazan (who won 2-1 away to the Spanish giants last night), while Inter Milan somehow trail on three points, having drawn all their games so far. Mediocre for a team who recently acquired Champions League Final goal-scorer Samuel Eto’o off rivals Barcelone, also off-loading the rather useless (in Europe at least) and over-rated Ibrahimovic.



Rangers continue to get nowhere in an easy group, not keeping up at all with Sevilla, as was their aim. They are on one point in last place, and look now to be aiming for another Uefa Cup run.

Things have even also taken a worse turn than could’ve been expected for the already off-form Liverpool. In danger of incurring the wrath of their parent company’s debtors in America if they fail to qualify for Europe, with all the assurances and financial bonuses that brings, they were last night defeated at Anfield by group leaders Lyon, and are now sitting three points adrift of second place.

Tonight we see AC Milan and Real Madrid go head to head, and Manchester United once again travel to Moscow, while Chelsea play the crucial match at home to Atletico Madrid. Scores here tomorrow.