American Christian Pulisic becomes youngest American to score in Champions League as he scores for Chelsea vs Valencia Wed.

Pulisic’s Goal

Some huge games this week in Champions League !

GAMES ON TV

Tues Nov  26

1 pm TNT                                         Galatasaray vs Club Brugge

3 pm fuboTV                                  Juventus vs  Atletico Madrid

3 pm                                                  Man City vs Shaktar

3 pm TNT                                         Real Madrid vs PSG

Wed, Nov 27

1 pm TNT                                         Valencia vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

3 pm TNT                                         Liverpool vs Napoli  

3 pm fuboTV/BRLive                   Barcelona vs Borussian Dortmund

3 pm                                                  RB Leipzig vs Benefica

3 pm                                         Genk vs Salzburg (US Coach)

·       
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Champions League: Who will qualify from the group stage?

Dale JohnsonGeneral Editor, ESPN FC

The Champions League group stage is drawing to a close, but who is best placed to make it through to the knockout rounds?We look at each group, with the top two going through and third dropping into the Europa League.

– Champions League group stage: All you need to know
– ESPN Champions League fantasy: Sign up now!
– Champions League tables | Fixtures | Statistics

WHO HAS QUALIFIED: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain

GROUP A

Nov. 26: Galatasaray vs. Brugge, Real Madrid vs. PSG
Dec. 11: Brugge vs. Real Madrid, PSG vs. Galatasaray

Paris Saint-Germain have qualified and will secure top spot if they avoid defeat at Real Madrid on Nov. 26.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, would need to beat PSG to seal their place on Matchday 5, though they would also be through if Club Brugge fail to beat Galatasaray.

If third-placed Club Brugge win at Galatasaray and Real Madrid do not beat PSG, the Belgian club will definitely qualify with a home win over Madrid on Dec. 11.

The only hope for Galatasaray is now the Europa League, but even that dream will die if they lose at home to Brugge.

GROUP B

Nov. 26: Red Star Belgrade vs. Bayern Munich, Tottenham vs. Olympiakos
Dec. 11: Bayern Munich vs. Tottenham, Olympiakos vs. Red Star Belgrade

Bayern Munich have qualified with two games to spare and will be confirmed as group winners if they win at Red Star, or Tottenham fail to beat Olympiakos, on Nov. 26.

Tottenham Hotspur look to be almost there too, through with a win at home to Olympiakos, or if Red Star to not beat Bayern.

For Red Star Belgrade to go through they must win at home to Bayern and at Olympiakos, and hope Spurs pick up no more than one point.

Realistically it now looks to be a battle for the Europa League spot, which is likely to be decided when Red Star go to Olympiakos on Dec 11.

GROUP C

Nov. 26: Atalanta vs. Dinamo Zagreb, Manchester City vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Dec. 11: Dinamo Zagreb vs. Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Atalanta

Manchester City are five points clear at the top and will qualify with a point at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on Nov. 26, or if Dinamo Zagreb fail to beat Atalanta. Victory against Shakhtar would secure top spot, as would a draw if Dinamo do not win.

Shakhtar Donetsk were in deep trouble until they scored twice in injury time to draw at Dinamo Zagreb. They sit second on the head-to-head rule which means their fate in is their own hands. They can qualify on Matchday 5 with a win at Manchester City should Dinamo lose at Atalanta. They know two victories guarantees progress regardless of Dinamo’s results.

Third-placed Dinamo Zagreb now must pick up more points than Shakhtar in the remaining two games to qualify, and cannot secure anything on Matchday 5.

At the foot of the table, Atalanta finally have a point, but need to win both remaining games and hope neither Shakhtar or Dinamo win against Man City. Despite not winning a single game yet, they certainly are not out of it.

GROUP D

Nov. 26: Juventus vs. Atletico Madrid, Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Dec. 11: Atletico Madrid vs. Lokomotiv Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen vs. Juventus

Juventus are through after winning at Lokomotiv Moscow and can top the group if they win or draw 0-0 or 1-1 at home to Atletico on Nov. 26.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid need to win in Turin to guarantee their passage on Matchday 5, though a draw would also send them through if Lokomotiv-Bayer Leverkusen is a draw too.

Lokomotiv Moscow will still be in contention if they avoid defeat against Leverkusen, but they will need help from Juve to give them a shot at qualifying when they host Atleti on Dec. 11.

Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen have to beat Lokomotiv and win at home to Juve, and hope Atleti pick up no more than one point.

It is more likely to be a battle for a Europa League place, which Lokomotiv would definitely seal and Leverkusen could seal by winning the head to head in Moscow on Nov. 26.

GROUP E

Nov. 27: Genk vs. Salzburg, Liverpool vs. Napoli
Dec. 10: Napoli vs. Genk, Salzburg vs. Liverpool

Liverpool top the group ahead of Napoli, and the winners of the head-to-head meeting at Anfield on Nov. 27 will be through. Both would go through if Salzburg do not win at Genk that night.

That means FC Salzburg must secure victory against Genk and win at home to Liverpool on Dec. 10. They are guaranteed qualification with six points as long as Liverpool do not beat Napoli.

Bottom club Genk have been eliminated and must win at home to Salzburg to stay in Europa League contention.

GROUP F

Nov. 27: Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund, Slavia Prague vs. Inter Milan
Dec. 10: Borussia Dortmund vs. Slavia Prague, Inter Milan vs. Barcelona

Barcelona are almost there and victory at home to Dortmund on Nov. 27 would secure their safe passage. A draw will also be enough if Inter Milan do not win at Slavia Prague. If Barca lose to BVB, the group is thrown wide open.

Borussia Dortmund are second, three points ahead of Inter Milan — but it is the Serie A side who hold the head-to-head advantage. Dortmund can only qualify on Matchday 5 if they better Inter Milan’s result, while four points from their last two matches would also secure qualification.

While Inter Milan are third, they can go into the final day in second if they win in Prague and Dortmund lose at the Camp Nou. But with Barcelona to visit the San Siro on Dec. 10, they may face a tough task to win that final match to guarantee progress.

Slavia Prague sit on two points and must win at home to Inter to stay in contention.

GROUP G

Nov. 27: RB Leipzig vs. Benfica, Zenit vs. Lyon
Dec. 10: Benfica vs. Zenit, Lyon vs. RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig will be through with a point at home to Benfica on Nov. 27.

In second sit Lyon, who will guarantee their place in the round of 16 with victory at Zenit. A draw of 2-2 or higher-scoring would also do the job as long as Benfica do not win in Leipzig.

Zenit St Petersburg most likely need to win at home to Lyon, which would move them second on the head to head and leave them requiring a win at Benfica on Dec. 12 to be sure of progressing.

The outsiders are now Benfica, but if they win both of their remaining games and Lyon pick up no more than one point they would be through.

GROUP H

Nov. 27: Lille vs. Ajax, Valencia vs. Chelsea
Dec. 10: Ajax vs. Valencia, Chelsea vs. Lille

Ajax, Chelsea and Valencia share top spot on seven points in a group that could go any way, but both Valencia and Chelsea know they are guaranteed to be in the knockout rounds if they win their meeting in Spain on Nov. 27. Valencia know that a draw would leave them needed a win at Ajax to definitely go through, while Chelsea would definitely be through by then winning at home to Lille.

If Ajax, who cannot qualify if Chelsea beat Valencia and then all three teams finish on 10 points, win in Lille next time that would leave them needing a draw at home to Valencia on Dec. 10.

Lille have been eliminated and have only a slim chance of qualifying for the Europa League.

UCL Tuesday preview: Man City, Spurs, Real Madrid can all clinch knockout place

A number of teams have an opportunity to snag a spot in the Champions League knockout phase as the group stage begins the home stretch on Tuesday.

Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid highlight the list of teams that would see their way into the next round with victory tomorrow.

Gabriel Jesus gets the opportunity of his Man City career as the club begins a three-week stretch without injured striker Sergio Aguero. Jesus has often spoken about his lack of playing time at the Etihad and now his time comes to prove he can lead the lines. As City welcomes Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester, the hosts can seal qualification to the knockout stage with a win, while a draw and a Dinamo Zagreb loss or draw would also do the trick with their magic number at just two. Shakhtar is a familiar opponent for City, drawn with the Ukranian club into each of the last three Champions League groups, with a comprehensive result in four of the five matches in that span, earning a clean sheet in all four wins.

Jose Mourinho gets his first taste of European football inside the beautiful Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which he dubbed the best ground in the world upon his hire. Spurs host Greek side Olympiakos, and while outside results could see them through despite dropped points at home, a win would do the trick on its own. Spurs will be up for the match knowing that with the Premier League outlook still questionable with regards to their initial goals, the European journey is still very much a theater of opportunity.

Real Madrid can secure passage to the knockout stage with victory against group leaders Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabeu. Angel Di Maria was Real Madrid’s worst nightmare when these two teams met in the French capital back in mid-September, but the Spanish side is in much better form of late. While all the focus seems to be on Gareth Bale, Madrid has quietly gone unbeaten across its last six matches in all competitions, outscoring opponents 19-1. Madrid could still go through with a less successful result, so long as Club Brugge does not beat Galatasaray in Turkey.

Editor’s note: Looking for last-minute tickets to today’s games? Click here

A slumping Atletico Madrid side has the tough task of a trip to Turin to face Serie A leaders Juventus, but will be boosted by the knowledge that a win could see them through. Any less, however, and things become quite dicey, especially should either Bayer Leverkusen or Lokomotiv Moscow win in Russia. A draw for Atleti would see them through to the knockout stage if Bayer and Lokomotiv draw, but otherwise the final place in Group D remains up for grabs. Diego Simeone’s side has won just three of its last nine matches across all competitions, with just three clean sheets across that span. Cristiano Ronaldo was rested by Maurizio Sarri over the weekend as he looks to manage a knee problem, but is likely available for the match at home.

Bayern Munich has already secured passage to the knockout round, but could again put Robert Lewandowski on display as they travel to Serbia to take on Red Star Belgrade. The Ballon d’Or candidate failed to score for the first time in 12 Bundesliga matches this season over the weekend, but still remains in white-hot form. He has also found the back of the net in each of Bayern’s four Champions League games to date, but could potentially be rested with the German side already confirmed through and the top of the Bundesliga table clogged with challengers to the throne. They could do Spurs a favor by winning and confirming Tottenham’s place in the later stages no matter their result against Olympiakos.

Atalanta’s Champions League journey has not gone to plan, but the surprise Serie A contenders last season still have a chance to save face as they host Dinamo Zagreb before finishing out the European campaign with a visit to Shakhtar later on. The Italians have just one point through four group stage matches thus far, and they have not won any of their last five matches across all competitions, falling 3-1 to Juventus over the weekend in league play. However, a 1-1 draw with 10-man Manchester City last time out in Europe will give them hope that a challenge can be mounted. They are not eliminated yet, given they are just four points behind both Shakhtar and Dinamo in the group, but the opportunity is a longshot that would require victory in both their final matches.