PARIS — Former champions AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund go into their final group matches needing a result in their respective games to ensure they continue their campaign for the trophy in the New Year. Schalke and Basel really have everything to play for in a decisive outing for the German and Swiss sides. Basel is currently on eight points, one behind already-qualified Chelsea and one ahead of Schalke, meaning it could still finish atop the group should it win and Chelsea be held to a draw or lose. Schalke has to go for the victory to ensure it edges the Swiss out of the second qualifying spot in the group. One bad omen for Basel is that the last time it travelled to face German opposition, it suffered a 7-0 hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich in the 2012 round of 16 second-leg. Chelsea has already qualified for the knock-out stages, but still needs to beat the Romanians to guarantee pole position in Group E. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal will clinch qualification, and top spot, with a draw or a victory in Naples. The Premier League table-toppers will also go through with a defeat by two goals or less. Wenger's side enjoys a good record in Italy and with 12 points, is three ahead of Borussia Dortmund and Rafa Benitez's Napoli. The Italian side must beat Arsenal by three clear goals, should Dortmund also win its match against Marseille, which has yet to pick up a point from five losses in five matches. Victory for Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund over Marseille will keep its hopes alive of a return to the Champions League final for the second straight season. Austrian outfit, AustriaVienna, will be bidding to bow out of the group stage with a face saving first win. However, the Russian side, Zenit St Petersburg, is sure to go for the victory that would ensure it progresses even if Porto beat group winner Atletico Madrid in Spain. The host, though, is far from sure performer at home losing three European matches in a row already an unwanted team record. Atletico Madrid has sailed serenely through qualifying and is guaranteed top spot even before hosting former champion Porto. In a delightful twist of fate Atletico can consign Porto to the Europa League just as the Portuguese side did to it in the 2008-09 campaign and the 2009-10 season to boot. AC Milan has had a pretty underwhelming season thusfar and failure to get the draw it needs at home to Ajax and secure its place in the last 16 would all but certainly signal the exit of coach Massimiliano Allegri. For the second consecutive season Milan's run-in to Christmas is anything but festive: it currently sits ninth in Serie A, 22 points behind leader Juventus and 14 adrift of the first Champions League qualifying spot. The Catalan giant, Barcelona, requires a point against the Scottish champion Celtic to ensure it finishes top of the group. Barca will again be without the injured Lionel Messi, Victor Valdes and Dani Alves, but Jordi Alba returned in the Cup win last Friday against Cartagena after three months out and is expected to start. Celtic has nothing but pride to play for as not even a win would get it Europa League football in the New Year. — Agencies
