Football’s European Champions’ League awaits the serious new year stuff once a few loose ends are tied on Wednesday.
Football’s European Champions’ League awaits the serious new year stuff once a few loose ends are tied on Wednesday. Arsenal and Manchester United each need only to draw, respectively against Porto and Benfica, and only abject pessimists in red shirts need fret — Arsenal beat Porto well enough at home in the qualifying game and although missing their totem, Henry, through suspension next week they have been showing an increasing zest in Europe; and United, of course, have not lost a Champions’ League group game at Old Trafford since 2001. In February’s last 16, both should join Chelsea and Liverpool, already safely in the hat, and who each play their dead-rubber final group games on Tuesday; in the latter’s case, especially, Europe is providing a welcome papering-over distraction from the Anfield club’s bitty, discordant Premiership autumn.
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