There will be plenty at stake in Auxerre on Tuesday as they prepare to face Serie A giants AC Milan.
All to play for Tuesday as the battle to reach the last 16 hots up
There will be plenty at stake in Auxerre on Tuesday as they prepare to face Serie A giants AC Milan.
Group G was always expected to be tight, and so it has proved.
Real Madrid may have already booked their place in the last 16, but the matter of who joins them is yet to be resolved.
All three members of the chasing pack could yet make the knockout stages, placing added importance on each round of fixtures.
Auxerre are the rank outsiders to go through, as they sit bottom of the group and know defeat in midweek would end their efforts for another year.
They will be desperate to avoid that fate, and the history books suggest there will be a result one way or another at Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps.
Auxerre have only ever drawn one of their 18 matches in the Champions League, with all seven of their victories coming by a one-goal margin.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Milan boast a formidable record on French soil.
They have suffered defeat just once on their last six visits and know three points on Tuesday, coupled with a loss for Ajax against Real Madrid, would be enough to see them through.
Massimiliano Allegri's side have won only one of their last nine Champions League fixtures, but that was against Auxerre on Matchday One.
Worryingly, they have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six European fixtures on the road.
Langil returns
Steeven Langil will be available to Auxerre boss Jean Fernandez after overcoming a knee injury.
Delvin Ndinga is also back after a leg problem, but Jeremy Berthod misses out with a calf tear.
Cedric Hengbart has stepped up his return to fitness with a run-out for the reserves, while Alain Traore shook off a groin problem to play in Saturday's 1-1 draw with St Etienne and could be considered once again.
Bonera back
Milan welcomed Daniele Bonera back to domestic action over the weekend and expect him to be ready for European duty.
However, Luca Antonini, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Oddo are all absent with thigh problems and their presence will be missed.
Allegri is also short on attacking options, with Filippo Inzaghi (cruciate ligament) and Alexandre Pato (thigh) ruled out for the remainder of 2010.
