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Wednesday's Champions League permutations: Who needs what to make it through?

Sports Mole looks at the permutations for each group ahead of Wednesday's Champions League matchday six fixtures.

This week heralds the final round of Champions League group games, with a lucrative place in the knockout stages of the competition still up for grabs for plenty of teams.

Some of Europe's biggest names will be battling to stay in the competition, while others will be trying to secure top spot and, in theory, an easier passage through the latter stages.

For those who miss out on Champions League football after Christmas, there is still the Europa League to fall back on, with third place in the group enough to see them drop into the continent's secondary competition.

Here, Sports Mole looks at the permutations for each group taking place on Wednesday.



Group E

Barcelona coach Xavi during the match on November 23, 2021© Reuters

FIXTURES

8pm - Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona
8pm - Benfica vs. Dynamo Kiev

CL Group E

Barcelona could be the biggest casualties of the Champions League group stage, with their progression to the last 16 hanging by a thread heading into their daunting match away to group leaders Bayern Munich.

Barca do currently sit second and know that a victory will guarantee their place in the knockout stages, but any slip-up would open the door for Benfica, who would leapfrog the Catalans if they win and Barcelona do not.

Bayern are already guaranteed to progress as group winners, while Dynamo Kiev can finish no higher than fourth having taken just one point and scored only one goal in their five outings so far.



Group F

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Arsenal on December 2, 2021© Reuters

FIXTURES

8pm - Manchester United vs. Young Boys
8pm - Atalanta BC vs. Villarreal

CL Group F

New interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick will not have the concern of securing a Champions League knockout place in his first European game at the helm, with the Red Devils already guaranteed top spot.

There is plenty to play for behind them, though, with Villarreal needing to avoid defeat away at Atalanta to join Man United in the last 16.

If the La Liga outfit do lose then they will finish third and drop into the Europa League, while Atalanta would leapfrog them into second place.

A draw in that match would see Atalanta forced to settle for a Europa League spot, and a defeat for the Italian outfit could see them drop all the way down to fourth if Young Boys manage to do the double over Man United.



Group G

Lille's Jonathan David celebrates scoring their first goal with Burak Yilmaz on November 23, 2021© Reuters

FIXTURES

8pm - Red Bull Salzburg vs. Sevilla
8pm - Wolfsburg vs. Lille

CL Group G

There is everything to play for on what is sure to be a dramatic final matchday in Group G, with all four teams separated by just three points.

Lille currently lead the way and will make it into the last 16 if they simply avoid defeat at Wolfsburg, while a victory would secure top spot.

Even a draw could be enough to finish top of the pile if Red Bull Salzburg fail to beat Sevilla, but a victory for Salzburg and dropped points for Lille would see the Austrian outfit finish first.

Salzburg only need to avoid defeat to progress, whereas Sevilla need to win to guarantee their place in the last 16, and coupled with a defeat for Lille that would be enough for them to top the pile.

Even fourth-placed Wolfsburg can still finish top if they beat Lille and the other match ends all square, and regardless of the other result a win for the Bundesliga club would see them through to the knockout stages.



Group H

Chelsea's Jorginho celebrates scoring their first goal with Marcos Alonso on November 28, 2021© Reuters

FIXTURES

5.45pm - Juventus vs. Malmo
5.45pm - Zenit St Petersburg vs. Chelsea

CL Group H

Chelsea's place in the last 16 is already secure, but they do still have work to do to wrap up top spot when they travel to Russia.

Victory will be enough to progress as group winners, but they will also finish first if they match or better Juventus' result against Malmo.

Juve themselves are also already through, and if they do manage to better Chelsea's result then they will finish top of the pile.

Zenit St Petersburg can finish no higher or lower than third place and so will be playing Europa League football in the New Year, while Malmo have already been condemned to a fourth-placed finish.

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Barney Corkhill
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