5️⃣ big questions ahead of Tuesday's Champions League action | OneFootball

The final round of the Champions League group stage is upon us and there is still quite a bit to play for.

Here are the five biggest questions ahead of tonight’s action.

Can Manchester United somehow qualify?

In what could be a make or break week for both the season and Erik ten Hag’s tenure in charge, Manchester United find themselves needing to beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford to have any chance of qualification for the round of 16.

This is the same Bayern who are unbeaten in their last 39 Champions League group games (a competition record) and only had their record 17 straight group stage wins ended by a 0-0 home draw last time around against Copenhagen.

That result mattered little given the six-time winners had already confirmed top spot. In theory, this should make United’s task slightly easier? Not quite, as Thomas Tuchel and his side will be smarting from Saturday’s 5-1 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as looking to continue their dominance in Europe.

It really should not have come to this for United, with wins thrown away against Galatasaray home and away, as well as away to Copenhagen. Their 12 goals scored are one more than Bayern but their 14 goals conceded are one fewer than Royal Antwerp.

In the latest clash between two of the traditional heavyweights, can United give themselves a puncher’s chance or will Bayern turn up the heat even more on Ten Hag? What odds on a Harry Kane winner?

Or will Copenhagen or Galatasaray seal a rare last 16 spot?

A win is part one of United’s unlikely qualification bid, with part two a draw between the other two sides in Group A, Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

If United do not beat Bayern, a draw will be good enough for the Danish side to seal a first last 16 spot since 2010/11, while Galatasaray have to win in either case.

The Süper Lig champions’ 3-2 win at Old Trafford on matchday two was their first outside of Istanbul in the competition since a last 16 win in Schalke way back in the 2012/13 season. Two in three games would be quite the turnaround.

The season after that win in Germany remains the last time the Turkish giants have made it out of the group stages, so for either side, a famous night possibly awaits.

Can Napoli stop the rot against Braga?

After back-to-back losses to Inter and Juventus put paid to any hopes of retaining the Serie A title they so impressively won last season, knockout qualification here is absolutely necessary.

The reappointment of Walter Mazzari led to a short upturn but things have come crashing right back down under the man who brought Napoli back to Europe’s top table back in 2011/12.

Only a draw is needed here to seal second spot behind Real Madrid, but  the Partenopei have been far from rock solid at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this season – as well as that 3-0 humbling by Inter and three other home league losses, there has been a draw with Union Berlin and a loss to Real Madrid in Europe.

In only their third-ever appearance in the Champions League/European Cup, Braga need a two-goal win to cause an almighty upset in Group C.

Will Napoli’s season sink even further or can Victor Osimhen and co. give a football-crazed city something to look forward to in the new year?

Will Inter or Real Sociedad top Group D?

Napoli’s position at the top of Italian football has been unceremoniously taken by Inter this season, I Nerazzurri more than building on their Champions League final and Coppa Italia success last time around.

Simone Inzaghi’s men sit top of Serie A and have already qualified for the knockout stages, bundling in goals in near-every single game they have played both home and away.

Level on points with Real Sociedad in Group D, the only question that remains is who will qualify as winners and get the so-called “easier draw” in the round of 16?

Inter need a win due to their inferior goal difference, while a draw will be enough for the Basque Country club, who are also enjoying a very strong season – fifth in La Liga on top of easy qualification in their first time sitting at European football’s top table in a decade.

Both sides could be a dark horse to go far if they top the group – particularly Inter given their form and last season’s experience. Who will seal the deal?

Who can salvage something from Group B?

With Arsenal confirmed as group winners and PSV through to the last 16 as runners-up, the meeting between the two sides on Tuesday will be interesting if inconsequential.

But the other match in Group B sees Sevilla travelling to face RC Lens, and it will be one to watch in terms of who will take third spot and qualify for the Europa League.

Which is particularly bad news for Sevilla fans, who are not even allowed to travel to Lens after supporter violence marred the meeting between the two teams back in September.

It means Lens’ home advantage will be even stronger, and the Ligue 1 side just need to avoid defeat here and they will finish third.

Considering Sevilla have not won a LaLiga or Champions League fixture since 26 September, it looks like a huge ask for Diego Alonso’s side to get the win they need.

Are we looking at an early European exit for the Europa League holders?