AC Milan and Barcelona can wrap up their Champions League group with two matches to spare and reduce their much-anticipated meeting next month to a mere friendly if both win their respective games Tuesday. Benfica, Real Madrid and Arsenal can also progress with wins in this week's matches while Chelsea will virtually ensure its presence in the last 16 if it takes three points. Bayern Munich's game at home to Napoli Wednesday is the pick of the week's matches along with Real Madrid's visit to Olympique Lyon the same evening. After a few early surprises, the group stage is again in danger of becoming a mere warmup exercise for the big teams, contradicting the cliche which says there are no easy games in football. Even Manchester United, which started out with two draws in Group C, could leave itself with a relatively straightforward task to qualify if it beats Romanian champion Otelul Galati at home Wednesday. Apart from Benfica, the only surprise leader in the eight groups is Cypriots APOEL Nicosia, which hosts Europa League champion Porto in Group G. One point clear of Zenit St. Petersburg and Porto, APOEL could drop to third place if it loses and the Russians beat Shakhtar Donetsk in the group's other game Tuesday. Serie A champion Milan visits Belarusian champion BATE, where Barcelona has already recorded a 5-0 win, while Pep Guardiola's side visits Viktoria Plzen in Prague. The Czech champion is unable to play at its own stadium as it does not meet competition standards. Further wins for the big two will guarantee its places in the last 16 and reduce its meeting at San Siro on Nov. 23 to one of academic interest. However, due to the mathematical intricacies of the Champions League, neither of the big two will qualify Tuesday should one of them lose. Arsenal, with seven points, is only one clear of Olympique Marseille in Group F but the combination of remaining fixtures means it will finish in the top two if it wins Tuesday. In the same group, Borussia Dortmund, arguably the most disappointing side so far with one point, hosts Olympiakos. Group E leader Chelsea visits winless Genk, which it thrashed 5-0 two weeks ago, and another win will send it through if Valencia fails to beat Bayer Leverkusen at home. Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's stunning 5-3 win at Chelsea proves his players have finally shaken off the gloom that surrounded the Gunners after their woeful start to the season. Arsenal has won eight of its last nine matches in all competitions and its revival reached a peak Saturday as Robin van Persie's hat trick inspired a sensational demolition of Chelsea. Wenger sees that as a sign that the feel-good factor has returned to his team, which can keep the up-beat mood going with a win over Marseille in the Champions League Tuesday.
