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Power shift Italy, Germany face Champions League shutout
Updated: Monday March 12, 2001 11:09 AM
LONDON (AP) -- Imagine no German or Italian teams in the quarterfinals of the European Champions League. It could happen when the dust settles Tuesday and Wednesday on the final round of group play. Reflecting the shift in European club power, three Spanish and three English teams could make the quarterfinals. Real Madrid and Valencia are already through, and they were the finalists a year ago when Real claimed a record eighth title in Paris. Leeds has advanced and could be joined by England's flagship side, Manchester United, and perennial No. 2, Arsenal. Italy, which won Europe's most prestigious club trophy three times in the 90s and had a team in eight of 10 finals in the decade, could miss a quarterfinal berth for the first time since 1988.
The last hope is five-time champion AC Milan, which must beat Spain's Deportivo on Tuesday at the San Siro to move on. Germany, too, is on the brink. Four-time champion Bayern Munich needs at least a draw Wednesday against Arsenal at Olympic Stadium to get through. European club power has also spread to the very edge of the continent. Turkish side Galatasary, the UEFA Cup champion last season, is the fourth team already guaranteed a quarterfinal place. Seven teams are still in the chase for the last four spots. The quarterfinal draw will be held Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The most confused scenario is in Group C, where Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Lyon still have a chance. Despite playing at home, Bayern Munich will be in a bind without midfielder Stefan Effenberg, suspended in last week's disastrous 3-0 loss to Lyon. Without him, the offense often sputters. Club president Franz Beckenbauer has ripped his side, saying they played "like old men" against Lyon. A 2-0 league win Saturday over Energie Cottbus ended a five-match winless string but was unconvincing. "We've gotten around the first bend, but with a performance like that we can't win or draw against Arsenal," Beckenbauer said. Bayern will get through with a draw but could be out with a loss. Arsenal needs to win to guarantee a place, but could get through with a draw if Lyon fails to win at Spartak Moscow. Arsenal's Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp, who refuses to fly, has not ruled himself out of traveling by land for the Wednesday game. However, a nagging hamstring injury picked up Saturday may keep him out. Arsenal will be hoping Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu is ready after flying back from weekend international duty. He'll join the French striking duo of Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord. Lyon must win at already eliminated Spartak Moscow to have a chance. Defender Eric Deflandre is suspended, but Lyon gets back Brazilian defender Edmilson, who was on duty with his national side last week. Striker Steve Marlet is also back from suspension. Lyon narrowly beat fourth-division Fontenay-le-Comte 5-4 on a penalty shootout Saturday in a French Cup fourth-round match. In Group A, Manchester United is pushing its luck with recent sub-par European games. The '99 champions saved a 1-1 draw last week against Panathinaikos on Paul Scholes' goal in the final minutes. The Reds qualify if they do no worse than lose by two goals at home to Sturm Graz. If the Austrians win by three, they're in. Valencia is guaranteed of advancing and would win the group by beating Panathinaikos Tuesday at home. Valencia is expected to rest Amedeo Carboni, Fabio Aurelio and Joachim Bjorkland with minor injuries. Mauricio Pelligrino is suspended. In Group B, Galatasaray has qualified and will finish atop the group by beating Paris Saint Germain, which is eliminated. Deportivo plays at AC Milan on Tuesday. The Spaniards will take the second spot with just a draw. AC Milan goes through with a victory. The Spanish champions got a stunning 4-3 comeback to beat PSG last week, and then pounded Numancia 4-1 in weekend league play. Coach Javier Irureta rested Dutch striker Roy Makaay. Makaay will probably start even though Walter Pandiani and Diego Tristan scored eight goals between them against Numancia and PSG. AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni is being upbeat. "We don't need a miracle, but we do need to score one goal more than them," he said. "I don't know what Tuesday's match will be like, only that it will be very, very difficult to beat Milan." AC Milan just held on to a 1-1 away draw Saturday against Atalanta and played poorly in the second half. Italian international midfielders Demetrio Albertini and Gennaro Gattuso, sorely missed in last week's 2-0 loss at Galatasaray, will probably play against the Spaniards. First-choice goalkeeper Christian Abbiati is also back from injury but Zaccheroni may be tempted to play reserve keeper Sebastiano Rossi. Group D has already been settled. Real Madrid has won the group and is guaranteed home advantage in the quarterfinals. Leeds has claimed the second spot. Lazio and Anderlecht are out. Real Madrid will use a host of reserves against Anderlecht, and Raul Gonzalez will sit out a one-game suspension for scoring on a handball last week against Leeds.
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