Crucial UEFA Champions League ties on Sky / ITV1

December 4, 2011   ·   0 Comments

The group stages of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League reaches a climax on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 December, with only Arsenal guaranteed progression to the knockout phase so far.

Sky Sports will show comprehensive live coverage of matches including 3 domestic sides, including Arsenal and the must win games for Chelsea and Manchester City.  ITV1′s pick on Wednesday night sees Manchester United visit FC Basel for their crucial tie.  Sky Sports will screen all remaining fixtures live via the red button.

Chelsea v Valencia

Date: Tues 6 Dec | Venue: Stamford Bridge |  Kick-off: 7.45pm | Coverage : Sky Sports HD2

Chelsea have been ever-presents in the knockout round of the Champions League for the past eight seasons, however they will miss out this time should they lose to Valencia , who will also go through if they achieve a scoring draw.

A first defeat of the campaign against Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 5 has put Chelsea FC in jeopardy of failing to progress.  It’s a high-stakes must win encounter live on Sky Sports HD2 on Tuesday 6 December.

Olympiakos v Arsenal

Date: Tues 6 Dec | Venue: G Karaiskakis Stadium |  Kick-off: 7.45pm | Coverage : Sky Sports HD4

Arsenal are already guaranteed qualification to the next stages of the competition, however Olympiakos have put themselves right back in the qualifying picture with victory on matchday five. Another success against Arsenal FC, would leave them with a real chance of reaching the last 16 again.

FC Basel v Manchester Utd

Date: Wed 7 Dec | Venue: St. Jakob-Park |  Kick-off: 7.45pm | Coverage : ITV1 HD

Adrian Chiles is joined by Roy Keane and Gareth Southgate for live coverage of Manchester United’s decisive Champions League group match away to FC Basel. The stakes could not be any higher for United as a defeat would eliminate them from the competition before the knockout stages even begin. A draw will be enough to take United through but Sir Alex Ferguson will not leave anything to chance. These sides fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Old Trafford in September when United needed a last-gasp equaliser from Ashley Young to salvage a point having squandered a 2-0 half-time lead. Commentary comes from Clive Tyldesley and Jim Beglin.

Man City v Bayern Munich

Date: Wed 7 Dec | Venue:  Etihad Stadium |  Kick-off: 7.45pm | Coverage : Sky Sports HD2

Manchester City FC have it all to do in their final Group A fixture against FC Bayern Munich if they are to keep their first UEFA Champions League campaign alive into the new year.

City slipped to third with their 2-1 defeat at SSC Napoli on 22 November and will only prolong their first UEFA Champions League campaign into the knockout stages if they beat Bayern and Napoli fail to win at Villarreal CF.

Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, ITV1, Manchester City, Manchester United, Sky Sports, UEFA Champions League