Champions League: Lens must ensure, Manchester United in danger... 5 questions about Tuesday's matches

For some, it is this Tuesday that everything will be decided, while for others, it will be a great evening for honor. The 6th and final day of the group stage of the Champions League begins with RC Lens, who will host Sevilla FC for a 3rd place in the group which allows access to the Europa League. Manchester United, on the other hand, can still reach the round of 16 of C1. But his destiny is not in his hands.

A little. Not playing in the European Cup next spring would be nothing dramatic for RC Lens, whose presence in C1 was already sensational. But failing to finish 3rd in Group B and ending with a home defeat against Sevilla (6:45 p.m.) after the humiliation at Arsenal (6-0) would be a stain. The C3 “is not a consolation prize,” argued Artesian coach Franck Haise. “We must not forget where we come from, everyone, the club too. Being able to continue a European Cup in 2024, I am very happy to have this chance to experience, and we will live it to the fullest,” he added.

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Dayot Upamecano (25 years old, Bayern Munich): Overtaken on the pitch in Frankfurt last Saturday, the Blues defender was unable to avoid the humiliation suffered by Bayern (5-1), their first defeat in the Bundesliga this season. Its rebound will inevitably be expected. If there is no real challenge for the Munich residents on Tuesday, there is for Manchester United, obliged to win. Swinging a match is not Bayern's style, undefeated in their last 39 matches in the Champions League group stage.

Ferland Mendy (28, Real Madrid): He has started 7 of Real's last 8 matches in La Liga, and the last two in the Champions League. It's been a year since Ferland Mendy, often undermined by injuries, last played like this. The left side narrowly missed the 2022 World Cup, and was never called up by Didier Deschamps in 2023. The meeting at Union Berlin (9 p.m.) promises to be a formality for the Merengue who have won all their C1 matches. It is an opportunity for Mendy to confirm his positive trajectory.

Marcus Thuram (26 years old, Inter Milan): He is a key cog in the internal machine, leader of Serie A with the best attack (2.4 goals/match) and the best defense (0.6 goals conceded). Marcus Thuram, scorer against Udinese on Saturday (4-0), continues his great first season in Italy, his country of birth. The Nerazzurri are already qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions League. This is where Thuram will have to show himself to win his starting place with the Blues for Euro 2024, where competition will rage with Olivier Giroud and Randal Kolo Muani.

They will also be out: Olivier Boscagli (PSV Eindhoven), William Saliba (Arsenal), Tanguy Ndombélé (Galatasaray), Kingsley Coman and Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich), Boubakary Soumaré (Sevilla FC), Raphaël Varane and Anthony Martial (Manchester United )

If there is a group to put your binoculars on, it is A. Bayern Munich are guaranteed to be first in the group. Behind it is a mess. Copenhagen (5 points) and Galatasaray (5) face each other in Denmark (9 p.m.), and Manchester United (4), which hosts Bayern, is in ambush. The Red Devils must win to secure 3rd place in the Europa League, and pray for a draw in Copenhagen. Coach Erik ten Hag may be playing for his future.

You will also have to follow the game between Naples and Braga (9 p.m.) in Group C: the Portuguese must win by at least two goals to steal the Italians' place in the round of 16. For the rest, no more suspense. Lens will secure 3rd place in Group B with a victory or a draw against Sevilla, obliged to win in the North (6:45 p.m.). As for Group D, Benfica will snatch 3rd place if they dominate RB Salzburg in Austria (9 p.m.).

Clubs already qualified for the round of 16: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Inter Milan, Atlético de Madrid, Lazio Rome, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, RB Leipzig, FC Barcelona

Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Real Madrid have already validated first place in their group, synonymous with a draw, in theory, more affordable for the round of 16. Only Group D has not delivered its verdict, and there will be a “final” for that: Real Sociedad, leader, travels to Inter Milan (9 p.m.). Being qualified is already an event for the Basques, who had not left the pools since the 2003-04 season, before being eliminated by Lyon.

Jude Bellingham has scored a goal in each of his four Champions League matches for Real Madrid this season. He also scored in the draw at Real Betis on Saturday (1-1). “The “it’s going to stop” doesn’t hold,” noted the newspaper Marca, which lacks superlatives to evoke the prolific English midfielder. With 12 goals in 14 La Liga matches, he is the top scorer in the Spanish championship. We still want to believe in a relaxation at Union Berlin (9 p.m.) in a match where Carlo Ancelotti could save his 20-year-old star. Real, 2nd in Liga, will perhaps be more concerned by Villarreal on Sunday.