Champions League Preview for Tuesday's Biggest Fixtures

The Champions League Group Stages are just about to kick-off in a few hours and there is still plenty to be decided with several sides on the precipice of either elimination or progress to the knockout stages in 2011.

One of the main areas of focus today is expected to be the Spurs and Inter fixtures where football fans face the very realistic possibility of Tottenham progressing as group winners ahead of the defending champions. Manchester United need to garner a single point to finish top of their group and an easier draw in the second round would be welcomed by Sir Alex, however if Spurs do win their group that means that one group winner will face a tough clash with Inter Milan.

Barcelona vs Rubin Kazan is a dead rubber for the Catalans but the Russian side remain very much in this one though they will require Panathinaikos to get one over FC Copenhagen. Rubin sit at five points- just a single point behind the Danish side. The sides are level on goal difference with Copenhagen having scored two more. Effectively, Copenhagen must lose for Rubin to have a chance and they will also need to take at least a point from Barca in a high-scoring draw if they don’t wind up winning. Barca are listed as the 4/11 favourites while Rubin are at 4/1 for the draw and 13/2 for the crucial away victory.

Manchester United vs Valencia is really all about a battle for top spot at the moment as Rangers can’t catch up to the Spanish side. United were rested at the weekend after their fixture against Blackpool was cancelled and they come into this one as the odds-on favourites at 4/6. Valencia have a vastly superior goal difference so if they can take all three points then they’ll progress as group winners. They are a lukewarm 5/1 shot to do so.

Twente vs Tottenham is likely to get a much larger share of TV viewership than you would have expected it to a year ago. This reads like a potential Europa League semi-final but both of these teams have acquitted themselves fairly well with Harry Redknapp’s side defying all expectations and capitalizing on the swashbuckling form of Gareth Bale. Spurs are an enticing 11/8 to take the win away while the host team trade at 19/10- a proper toss-up this one, though you expect Spurs to take the bulk of the betting volume.

Werder vs Inter is an interesting fixture and it’s especially fascinating that Werder Bremen are considered to be the slim favourites to win this one. You’ll find them priced at a 6/4 listing while Inter can be backed at 17/10. The draw is paying at 12/5 and that will likely be the result here if Inter continue to misfire.