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Juventus host Olympiakos in Champions League, confident Madrid meet low-scoring Liverpool

Associated Press Tuesday, 4 November 2014, 10:15 Last update: about 12 years ago

Juventus needs a win to stay in touch with the top two teams in Group A of the Champions League.

Visiting Olympiakos has the same amount of points as Atletico Madrid, with Juventus three points behind.

Atletico, last year's runner-up, visits Malmo, which earned its only points by beating Olympiakos the last time it played at home in the competition.

But the Swedish team lost in Madrid 5-0.

PIRLO TO THE RESCUE

Andrea Pirlo is coming into form just as Juventus needs him the most.

The midfielder missed the first month of the season with a bruised hip after getting injured in a preseason match.

Pirlo scored his first goal of the season on Saturday with a free kick which helped Juventus to a 2-0 win at Empoli and sent the three-time defending champions three points clear at the top of the Serie A standings.

"I'm improving, I'm working hard during the week and I feel better every match," Pirlo said. "(The win) was an important sign, mainly for ourselves, that enables us to prepare as best we can for Tuesday's game. It's like a final and we must put in a great performance because only one result will do."

NO COMPLEX FOR JUVE

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has no problem with the Champions League.

The Italian side is aiming for a fourth straight Serie A title this season and leads league, three points clear of Roma. However, in Europe it is a different story and Allegri knows anything but a win would leave Juventus on the verge of elimination from the group stage for the second straight season.

"To improve we have to stay calm and not let ourselves be influenced by what people say," Allegri said. "There's no European complex here. We do, however, have just three points and we need to put that right.

"It's 90 minutes in which we are playing to go through. Winning is a must tomorrow."

AERIAL ATLETICO

Atletico Madrid has been honing its finishing skills as it rises to second-place in the Spanish league.

Left winger Antoine Griezmann scored his first two goals this season to give coach Diego Simeone's squad a 4-2 win over Cordoba.

For his second, Griezmann jumped for a header to turn in Juanfran Torres' cross at the near post.

Atletico has scored 12 of its 19 league goals with headers

Having lost 3-0 at home to defending champion Real Madrid, Liverpool needs to rediscover last season's flair and rhythm to keep alive hopes of rising above third place in Group B of the Champions League.

Most of all, coach Brendan Rodgers' team needs to score goals when it travels to meet a supremely confident Madrid in Spain.

Also, FC Basel hosts Lodogorets Razgrad.

GOING FOR GOAL

Cristiano Ronaldo needs to score two goals to take over as the Champions League's all-time leading goal scorer. The Portugal forward's opener in the 3-0 win at Anfield was his first at the Liverpool stadium and his 70th in the competition, one fewer than the record tally of 71 set by Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez.

Madrid's confidence could not be greater and a win will seal its passage to the last 16 with two games to spare.

Madrid took over at the top of La Liga for the first time this season with Saturday's 4-0 win at Granada, increasing its goal total to 46 in 11 games. "We're in incredible form," said midfielder Luka Modric. His partnership with Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has been a key to Madrid's success following the departures of Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria.

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BALE IS BACK

Gareth Bale has returned to full training with Madrid's squad and given coach Carlo Ancelotti an important additional attacking option. After four games sidelined through injury, the 25-year-old Wales forward showed his relief when he tweeted: "Feels good to be at the top of the table and back in training with the boys."

Bale missed the win at Anfield two weeks ago, the Clasico victory against Barcelona and the wins against Levante and Granada. Ancelotti has to decide if he will recall the Welshman to the starting line-up or retain his replacement Francisco "Isco" Alarcon, who has won over fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with his work-rate.

PRESSURE ON BALOTELLI

With striker Daniel Sturridge still missing through injury, Rodgers will again turn to misfiring Italian Mario Balotelli or may replace him with Rickie Lambert.

The Santiago Bernabeu stadium could be just the stage to spur Balotelli, who has gone eight league games without a goal.

Balotelli ignited a spirited fightback by Liverpool against Swansea in the League Cup. Criticized for a string of below-par appearances, Balotelli came off the substitutes' bench to score an 86th-minute equalizer before Dejan Lovren headed the winner. "Finally!" Balotelli tweeted after scoring his first goal in six weeks and only his second for Liverpool since joining from AC Milan in August.

Benfica betting on Talisca in Champions League 

Standing at the top of the Portuguese league, it's time for Benfica to its turn fortunes around on the European stage.

After racking up eight goals in nine Portuguese league games, Benfica needs Talisca to show the same form against Monaco.

The Brazilian is the top scorer in Portugal. He has netted more goals than eight clubs in the league, including the winner in last weekend's 1-0 win at Rio Ave that kept Benfica at the top of the table.

Talisca has so far disappointed, though, in his first season in the Champions League. His masterful left-foot shots haven't found their target, and the Lisbon club is having one of its worst European campaigns ever.

Adding to the concerns of coach Jorge Jesus, Argentine winger Nicolas Gaitan is doubtful with a back injury and central defender Lisandro Lopez is suspended.

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LEVERKUSEN'S BEATING

Bayer Leverkusen had a nasty, bruising, match in Hamburg, losing 1-0.

Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu was singled out for rough treatment after leaving Hamburg in off season on bad terms and endured many fouls. But the team escaped without any major injury and captain Lars Bender is expected to be able to play despite a bruised nose and knee.

Leverkusen leads the group and a victory in St. Petersburg would cement the position.

"We've put ourselves in a good position and we will try to keep it that way," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. "But the group will be decided on the final match day.

"The rival has to attack and we should have some space to counter," Voeller said.

Leverkusen will be without suspended left back Wendell. The Brazilian has been one of Leverkusen's better players and his absence could hurt.

Dortmund on verge of advancing in Group D 

Borussia Dortmund can qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League if it beats Galatasaray in Group D on Tuesday.

Then it can focus on staving off relegation in the Bundesliga.

Arsenal, too, will be assured of advancing if it beats Anderlecht at home and Dortmund defeats - or draws - the Turkish side.

Dortmund has won all three matches so far without conceding a goal and has nine points. Arsenal lost to Dortmund but won the next two and is second with six. Anderlecht and Galatasaray have one point each.

Here are some things to know about Tuesday's matches.

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DORTMUND'S WOES

Despite its perfect record in the Champions League, Dortmund is in big trouble in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund has dropped to next-to-last after losing 2-1 at Bayern Munich on Saturday, its fifth consecutive loss. Juergen Klopp's team has lost seven of its first 10 matches in the Bundesliga season.

The last time Dortmund lost seven of its first 10 was 30 years ago.

Dortmund is even on points with last-place Bremen, which has scored more goals. Dortmund, Champions League finalist in 2013 and winner in 1997, is 17 points behind Bundesliga leader Bayern and 13 points away from qualifying for next season's Champions League.

One thing to remember, though: When Dortmund began the Champions League with three straight victories, it won the title, in 1997.

ARSENAL EYES KNOCKOUT STAGES

Arsenal can secure its place in the second round if it beats Anderlecht on Tuesday and Galatasaray does not beat Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has scored four times in his last two games, spearheading a strike force boosted further by Theo Walcott returning from a torn knee ligament that has kept him out since January.

Walcott made a substitute appearance in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday, and will want to step up his comeback on Tuesday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will hope for a smoother game than the last one against Anderlecht, where two goals in the final two minutes of the match in Belgium secured a dramatic 2-1 victory.

 

 

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