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Trio on track for next stage

Arsenal FC, Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF can all make certain of UEFA Champions League progress on Tuesday.

Arsenal FC, Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF can all make certain of their place in the second group stage of the UEFA Champions League tonight.

Domestic setbacks
Despite all three clubs suffering domestic setbacks over the weekend, they will become the first teams to book their place if they can record victories on Matchday Four of Europe's premier club competition. Arsenal and Valencia have 100 per cent records in Groups A and B, while defending champions Madrid have seven points from their first three games in Group C.

Pires return
In Group A, AJ Auxerre travel to Arsenal knowing that they must win to have any chance of making it through. Arsenal, who welcome back Robert Pires, have been majestic in European action this season and have scored seven without reply in their three games. However, they fell to their first English Premiership defeat of the season on Saturday, 2-1 against Everton FC, and will be keen to avoid a repeat tonight. BV Borussia Dortmund can also make it through if they beat PSV Eindhoven and Auxerre lose.

Battling it out
FC Basel and Liverpool FC are battling it out for second place in Group B behind Valencia, who lost top spot in Spain after a 1-1 draw with Club Atlético de Madrid. Basel welcome the Spanish champions aiming for revenge after a 6-2 defeat in Valencia on Matchday Three. Liverpool, level with Basel on four points behind Valencia's nine, travel to Russia to meet FC Spartak Moskva, one of only two teams yet to record a point in the competition. The Reds will be in high spirits after taking top spot in England at Arsenal's expense on Saturday.

Tough task
Despite a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Racing Santander in the Primera División on Saturday, nine-times European champions Madrid are firmly in control of Group C and a win at home to Greece's AEK Athens FC will see them through. However, it promises to be a tough task as AEK proved with a 3-3 draw against Madrid last time out. Madrid will be without French midfield player Claude Makelele who is being rested for the match. The other game in the group could see AS Roma cement second place by beating Belgian side KRC Genk in the Italian capital.

Decisive encounter
Group D continues to be wide open with Olympique Lyonnais, Internazionale FC and AFC Ajax all still firmly in contention. A potentially decisive encounter takes place in France between leaders Lyon and second-placed Inter, with the Italian team looking to avenge their 2-1 defeat at the San Siro three weeks ago. Ajax have four points like Inter, two less than Lyon, but the Dutch side have the easiest game, at home to Norwegian champions Rosenborg, who won their domestic title for the eleventh time over the weekend but have just two Champions League points.