UEFA Cup group stage reaching business end

Two sides in fine form meet on Matchday 4 when FC Metalist Kharkiv hosts Olympiacos CFP, but it is the sides fighting for their UEFA Cup futures that could conjure the most excitement this week.

Pair cruise
Metalist drew plaudits when they ended Galatasaray AŞ's 100 per cent record in Group B on Matchday 3 to move second behind the Turkish side with four points from two games. Should the leaders lose again in their final outing at Hertha BSC Berlin on Wednesday then Metalist or opponents Olympiacos could take over at the top. Qualification would be assured should the Ukrainian outfit triumph but that is far from assured against a side that routed SL Benfica 5-1 last time out.

Misimović impact
VfL Wolfsburg's chances of qualification were hanging in the balance when they were 2-1 down at SC Braga after 83 minutes last Thursday, but a late Zvjezdan Misimović double means a single point at home to Portsmouth FC will ensure their passage to the knockout stages. By contrast two AC Milan goals in the final six minutes meant Tony Adams' side had to settle for a point, their first in Group E, and should they fail to win again on Thursday then SC Braga can end their interest in the competition with victory at SC Heerenveen.

Perfect start
Groups A-D play on Wednesday and Manchester City FC are looking to protect their perfect record with a third Group A win at home to bottom-placed Paris Saint-Germain FC while third meets second as FC Twente entertain FC Schalke 04. Group C pits R. Standard de Liège against UC Sampdoria with qualification possible for both depending on Sevilla FC's result against eliminated FK Partizan. Group D, meanwhile, sees another side with two wins in as many matches, Udinese Calcio, take on NK Dinamo Zagreb while FC Spartak Moskva welcome point-less NEC Nijmegen.

CSKA chance
Thursday's action involves Group E-H with Aston Villa FC also attempting to win three straight matches in Group F at home to MŠK Žilina. Should they triumph then Hamburger SV will join them in qualifying by beating SK Slavia Praha. Valencia CF versus Club Brugge KV is the pick of Group G's matches, with FC København and Rosenborg BK looking to add to their solitary points in the other match. In Group H, PFC CSKA Moskva could become the first side to win all four section matches with victory at second-placed AS Nancy-Lorraine while RC Deportivo La Coruña will progress by winning at KKS Lech Poznań.