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Vital week for Cottagers

Author: John Harris
Date: 16/12/2009
Football betting

With the last round of group fixtures in this season's Europa League fast approaching, we take a look at the teams that have the chance to seal their passage through to the next stage of the competition.

With the Champions League group stages over, Juventus, Wolfsburg, Marseille, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Rubin Kazan, Unirea Urziceni and Standard Liege all failed to make the grade in the elite competition but they will take some comfort knowing their European adventures will continue.

Meanwhile, in the final Europa League group games, England hopefuls Fulham travel to FC Basel knowing that only a victory in Switzerland will be enough to progress.

AS Roma are already guaranteed their place in the next stage and a win for the Cottagers would see them sneak through at the expense of Wednesday's opponents.

In Group D, Sporting Lisbon's passage is secured and it is up to Hertha Berlin and Heerenveen to grab the second spot.

Hertha face Sporting at home while Dutch side Heerenveen host rock-bottom FK Ventspils and, with Berlin holding a two-point cushion, they should be confident of going through.

Group F side Galatasaray have sealed their place in the next stage but Panathinaikos, who entertain Dinamo Bucharest, must avoid defeat to go through with their rivals.

Last season's UEFA Cup winners, Shakhtar Donetsk, are the online sportsbook third favourites to retain their crown and have cruised through from Group J, while second place is still up for grabs with French side Toulouse and Belgian outfit Club Brugge fighting for progression.

To make things that little bit more interesting, the pair meet in Belgium with the visitors knowing that only a victory will see them prevail.

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Dutch giants PSV are comfortably through from Group K but, with FC Copenhagen and Sparta Prague locked on seven points, second place is certainly up for grabs and, yet again, the two teams play each other in the Czech Republic capital.

Copenhagen are clear of their nearest rivals following their 1-0 win in Denmark which puts them in command on their head-to-head meetings so a Sparta win is the only permutation that will see the Czech side go through.

Group L is one of the few that is already finalised with last term's losing finalists Werder Bremen leading the way as they continue to impress with Spanish side Athletic Bilbao in second.

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