A slew of top teams look set to join Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League after the fifth round of group matches this week.
Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain only require a point to advance, while wins for Manchester United and Arsenal could see the English pair emerge from testing groups to qualify for the knockout stage.
However, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, last season's beaten finalist, are the big names in danger of elimination with two group games left.
Here are five things to know about this week's matches in Europe's top competition:
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ENGLISH REVIVAL
There was plenty of soul-searching and head-scratching in English football last season when only two teams from the lucrative Premier League - Man United and Arsenal - reached the last 16 of the Champions League.
The record looks like being put straight this time round.
Man City has advanced for the first time, and with two games to spare, while United, Arsenal and Chelsea all lead their groups heading into matchday five.
A point as Basel is enough for Chelsea to progress from Group E and Arsenal, buoyed by beating Dortmund away last time out, could qualify by beating point-less Marseille in Group F.
United's task looks the toughest. If it loses at German team Bayer Leverkusen, which has won its last eight home games in a row in the Champions League, United will likely take on Shakhtar Donetsk in a winner-takes-all match at Old Trafford in matchday six.
That would test the nerves of United manager David Moyes in his campaign in Europe.
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SPANISH ARMADA
The Spanish league is set to place three teams in the final 16 of the Champions League - and considering their strong records this season, few rivals would want to cross their path.
Real Madrid hosts Galatasaray on Wednesday, looking to seal its spot in the knockout round along with Barca and Atletico.
The only doubt is whether Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit to play after he left Saturday's 5-0 thrashing of Almeria with a suspected hamstring injury.
Madrid demolished Galatasaray 6-1 in their first meeting in Turkey, and even without Ronaldo his teammates scored another four goals to roll over Almeria on the weekend.
Barcelona visits Ajax on Tuesday without star Lionel Messi, sidelined until January with a left hamstring tear, and several other injured players including goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Barcelona didn't miss its all-time leading scorer, however, on Saturday when Andres Iniesta steered it to a 4-0 win over Granada to remain unbeaten this season.
Atletico travels to Zenit St. Petersburg on Tuesday, coming off a 7-0 thrashing of Getafe. Diego Simeone's team has only lost one game in all competitions this campaign.
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DORTMUND ON THE BRINK
Seven points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and on the verge of failing to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League - last season's finalist Borussia Dortmund could see its season unravel before the halfway mark.
Dortmund needs to win Tuesday against Napoli to revive its hopes of advancing from Group F. Otherwise, it will be a trip to the Europa League.
Juergen Klopp's team lost to Bayern 3-0 on Saturday, a scoreline too harsh on Dortmund, which was on even terms with Bayern until late in the match.
"I told my players they have five minutes to be depressed, then we have to carry on," Klopp said.
Associated Press writers Nesha Starcevic, Jerome Pugmire, Daniella Matar and Joseph Wilson contributed to this report.
In My Opinion
Orlando might not have David Beckham, but it has a stadium plan and it beat Miami to the punch for a Major League Soccer franchise. League commissioner Don Garber seems hopeful that by 2017 or 2018, Orlando City SC will have a rival in Miami.
Kim Bo-kyung headed in a stoppage-time equalizer to give Cardiff a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday and deny David Moyes' team a chance to move into the top four.
Barcelona has been hit by another injury, with fullback Adriano ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League game at Ajax.
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