By Tom Sunderland on November 25, 2013
The Champions League makes its comeback this week in the penultimate round of group-stage fixtures, with many qualifying participants yet to find out their fate but so close to making it into the knockout phases.
Teams now nestled back into club matters following the international break, Europe's elite will clash once more in the hopes of claiming the points necessary to advance, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich and Manchester City having already sealed their progress.
Looking to the week ahead, read on for a complete breakdown of these predictions for 5, picking out several key encounters that promise to shape who qualifies from those respective pools.
UEFA.com
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Manchester United
Manchester United were handed one of their toughest group-stage draws of recent memory this season, and it's beginning to show in just how close Group A matters remain.
This week, David ' men travel to the with the hopes of tying up home-and-away results against Bayer , the English side having opened their European campaign with a 4-2 beating of their German counterparts.
Since that meeting, Hyypia's side have gone from strength to strength and now find themselves second to Munich in the rankings, capitalising on Dortmund's loss this weekend to creep further.
Michael Regan/Getty Images
Having said that, Bayer 's defence has been better away from home than anything else this season, but their average of 2.86 goals scored per home fixture poses issues for United, another team largely centred on their attack.
Prediction: Bayer 2-2 Manchester United
Borussia Dortmund vs. Napoli
With Arsenal taking a grip of matters in Group F, and Dortmund could turn out to be the outfits fighting for second spot, despite the fact that the former lie level on points with Wenger's side.
Just as they did against over the weekend, the Black and Yellows will be without the defensive talents of Mats , and Marcel this week, some defensive absences that could tell against the A title contenders.
For Arsenal, a draw between these two might be the most favourable outcome while they take on , and they might be fortunate in that vein.
FC Basel vs. Chelsea
Basel have a healthy history against Chelsea over the last year or so, having met in this year's competition after overcoming the Swiss champions in last year's Europa League.
That being said, it's never been a dull affair between the two, with both sides managing to get on the score sheet in every meeting.
This time around, Chelsea will have more motivation to achieve an away result, considering they can seal a top-two finish in Group E with another three points this week.
Basel have already been shown up at home by this season, and although they managed to claim a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in September, Jose Mourinho's side should have the ammunition to finish the job this time around.
Prediction: FC Basel 1-2 Chelsea
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