Crucial Liverpool, Real ties live on Ten Sports
MUMBAI: It?s a do-or-die battle for survival for Liverpool and nine-time champions Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, and Ten Sports, the most watched sports channel of the sub-continent, will be there to bring live what is proving to be the two most important matches of the pool stage.
The four Matchday six games scheduled on Ten Sports on Tuesday, 11 December, and Wednesday, 12 December, are Liverpool?s match at Olympique Marseille; Real Madrid vs Lazio; Roma vs Manchester United and Arsenal vs Steua.
Live telecast on Ten Sports will start at 00:30 hrs IST on Tuesday late night/Wednesday early morning with the Marseille-Liverpool match. This will be followed by the Real-Lazio encounter at 03:15 (delayed) on Wednesday morning. The two top Premier League teams ? Manchester United and Arsenal will be on show starting Manu?s match with Roma at 00:30 hrs IST on Wednesday late night/Thursday early morning , followed by Arsenal hosting Steua at the Emirates Stadium at 03:15 hrs.
Matchday Six will see seven clubs joining nine who have already secured passage to the 16-team knockout stage of the competition. Eight third-placed teams will carry on in the UEFA Cup after the winter break.
Groups A, which features Liverpool, and C, which includes Real Madrid, are thrillers in the making, with all eight teams still in with a chance of qualifying.
2005 champions Liverpool responded to a poor start with two emphatic home wins that threw them a lifeline and they can avoid an early exit with a win at Olympique Marseille. A draw would also be enough for Liverpool, if Besiktas manage to beat group leaders Porto away.
For Real Madrid, a draw will be enough against Lazio at home to progress, but Lazio can be very challenging opponents.
Arsenal and Manchester United have both already made it to the knock-out stages.
The UEFA Champions League starts in September and continues till the champion club of Europe is determined in May. The tournament comprises a group stage features 32 teams in eight groups of four, followed by four knockout rounds.