Tomorrow kicks off the start of the second half of group play. Some big names had better be getting things right quickly if they hope to be playing Champions League football next spring when the knockout phase begins. The heat is on in Milan and Munich while two EPL powers should insure their qualification by simply taking care of business.

No question where the big match is: the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milano.
Real Madrid collapsed in spectacular fashion at home to AC Milan two weeks ago, the start of a major tailspin for the Galacticos. After that loss, the Meringues also managed to get shocked by a third division-level side in the Spanish Cup and it seems only a matter of time before the knives are out for everybody in management.

Of course, all that can change in 90 minutes at San Siro. Victory and Real Madrid is back on track for its expected qualification. Defeat, especially if coupled with a Marseille home win over FC Zurich, would create a high-pressure scenario. Did we really expect that losing Cristiano Ronaldo to injury would create this much havoc?

The other side of the coin is AC Milan, a club in apparent chaos before the second half rally in Madrid. Leonardo was thought to be facing the chop and there were suggestions that Milan's season would evaporate before the end of November.

If the red-and-black collect three points even their harshest critics may be willing to forget the last San Siro appearance in this competition — that was a loss against FC Zurich, of course.

In Munich, Bayern needs a win to pull back level with Bordeaux in the three-team Group A race. The French champs had two penalties saved in their 2-1 home win two weeks ago and the Germans had two players sent off, but there's no reason to think that Bayern faces a major uphill climb. Louis van Gaal's team is deep enough to reverse that result and leave it all up to the two final tests against Juventus and Maccabi Haifa.

Juventus might be the team under more pressure. They need a win in Israel against pointless Maccabi. Even a draw will leave the trapdoor open for a third place finish because their last two in the section are against Bayern and Bordeaux.

Manchester United and Chelsea will qualify if they win as expected. FC Porto can also advance out of Group D if they can defeat APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus and Chelsea wins in Spain.


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TUESDAY TV:
The schedule (all kicks at 14:45 Eastern Standard)
Group A
Bayern Munchen vs. Bordeaux, DTV 462; Maccabi Haifa vs. Juventus, DTV 463
Group B
Manchester United vs. CSKA Moscow, Setanta; Besiktas vs. Wolfsburg, DTV 464
Group C
AC Milan vs. Real Madrid, Fox Espanol; Marseille vs. FC Zurich, 465
Group D
APOEL Nicosia vs. FC Porto, DTV 466; Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea, Fox Soccer Channel, DTV 467