The defending champions can be eliminated today. And Liverpool's long run of European glory can also be extinguished.
Those are the two main story lines as Match Day Five, part one, unfolds across Europe.
Here's a quick look at each group playing today, all kickoffs at 14:45 Eastern except for the Rubin Kazan-Dynamo Kiev game that begins at 12:30 in Russia.
Group E
Fiorentina vs. Lyon, FSC, DTV456
Debreceni vs. Liverpool, Setanta, DTV 468
Liverpool must win in Hungary to have any chance of advancing. Even if they achieve that needed result they will be eliminated from the knockout stage if Fiorentina beats Lyon in Florence. Lyon has already qualified.
Group F
Rubin Kazan vs. Dynamo Kiev, 12:30 p.m., DTV462
Barcelona vs. Inter Milan, FSE, Fox Regionals, DTV469
If Inter and Rubin Kazan both win, Barcelona will be out. The defending champions would be eliminated because even though they could still match Rubin on points, the Russians hold the tie-breaker against Pep Guardiola's team. Inter has been decidedly unimpressive so far, but their two-goal rally in Kiev lifted them top of the group. They will be looking to end the suspense in Barcelona tonight.
Group G
Unirea vs. Sevilla, DTV464
Rangers vs. VfB Stuttgart, DTV465
Raise your hand if you picked the Romanians to advance out of this group. They will if they can beat already-qualified Sevilla tonight and VfB Stuttgart fails to win in Glasgow. However, if the Spanish powerhouse picks up a road win, then Rangers and VfB would both remain very much alive. Rangers, of course, have suffered successive humiliations at Ibrox in their first two group matches while the Germans have been unimpressive, themselves.
Group H
AZ vs. Olympiakos, DTV466
Arsenal vs. Standard Liege, DTV463
Arsenal will advance with a win or a draw; a victory would also clinch first place in the section. If the Gunners do rebound from a Saturday EPL loss at Sunderland and triumph, that would open the door for Olympiakos to qualify with a win in Holland.
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