Tunde Sulaiman
18 October 2005
Lagos — Nigeria's Obafemi Martins can seal a UEFA Champions League first knock out stage qualification ticket with Inter Milan tonight should the Serie A side beat Porto in Portugal as the world's premier club competition continues with Match Day Three action.
The Super Eagles youngster has been in sizzling form for both club and country this season and another fine outing tonight will see the San Siro outfit almost certainly moving into the knock out phase after two straight wins to sit pretty on top of Group H.
The Italians must fancy their chances against a very disappointing Portuguese side, which only two seasons ago defied the pundits to lift the European Cup. Now Porto is marooned rock bottom of the table with no points.
It is thus very obvious to the home side that if they are not to face the ignominy of an early exit from the competition they graced with so much fan fair not too long ago, then they just have to win tonight.
This should thus make for a highly explosive game with two sides needing victory for highly contrasting reasons. For Inter a win will secure them a ticket into the next round, which would allow Roberto Mancini rest some key players for the remaining group fixtures; while for Porto a win is necessary to keep their European dreams alive.
Meanwhile, Martins has told KICK OFF that he wants to use the competition to compensate missing out of the World Cup party.
"Life has to go on, I can't keep ruing forever a missed opportunity of playing at my first World Cup. "I want to focus on the Champions League which is another big stage to prove my worth.
"We [Inter] have a strong squad, we are doing well and getting better after each game this season, I know I am capable of helping the club to success and that much I hope to do.
"I still want to win everything with the club this season, people say we are not capable of doing that but we are not bothered. The most important thing is to keep that focus and that much I'll do."
In the second match of the group, surprise second placed team Artmedia Bratislava, who triumphed in Porto on Match Day Two, host Rangers knowing that a win will also boost their qualification chances. Both teams are on three points each.
European champions Liverpool, which for some unknown reason seem to thrive better in the UEFA competition than in the Premiership, is in Belgium to tackle pointless Anderlecht knowing that a win would keep them ahead of bitter rivals Chelsea.
The Blues, who failed to get the better of Liverpool in the UEFA League on Match Day Two, but then hammered them 4-1 in the Premiership four days later, is home to Real Betis of Spain.The two English teams are on four points each and so the ability to take points off their opponents may ultimately determine who tops Group G.
For fans of Real Madrid the galacticos have brought the good times back to the (Bernabue) following their march to the top of the La Liga table with a comprehensive victory over city rivals Atletico, and the star studded outfit can further make their day with another win tonight in the Champions League, which would keep them in the hunt for an unprecedented 10th title.
Currently third in Group F, Real host Rosenborg of Sweden confident that they should be able to do enough to keep within touching distance of pacesetting Lyon.
However, the one dark cloud hanging over the 'galacticos' is the absence of their Brazilian hit man Ronaldo, who was injury in the weekend's derby match.
But even in his absence Madrid should prove too strong for the Swedes.
French outfit Lyon, the only side with a 100 percent record in the group face a tricky game in Greece against bottom club Olympiakos.
And in the final round of games on Match Day Three Italian giants AC Milan will be seeking to put some distance between itself and other teams in Group E when they host third placed PSV Eindhoven. With only a point separating the two, Milan cannot afford another slip up like they did against Schalke on Match Day Two.
Turkish side Fernerbahce, which is second courtesy of a better goals advantage than PSV, must fancy their chances at home against the bottom team Schalke.
The competition resumes on November 1 with Match Day Four action kicking off.
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