There’s 48 games left in the first group phase of the Champions League, but some of these games mean a lot more than others. Here’s a summary status of each of the 8 groups and the key remaining matches. To simplify I’ve clustered the groups based on their similar status. Keep in mind that a key feature of the new Champions League format is that the top 2 teams from each group advance together where they will join another pairing of two teams into a new group of 4. The two matches between the advancing teams will also carry over into the standings of the new group. For most of the groups it’s fairly clear who’s likely to advance, so I’ve projected the carry over standings. Keep in mind that an upset could change the predictions, but for the most part it’s fairly unlikely.

[b]Cluster 1 (1 dominant team): [/b]In these groups it looks like there is one dominant team clearly on course to take 4 points into the next round. The only remaining matches of mild interest are the showdowns between the 2nd and 3rd place to see who will also advance (albeit with 0 points)

[b]Group B[/b] (Likely Carry Over Standings)
Ciudad Real 4 Points
Svendborg or Sarajevo 0 Points

Key Remaining Match: Svendborg at Sarajevo (22 Nov, 1730)
– Svendborg won the first match 30-26

[b]Group D [/b](Likely Carry Over Standings)
Hamburg 4 Points
FCK Handbold or Tatran Presov 0 Points

Key Remaining Match: Tatran Presov at FCK Handbold (22 Nov, 1610)
– FCK Handbold won the first match 33-32

[b]Cluster 2 (2 dominant teams): [/b]In these groups there are 2 teams that are destined for the next round. The only question is how many points will these teams carry over. In each case these teams have already played once, so one team already has 2 points or in the case of Zagreb-Rhein Neckar, 1 point a piece.

Also, of interest is the head to head goal differential as that could decide who advances if the 2 teams are tied on point at then end of the next round. As an example Celje will not only want to beat Chambery, they will try and win by 8 goals if possible. And if you really want to get complicated the next tie breaker is away goals scored, so a 7 goal victory would be enough if they can keep Chambery under 30 goals

[b]Group A [/b](Likely Carry Over Standings)
Chambery 2 or 4 Points
Celje 0 or 2 Points

Key Remaining Match:
– Chambery at Celje (16 Nov, 1600) – Chambery won the first match 37-30

[b]Group C [/b](Likely Carry Over Standings)
Kiel 2 or 4 Points
Barcelona 0 or 2 Points

Key Remaining Match:
-Barcelona at Kiel (23 Nov, 1730) – Kiel won the first match 31-27

[b]Group F [/b](Likely Carry Over Standings)
Veszprem 2 or 4 Points
Flensburg 0 or 2 Points
Haukar: They have an outside chance as well, based on their surprise upset of Veszprem.

Key Remaining Matches:
– Flensburg at Haukar (8 Nov, 1930) – Haukar beat Veszprem on their home court; Can they do it to Flensburg too?
– Veszprem at Flensburg (16 Nov, 1730) – Veszprem won the first match 29-28

[b]Group G [/b](Likely Carry Over Standings)
Ademar 2 or 4 Points
Montpellier 2 or 0 Points

Key Remaining Match:
Montpellier at Ademar (16 Nov, 1700) – Ademar won the first match 25-21

[b]Group H[/b] (Likely Carry Over Standings)
Rhein Neckar 1 or 3 Points
Zagreb 1 or 3 Points

Key Remaining Match:
– Zagreb at Rhein Neckar (13 Nov, 2000) – Rhein Neckar and Zagreb drew the first match 33-33

[b]Cluster 3 (AKA Group E: Somebody has to win this thing):[/b] This group is the closest one I’ve ever seen in Champions League Group play. Chekhov so far, is the only team to win a road game. If both home teams win this weekend (Koper hosts Bucharest and Portland San Antonio hosts Chekhov) there will be a 4 way tie for 1st place with all 4 teams level at 4 points.

Key Remaining Matches: (Right now they are all key!)
– Bucharest at Koper (8 Nov, 1745) -Bucharest won the first match 28-26
– Chekhov at Portland San Antonio (8 Nov, 2000) Chekhov won the first match 34-26
– Koper at Chekhov (15 Nov, 1400) Chekhov won the first match 35-28
– Portland San Antonio at Bucharest (15 Nov, 1900) Portland San Antonio won the first match 38-30
– Koper at Portland San Antonio (22 Nov, 2000) – Koper won the first match 31-29
– Bucharest at Chekhov (23 Nov, 1400) – Bucharest won the first match 34-32

[b]EHFTV Website:[/b] www.ehftv.com

[b]Chronological Schedule of Remaining Key Matches[/b] (All times are CET- 6 hours ahead of New York)

– Bucharest at Koper (8 Nov, 1745)
– Chekhov at Portland San Antonio (8 Nov, 2000)
– Flensburg at Haukar (8 Nov, 1930) – Haukar upset Veszprem when they visited Iceland; Can they surprise Flensburg too?

– Zagreb at Rhein Neckar (13 Nov, 2000) – Rhein Neckar and Zagreb drew the first match 33-33

– Koper at Chekhov (15 Nov, 1400)
– Portland San Antonio at Bucharest (15 Nov, 1900)

– Chambery at Celje (16 Nov, 1600) – Chambery won the first match 37-30
– Montpellier at Ademar (16 Nov, 1700) – Ademar won the first match 25-21
– Veszprem at Flensburg (16 Nov, 1730) – Veszprem won the first match 29-28

– Tatran Presov at FCK Handbold (22 Nov, 1610) – FCK Handbold won the first match 33-32
– Svendborg at Sarajevo (22 Nov, 1730) – Svendborg won the first match 30-26
– Koper at Porland San Antonio (22 Nov, 2000)

– Bucharest at Chekhov (23 Nov, 1400)
– Barcelona at Kiel (23 Nov, 1730)- Kiel won the first match 31-27