Africans in UCL action tonight: Mane’s Liverpool look to seal progression

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Nov 21, 2017. 09:00

Sadio Mane will look to inspire Liverpool to a result which will seal their place in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League when Matchday 5 begins this evening.

The Senegalese returned from injury to face his former side Southampton this past weekend and is expected to feature strongly for the Reds when they face Sevilla in a top-of-the-table Group E match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

A win for Jurgen Klopp’s side, which can also call on Mohamed Salah and Joel Matip, will seal a place in the last 16 of the competition if they can win in Spain - though a defeat would leave them vulnerable to being overtaken by Ze Luis’ Spartak Moscow.

In Group F, Sofyan Amrabat’s Feyenoord have the unenviable task of heading to the Etihad to face a rampant (and already qualified) Manchester City, while Kalidou Koulibaly’s Napoli must win at home to Shakhtar Donetsk if they are to have any chance of reaching the last 16.

In Group G, Vincent Aboubakar and Yacine Brahimi will need to continue their fine form for Porto when they face a tough trip to Istanbul to take on leaders Besiktas, while Naby Keita’s RB Leipzig and Keita Balde’s Monaco will both target a win in their meeting in Germany to keep alive hopes of advancing.

In Group H, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will want to return from a disciplinary suspension handed to him by Borussia Dortmund when they host Tottenham Hotspur, while Moroccan Achraf Hakimi’s Real Madrid start as clear favourites against Mickael Pote’s APOEL.

UEFA Champions League Matchday 5 fixtures - Tuesday 21 November
All matches at 21h45 CAT unless otherwise stated

Group E
Spartak Moscow v Maribor - 19h00 CAT
Sevilla v Liverpool

Group F
Manchester City v Feyenoord
Napoli v Shakhtar Donetsk

Group G
Besiktas v Porto - 19h00 CAT
Monaco v RB Leipzig

Group H
APOEL v Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham Hotspur