Lyon, Inter Milan and Barcelona one step away from last 16

REUTERS - Inter Milan and Barcelona, winners of the last two finals, and perennial qualifiers Olympique Lyon can all secure progress to the Champions League knockout phase with two games to spare if they win on the road on Tuesday.

Holders and Group A leaders Inter, who have often left it late to get through in recent seasons, can earn some much-needed respite for their injury-hit squad by beating Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

When they were 4-0 up at halftime against the Londoners in the San Siro that would probably have appeared a straightforward task but 10-man Spurs' fighting comeback to 4-3 via a Gareth Bale hat-trick has put a different complexion on the return.

Barcelona are in a similar situation when they travel to FC Copenhagen in Group D while Olympique Lyon, with a maximum nine points in Group B, will go through with a win at Benfica.

Things are less clear cut in Group C but if leaders Manchester United win in Turkey against Bursaspor they will be almost through. The more intriguing game in the group is in Spain where Valencia, on four points, take on Rangers (five) having drawn 1-1 in Glasgow two weeks ago.