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PARIS. — Borussia Dortmund can keep alive their bid to return to the Champions League soccer final for the second straight season with victory over Marseille at the Velodrome tonight.  The Bundesliga side will reach the knock-out stages next February by taking maximum points regardless of what happens in the second Group H fixture between Napoli and Arsenal in Italy.

Napoli, who are on nine points with Dortmund and three behind Arsenal, must beat the English Premier League pacesetters by three clear goals, should Dortmund also win in France.

However it will be the German club who go through with Rafa Benitez’s team due to their superior head-to-head record against both clubs.
Arsenal will go through with a draw or a defeat by two goals or less.

Marseille meanwhile are in turmoil, and fired coach Elie Baup following their 1-0 home defeat against Nantes on Friday, replacing him with Jose Anigo. They cannot even dream of the consolation of Europa League football in the New Year as they are pointless following five straight defeats.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp looked on as his side suffered their fourth league defeat of the season on Saturday when they slumped 1-0 at home to second-placed Bayer Leverkusen but the price was heavier than just three points. — AFP.