The Tipster: Matchday 12

With the final match of the second group stage of the UEFA Champions League upon us, Tipster returns to offer you a few hints on who to include in your fantasy football selection.

Unresolved issues
FC Barcelona, AC Milan and Manchester United FC are already safely through the second group stage, but with five more quarter-final places up for grabs, there are plenty of unresolved issues.

End of the line
Three sides already know for sure that this is the end of the line. RC Deportivo La Coruña, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Lokomotiv Moskva have all been eliminated from the competition, and their performances this week may well reflect this.

Madrid options
That is why this could be the time to opt for Real Madrid CF's Raúl González as his side - needing a win to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals - travel to Moscow to face a Lokomotiv side without a win at home in the second group stage. Raúl showed his class in the Matchday 11 game against Milan and the reigning European champions will be hungry for goals.

Dortmund determined
Madrid's Group C rivals BV Borussia Dortmund go into their final game against Milan knowing that they must better Madrid's result in Moscow in order to progress. With Milan already qualified, the likes of Jan Koller, Tomáš Rosický and Torsten Frings could be good choices as Matthias Sammer's side go all-out for victory.

Basel challenge
In Group D, FC Basel's slender hopes of qualifying rest on United - who may be inclined to rest key players - taking at least a point off Deportivo, while they must beat Juventus FC by a margin of at least four goals. With their opponents in attacking mode, though, you cannot bet against Juve scoring a couple on the break.

Newcastle hope
In Wednesday's games, Newcastle United FC face FC Barcelona needing to better Internazionale FC's result against pointless Leverkusen to progress. Sir Bobby Robson's side know that it is a tough task but the fates may yet be working in their favour.

Friendly factors
With Inter strikers Alvaro Recoba and Christian Vieri both suspended for the trip to Germany, there is hope for Newcastle, not least because striker Alan Shearer is in irrepressible form with five goals in his last two Champions League games.

Unpredictable group
Group B remains the most unpredictable of all, with caution advised when selecting players from Arsenal FC, AFC Ajax, Valencia CF and AS Roma - any of whom could qualify after Wednesday's results.

Goals at a premium
The only thing that seems likely is that goals will be at a premium - three of the four teams averaged a goal a game or less in the second group stage and with tensions running high on Wednesday, do not expect any dramatic bursts of goalscoring form.