By Myles Palmer
Various incoming phone calls suggest there is some confusion out there about the arithmetic of Group D.
So I figured ANR should share this e-mail from Stewart Joseph,my consultant mathematician :
A win would give us 10 points. Deportivo can then get maximum 10 points,likewise Juve if they win their last two games.
If Arsenal, Deportivo and Juve finish on 10 points, “placings are determined by results in matches between the three teams that are level”.
Deportivo would have 7 points in the relevant matches, we’d have 6, and Juve would go out with 4 points in matches against us and Depor.
If we beat Deportivo and Bayer Leverkusen win their last two games, BL get to 10 points and neither Deportivo nor Juve get to 10 points, and we finish top on the scores in our games against Bayer Lev.
If we fail to win against Deportivo, a draw vs Juve would still be enough to see us through unless Bayer win both remaining matches.
Thanks, Stewart!
Juventus will be without the injured Thuram, Del Piero and Iuliano.
Davids is suspended. Trezeguet is doubtful with a knee injury.
If Juve lose in Leverkusen and then beat Arsenal in Turin they can only get seven points.
If Arsenal already have ten points, neither club will be interested on Wednesday March 20th. Both will be concentrating on the league.
March 11th 2002.