Bayer Leverkusen will play host to Chelsea in a crucial UEFA Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday.
Chelsea currently lead a tight Group E table, with Leverkusen only two points behind them in second place. Leverkusen have only a one-point cushion above third placed Valencia, who will be playing host to last placed Genk.
In Group F, Arsenal can seal progress into the last 16 with a home win over third placed Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. Second placed Marseille are three points above Dortmund, and will play host to last placed Olympiacos.
AC Milan will play host to FC Barcelona with first place in Group H at stake on Wednesday. Both teams have already sealed their progress through to the knockout stages, with Barcelona currently holding a two-point lead over Milan at the top of the group.
Group G leaders APOEL FC can become the first Cypriot team to make the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win at second placed Zenit St Petersburg.
FC Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk are third and fourth placed in Group H respectively, and will both need a win when they clash in Donetsk to keep their own qualification hopes alive.
APOEL FC can become the first Cypriot team to make the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a win at Zenit St Petersburg.
APOEL currently lead Group G with an unbeaten record, while Zenit are one point behind them in second place.
Zenit will enter this game in good form, having gone unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions.
Nicolas Lombaerts and Danny are injury doubts for Zenit, while striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov is sidelined with an ankle problem.
APOEL beat Zenit 2-1 to open Group G play, and know they can make history if they can replicate that result in Russia.
Nektarios Alexandrou, Paul Jorge and Ivan Trickovski are all injury doubts for APOEL, while Dionisios Ciotis and William Boaventura will also be assessed ahead of kickoff.
APOEL are also sweating on the fitness of leading goal scorer Ailton, who has scored three goals in four Champions League games so far this season.
FC BATE Borisov will play host to FC Viktoria Plzen in UEFA Champions League Group H on Wednesday.
Both teams cannot qualify for the knockout stages, but know finishing third in the group will give them a UEFA Europa League berth.
BATE are currently in third place and can seal a Europa League berth with a win, while Plzen are only one point further back and can leapfrog their opponents with a win.
Brazilan midfielder Renan Bressan will be a key figure for BATE, and has contributed two goals in four games so far this season.
Marek Bakos will lead the Plzen attack, and the Slovakian striker has scored the club’s only goal so far in this tournament.
Arsenal can seal progress into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a home win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Arsenal will be entering this game in good form, having gone unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions. Arsene Wenger believes his team are focused and can continue their good form on the European stage.
“Everyone is conscious it is a very important night for us,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “We feel strong enough to finish the job.”
Abou Diaby and Laurent Koscielny are fit to play for Arsenal, while Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Thomas Rosicky are sidelined with injury.
Robin van Persie will lead the Gunners attack, and has scored six goals in his last four games for the club.
Neven Subotic is sidelined with injury for Dortmund, the defender suffered a bad facial injury earlier this month that requires surgery.
Midfielder Mario Gotze will be a key figure for Dortmund, and the German playmaker has recently been linked with a transfer window move to Arsenal by a number of tabloid newspapers.
Gotze will be joined in the midfield department by Ivan Perisic, who scored in the Matchday one draw against the Gunners.
Marseille will play host to Olympiacos in an important UEFA Champions League Group F clash on Wednesday.
Marseille currently occupy the second qualification spot in Group F, while last placed Olympiacos are four points further back.
Andre Ayew and Loic Remy will lead the Marseille attack against their Greek challengers, and the pair have combined for three goals and one assist in the tournament so far.
Olympiacos will likely adopt an attacking strategy in France knowing that they will be eliminated from the tournament if they fail to win this game.
Jean Makoun and Pablo Orbaiz are sidelined with injury for Olympiacos and have not made the trip to France.
Shakhtar Donetsk will play host to FC Porto on Wednesday with the qualification hopes of both teams on the line.
Porto currently sit third placed in UEFA Champions League Group G and are three points behind the qualification spots. Shakhtar are two points further back and will be eliminated from the tournament if they fail to win this game.
Midfielder Darijo Srna is suspended for Shakhtar after picking up his third booking during the Matchday four defeat at Zenit St Petersburg. Brazilian midfield pair Fernandinho and Jadson are injury doubts for Donetsk and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano will lead the Shakhtar attack, and has scored two goals in four Champions League games so far this season.
Porto midfielder Fredy Guarin is an injury doubt with a calf injury he picked up playing for Colombia last week.
Hulk will lead the Porto attack as they go in search of three crucial points, and the Brazilian forward has tallied three goals and one assist in his four Champions League games so far this term.
Porto coach Vitor Pereira is well aware that Shakhtar need to win, and has encouraged his team to take a disciplined approach into this game.
“Our opponents will take risks. They’ll do their best to achieve victory. That’s why we should be very careful,” Pereira told the official UEFA website. “I have faith in our team and in the talents of our players.”
Valencia will be looking to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 with a home win over KRC Genk.
Valencia are only three points behind group leading Chelsea, while Genk will be eliminated from the tournament if they fail to win this game.
Ever Banega and Sergio Canales are sidelined with injury for Valencia due to knee ligament injuries.
Jonas and Roberto Soldado will lead the Valencia attack, and have each scored two goals so far in the competition.
Abel Masuero and David Hubert are sidelined with injury for Genk, while Jelle Vossen is fit to lead the attack. Belgium international striker Vossen has scored Genk’s only goal in the tournament so far.
AC Milan will play host to FC Barcelona with first place in UEFA Champions League Group H at stake on Wednesday.
Both teams have already sealed their progress through to the knockout stages, with Barcelona currently holding a two-point lead over Milan at the top of the group.
Mathieu Flamini and Gennaro Gatusso are ruled out with injury for Milan, while Antonio Cassano will not play after undergoing heart surgery this month.
Philippe Mexes, Clarence Seedorf and Pato are injury doubts for Milan and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the Milan attack, and has scored three goals in three games so far in this tournament. Ibrahimovic left Barcelona to join Milan in 2010, and has spoke of his happiness at the San Siro this week.
“I think Milan are the biggest club I have ever played with,” Ibrahimovic told the official UEFA website. “I felt at home from my first day here – they welcomed me with open arms. This city is my second home after Malmo, where I was born and spent many years.”
Andres Iniesta, Adriano and Ibrahim Afellay are sidelined with injury for Barcelona, while Alexis Sanchez should be fit to play. Pedro Rodriguez is doubtful with an ankle injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Lionel Messi will be an instrumental figure for Barca, and is the tournament’s joint leading goal scorer with five goals in four games.
Bayer Leverkusen will play host to Chelsea in a crucial UEFA Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday.
Chelsea currently lead a tight Group E table, with Leverkusen only two points behind them in second place. Leverkusen have only a one-point cushion above third placed Valencia, who will be playing host to last placed Genk.
Winger Sidney Sam will be a key figure for Leverkusen, and believes his teammate Michael Ballack will be a big influence during the game.
“Michael Ballack has international experience and is a great player, and he can help us young players,” Sam told the official UEFA website. “Of course he has been giving us advice. Chelsea is his old club and he can help us.”
Chelsea opened Group E play with a 2-0 home win over Leverkusen, but have had some struggles since then.
Chelsea have won only one of their last four games in all competitions, and manager Andre Villas-Boas is finding himself under fire after some high profile defeats in the Premier League.
Villas-Boas has answered questions this week about his job security, and will be keen to progress in this tournament to ease those concerns.
Michael Essien is a long term injury absentee for the Blues, while striker Fernando Torres is expected to the return to the starting lineup.
In Group F, Arsenal can seal progress into the last 16 with a home win over third placed Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. Second placed Marseille are three points above Dortmund, and will play host to last placed Olympiacos.
AC Milan will play host to FC Barcelona with first place in Group H at stake on Wednesday. Both teams have already sealed their progress through to the knockout stages, with Barcelona currently holding a two-point lead over Milan at the top of the group.
Group G leaders APOEL FC can become the first Cypriot team to make the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win at second placed Zenit St Petersburg.
FC Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk are third and fourth placed in Group H respectively, and will both need a win when they clash in Donetsk to keep their own qualification hopes alive.
APOEL FC can become the first Cypriot team to make the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a win at Zenit St Petersburg.
APOEL currently lead Group G with an unbeaten record, while Zenit are one point behind them in second place.
Zenit will enter this game in good form, having gone unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions.
Nicolas Lombaerts and Danny are injury doubts for Zenit, while striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov is sidelined with an ankle problem.
APOEL beat Zenit 2-1 to open Group G play, and know they can make history if they can replicate that result in Russia.
Nektarios Alexandrou, Paul Jorge and Ivan Trickovski are all injury doubts for APOEL, while Dionisios Ciotis and William Boaventura will also be assessed ahead of kickoff.
APOEL are also sweating on the fitness of leading goal scorer Ailton, who has scored three goals in four Champions League games so far this season.
FC BATE Borisov will play host to FC Viktoria Plzen in UEFA Champions League Group H on Wednesday.
Both teams cannot qualify for the knockout stages, but know finishing third in the group will give them a UEFA Europa League berth.
BATE are currently in third place and can seal a Europa League berth with a win, while Plzen are only one point further back and can leapfrog their opponents with a win.
Brazilan midfielder Renan Bressan will be a key figure for BATE, and has contributed two goals in four games so far this season.
Marek Bakos will lead the Plzen attack, and the Slovakian striker has scored the club’s only goal so far in this tournament.
Arsenal can seal progress into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a home win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Arsenal will be entering this game in good form, having gone unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions. Arsene Wenger believes his team are focused and can continue their good form on the European stage.
“Everyone is conscious it is a very important night for us,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “We feel strong enough to finish the job.”
Abou Diaby and Laurent Koscielny are fit to play for Arsenal, while Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Thomas Rosicky are sidelined with injury.
Robin van Persie will lead the Gunners attack, and has scored six goals in his last four games for the club.
Neven Subotic is sidelined with injury for Dortmund, the defender suffered a bad facial injury earlier this month that requires surgery.
Midfielder Mario Gotze will be a key figure for Dortmund, and the German playmaker has recently been linked with a transfer window move to Arsenal by a number of tabloid newspapers.
Gotze will be joined in the midfield department by Ivan Perisic, who scored in the Matchday one draw against the Gunners.
Marseille will play host to Olympiacos in an important UEFA Champions League Group F clash on Wednesday.
Marseille currently occupy the second qualification spot in Group F, while last placed Olympiacos are four points further back.
Andre Ayew and Loic Remy will lead the Marseille attack against their Greek challengers, and the pair have combined for three goals and one assist in the tournament so far.
Olympiacos will likely adopt an attacking strategy in France knowing that they will be eliminated from the tournament if they fail to win this game.
Jean Makoun and Pablo Orbaiz are sidelined with injury for Olympiacos and have not made the trip to France.
Shakhtar Donetsk will play host to FC Porto on Wednesday with the qualification hopes of both teams on the line.
Porto currently sit third placed in UEFA Champions League Group G and are three points behind the qualification spots. Shakhtar are two points further back and will be eliminated from the tournament if they fail to win this game.
Midfielder Darijo Srna is suspended for Shakhtar after picking up his third booking during the Matchday four defeat at Zenit St Petersburg. Brazilian midfield pair Fernandinho and Jadson are injury doubts for Donetsk and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano will lead the Shakhtar attack, and has scored two goals in four Champions League games so far this season.
Porto midfielder Fredy Guarin is an injury doubt with a calf injury he picked up playing for Colombia last week.
Hulk will lead the Porto attack as they go in search of three crucial points, and the Brazilian forward has tallied three goals and one assist in his four Champions League games so far this term.
Porto coach Vitor Pereira is well aware that Shakhtar need to win, and has encouraged his team to take a disciplined approach into this game.
“Our opponents will take risks. They’ll do their best to achieve victory. That’s why we should be very careful,” Pereira told the official UEFA website. “I have faith in our team and in the talents of our players.”
Valencia will be looking to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 with a home win over KRC Genk.
Valencia are only three points behind group leading Chelsea, while Genk will be eliminated from the tournament if they fail to win this game.
Ever Banega and Sergio Canales are sidelined with injury for Valencia due to knee ligament injuries.
Jonas and Roberto Soldado will lead the Valencia attack, and have each scored two goals so far in the competition.
Abel Masuero and David Hubert are sidelined with injury for Genk, while Jelle Vossen is fit to lead the attack. Belgium international striker Vossen has scored Genk’s only goal in the tournament so far.
AC Milan will play host to FC Barcelona with first place in UEFA Champions League Group H at stake on Wednesday.
Both teams have already sealed their progress through to the knockout stages, with Barcelona currently holding a two-point lead over Milan at the top of the group.
Mathieu Flamini and Gennaro Gatusso are ruled out with injury for Milan, while Antonio Cassano will not play after undergoing heart surgery this month.
Philippe Mexes, Clarence Seedorf and Pato are injury doubts for Milan and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the Milan attack, and has scored three goals in three games so far in this tournament. Ibrahimovic left Barcelona to join Milan in 2010, and has spoke of his happiness at the San Siro this week.
“I think Milan are the biggest club I have ever played with,” Ibrahimovic told the official UEFA website. “I felt at home from my first day here – they welcomed me with open arms. This city is my second home after Malmo, where I was born and spent many years.”
Andres Iniesta, Adriano and Ibrahim Afellay are sidelined with injury for Barcelona, while Alexis Sanchez should be fit to play. Pedro Rodriguez is doubtful with an ankle injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Lionel Messi will be an instrumental figure for Barca, and is the tournament’s joint leading goal scorer with five goals in four games.
Bayer Leverkusen will play host to Chelsea in a crucial UEFA Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday.
Chelsea currently lead a tight Group E table, with Leverkusen only two points behind them in second place. Leverkusen have only a one-point cushion above third placed Valencia, who will be playing host to last placed Genk.
Winger Sidney Sam will be a key figure for Leverkusen, and believes his teammate Michael Ballack will be a big influence during the game.
“Michael Ballack has international experience and is a great player, and he can help us young players,” Sam told the official UEFA website. “Of course he has been giving us advice. Chelsea is his old club and he can help us.”
Chelsea opened Group E play with a 2-0 home win over Leverkusen, but have had some struggles since then.
Chelsea have won only one of their last four games in all competitions, and manager Andre Villas-Boas is finding himself under fire after some high profile defeats in the Premier League.
Villas-Boas has answered questions this week about his job security, and will be keen to progress in this tournament to ease those concerns.
Michael Essien is a long term injury absentee for the Blues, while striker Fernando Torres is expected to the return to the starting lineup.
