28.09. (Wed) 20:45 Valencia - Chelsea

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA Guaita Miguel, Ruiz, Rami, Mathieu Banega, Topal Hernandez, Canales, Jordi Alba Soldado

CHELSEA Cech Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Cole Meireles, Mikel, Ramires Anelka, Torres, Mata

Unai Emery will again go with one striker as Robert Soldado leads the attack, backed up by Jordi Alba, Sergio Canales and Pablo Hernandez. In defence, Victor Ruiz and Adil Rami will start, while in midfield David Albelda is a doubt after limping off at half-time in last week's match against Barcelona.

For the London side, Frank Lampard could once again miss out after being benched for the weekend win over Swansea. Fernando Torres will return to Spain and is likely to start given the domestic ban he faces following his sending off on Saturday. But the chief storyline goes to Juan Mata, who after four seasons at the Mestalla, returns wearing the blue of Chelsea.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Valencia and Chelsea met in the 2006-07 Champions League quarter-finals with the English side winning 3-2 on aggregate.

• The Spanish have one point in Group E after drawing 0-0 with Genk in the first match of their cup campaign.

• Andre Villas-Boas' men have three points after defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in the first game.

• Valencia are coming off a 2-2 draw with Barcelona and a 1-0 loss to Sevilla.

• Chelsea defeated Swansea City 4-1 at the weekend.

• Torres was shown a red card on Saturday in the league encounter, but the former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool star has scored in consecutive games for Chelsea for the first time.

Prediction

Chelsea will have their work cut out for them against a Valencia side who have started their domestic campaign well, and given this is likely to be Andre Villas-Boas' side's most difficult group stage fixture, they could well be content to settle to leave Spain with a point.

Editor's Prediction

Valencia 1-1 Chelsea

Read More

28.09. (Wed) 20:45 Olympique Marseille - Borussia D.

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MARSEILLE MandandaFanni, Diawara, N'Koulou, Morel Diarra, Gonzalez Valbuena, Amalfitano, AyewRemy

BORUSSIA DORTMUND Weidenfeller Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Lowe Gundogan, Kehl Gotze, Kagawa, Perisic Lewandowski

Didier Deschamps will have to do without the services of experienced midfielder Benoit Cheyrou and French international Andre-Pierre Gignac. Defender Djimi Traore, who arrived from relegated Monaco last month, is also set to miss the clash at the Stade Velodrome.
Borussia Dortmund come into the game on the back of a win over Mainz at the weekend, and coach Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to tinker with his selection. Young left-back Chris Lowe will slot in for Germany international Marcel Schmelzer, who suffered another injury setback earlier this month.
Captain Sebastian Kehl is set to retain his place in the team as Sven Bender is eased back into action after the knock he took in Dortmund's game against Arsenal. Long-term absentee Julian Koch is also set to miss the match, while striker Lucas Barrios is unlikely to start, but is expected to take part in the game nevertheless.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Olympique Marseille have lost seven of their last 15 home games in the Champions League.

• L'OM last faced a German team in a European competition in season 1998-1999, knocking Werder Bremen out of Uefa Cup on the back of a 1-1 draw in Germany, and a 3-2 win in France.

• Didier Deschamps has a score to settle with Dortmund as he lost the 1997 Champions League final 3-1 to BVB, while playing for Juventus.

• Borussia Dortmund have won just once in France. In addition, they have not scored in three games away to opposition from Ligue 1.

• BVB eliminated Auxerre 4-1 on aggregate in the 1996-1997 Champions League quarter-final on their way to lifting the trophy.

• Dortmund return to Europe's premier competition after an eight-year absence.

Prediction

Neither team has enjoyed the best of fortunes recently, but Dortmund seems to getting back on track after some rather disappointing performances. Given Marseille's bad Champions League home form, and their struggles in Ligue 1, BVB are likely to bag the three points with the help of a top performance by their key players.

Editor's Prediction

Marseille 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Read More

28.09. (Wed) 20:45 Arsenal - Olympiakos

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL Szczesny Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs Arteta, Ramsey, Song Arshavin, Van Persie, Gervinho

OLYMPIAKOS Costanzo Torosidis, Mellberg, Papadopolous, Holebas Abdoun, Fejsa, Fuster, Modesto, Yeste Mirallas

Arsenal’s well-documented nightmare start to the season seems to have settled down after back-to-back victories over Shrewsbury and Bolton.

It has been reported that Theo Walcott has been ruled out with a knee problem, and Andrey Arshavin is likely to come in if that is the case.

Olympiakos favoured a 4-5-1 formation in their first Champions League tie of the season and given the pedigree of their opponents and the location of the game, it is likely they will do the same again.

Striker Kevin Mirallas is the only forward to start each of the Greek side’s three games so far this season and so is most likely to lead the line.

Defender Olof Mellberg will be familiar to Premier League fans having spent seven years of his career at Aston Villa.

DID YOU KNOW?

• These two sides met in the group stage of the Champions League in 2009, each winning their home tie.

• Neither of these clubs has ever lifted the Champions League in its new or old format. Arsenal were beaten finalists in 2006 and Olympiakos furthest progression was to the quarter-finals.

• Olympiakos have never gained a single point playing in England and have scored only one goal.

• That goal was scored by Brazilian Rivaldo at Anfield in 2004-05 but sparked the comeback which eventually led to a famous Liverpool victory in the competition.

• Arsene Wenger (right) celebrates 15 years as the Gunners’ manager this week. His counterpart Ernesto Valverde has been at Olympiakos just over a year.

• Both managers have suffered the dubious honour of finishing runner-up in a European final. Wenger in the 2006 Champions League final and Valverde in the 2007 Uefa Cup final with Espanyol.

Prediction

Editor's Prediction 
Arsenal 3-1 Olympiakos Piraeus  

Read More

28.09. (Wed) 20:45 BATE - Barcelona

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BATE BORISOV Gutor Baga, Simic, Filipenko, Bordachev Volodko, Bressan, Gordeichuk, Olekhnovich, Rudik,  Kezman

BARCELONA Victor Valdes Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal Keita, Busquets, Xavi Pedro, Messi, Villa

Dmitri Likhtarovich recently returned to action after five weeks out with a muscular problem and may be in contention for a starting place. Vitali Rodionov and Evgeni Kuntsevich are long term absentees with knee injuries and will not return until after the new year. Aleksandr Pavlov is also out, while Aleksandr Yurevich is also sidelined after tearing ankle ligaments.
Gerard Pique returned to action against Atletico Madrid at the weekend after recovering from a calf injury and may be in contention to partner Carles Puyol at the back, who also recently returned from a long-term spell on the sidelines.
Andres Iniesta has not featured for Barcelona since tearing his hamstring in the last Champions League match against AC Milan and is still a few weeks from returning to action. Ibrahim Afellay will be sidelined until after the new year after rupturing knee ligaments in training and Alexis Sanchez is still a long way from returning to action after injuring his hamstring against Real Sociedad earlier this month.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This is the first match in history between the two sides.

• BATE Borisov were in the Champions League group stage with Barcelona's great rivals, Real Madrid, in the 2008-2009 campaign. They lost both their home and away encounters.

• The hosts go into the match looking for their first ever home win in the Champions League proper.

• Barcelona have never played a competitive game in Belarus before.

• Eric Abidal scored an own goal the last time he played in BATE's stadium, during a 1-1 draw between Belarus and France in Euro 2012 qualification.

• Barcelona will be facing an old nemesis in the match. Mateja Kezman was in the Chelsea side who knocked out the Catalan outfit in the last 16 round of the 2004-05 Champions League campaign.

Prediction

The hosts have never won a home match in the Champions League proper and so have their work cut out for them when the European Champions come to visit. Pep Guardiola recently saw his two best defenders return from injury and this may galvanise his side into pulling out a solid and professional performance from Barcelona. The Barca boss will want to get the win in the bag and head straight home. Don't expect a spectacular performance, just one that does the job.

Editor's Prediction

BATE 0-2 Barcelona

Read More

28.09. (Wed) 20:45 Milan - Viktoria Plzen

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AC MILAN Abbiati Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Taiwo Ambrosini, Van Bommel, Emanuelson Seedorf, Aquilani Cassano

VIKTORIA PLZEN Cech Limbersky, Bystron, Cisovsky, Rajtoral Horvath, Jiracek Pilar, Kolar, Petrzela Bakos

Massimiliano Allegri's list of absentees have only marginally improved since the weekend, but he still is forced to contend with a depleted squad. Nevertheless, Alessandro Nesta returns in defence and Massimo Ambrosini looks set to feature for the champions, after the veteran midfielder made a full recovery from his shoulder injury.

However, the same cannot be said for suspended Gennaro Gattuso and injured quartet Robinho, Alexandre Pato, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Mathieu Flamini, but there is slight hope for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who could feature in some capacity. A tactical change is also likely, as it seems that Stephan El Shaarawy will be dropped to accommodate the incoming Ambrosini, and see Aquilani pushed forward in a 4-3-2-1.

For Pavel Urba's visiting outfit, they have only goalkeeper Roman Pavlik as their main injury worry, but the arrival of fellow shot-stopper Marek Cech during the summer seems to have softened the blow. Plzen are set to name an unchanged side from their 0-0 draw at the weekend against Ceske Budejovice, with a 4-2-3-1 system ready to be deployed that has also served them well during their qualifying campaign for the tournament over the summer.

DID YOU KNOW?

• AC Milan have won only two of their last 14 Champions League matches.

• They have lost five of their last nine home games in the Champions League, keeping a clean sheet just once.

• However, the Rossoneri have won all of their four home games against Czech clubs in Europe.

• The only Czech side to beat AC Milan were Slovan Liberec back in the 2002-03 edition of the competition.

• Czech teams have conceded 11 goals in four trips to Italy since the inception of the Champions League.

• This will be the first competitive meeting between AC Milan and Viktoria Plzen.

• Plzen are unbeaten in their last five games and seven European fixtures, while losing just twice in 16 matches this season.

Prediction

Despite having to contend with a number of key performers missing, the Serie A champions should still easily sail to victory on Wednesday, and it is potentially tricky encounters such as these which Milan will have to overcome in convincing fashion if they are to make a significant impact on this season's competition. Despite an ageing midfield, their sheer experience and know-how, coupled with the imagination and invention of Aquilani and Cassano in attack should prove to be a deadly combination, if not the quickest. Nesta's return will also prove to be a huge benefit, as Plzen's unpredictable, yet prolific frontline will need to be promptly dealt with.

Editor's Prediction

AC Milan 2-0 FC Viktoria Plzeň

Read More

28.09. (Wed) 20:45 Bayer Leverkusen - Racing Genk

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYER LEVERKUSEN LenoCastro, Reinartz, Toprak, Kadlec Bender, Rolfes Sam, Renato Augusto, SchurrleKiessling

GENK KotelesNgongca, Simaeys, Nadson, Pudil Dugari, Hubert, Buffel TozserVossen, Nwanganga

Robin Dutt faces some selection headaches as he will have to do without the services of no less than five players. Long-term absentees Rene Adler and Tranquillo Barnetta are certain to miss the clash with Genk, and will be joined on the sidelines by Michael Ballack, Daniel Schwaab and Michael Ortega.

Germany international Andre Schurrle is set to return to the starting line-up after missing the match against Bayern Munich as he was serving a suspension.

The only notable absentee for Genk is 24-year-old centre-half Torben Joneleit, who is sill recuperating from injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bayer Leverkusen defeated Genk 4-1 in a friendly earlier this year, courtesy of a hat-trick by Eren Derdiyok.

• The Factory squad are unbeaten in their last three games against Belgian opposition.

• Bayer Leverkusen appear in the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Back in 2004, they won all their home games in their group, winning 3-0 against Real Madrid, 3-1 against Roma, and 3-0 against Dynamo Kiev.

• Genk's only other participation in the Champions League was back in season 2002-2003. The Belgian team finished finished with four points and bottom of their group, which included Real Madrid, Roma and AEK.

• No less than three coaches have tried their hand at the helm at Genk in two months. Frank Vercauteren resigned after the 2-1 loss to Maccabi Haifa, he was succeeded by caretaker coach Pierre Denier, who in turn handed the reigns to current coach Mario Been.

• The Belgian team's last visit to Dortmund was an enjoyable one as they defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the third round of the 2004 Intertoto cup.

Prediction

Despite the fact that Leverkusen come into the game on the back of three consecutive defeat, they have enough quality to see off Genk without much trouble. The Factory squad have already defeated the Belgian champions once this year, and considering the importance of this game to their ambitions for qualification, and the fact that they have a point to prove, they should be able to win on Wednesday.

Editor's Prediction

Leverkusen 2-0 KRC Genk

Read More

28.09. (Wed) 20:45 Shakhtar - APOEL

unknown

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SHAKHTAR DONETSK Rybka Srna, Kucher, Chyzhov, Shevchuk Hubschman, Jadson Eduardo, Teixeira, Willian Luiz Adriano

APOEL   Chiotis Poursaiditidis, Jorge, Oliveira, Boaventura Morais, Pinto Trickovski, Marcinho, Manduca Ailton

Following their red cards in Portugal a fortnight ago, Yaroslav Rakytskiy and Dmytro Chygrynskiy will miss the trip to Cyprus, with Oleksandr Kucher and Oleksandr Chyzhov set to step in.

APOEL are set to stick to a winning formula, naming an unchanged team to the side that beat Zenit on matchday one. Ailton, who fired the side into the group stage will continue up front, while Manduca and Trickovski, who caused Zenit so much trouble down the flanks, will keep their places for the trip to Ukraine.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Shakhtar won all of their group stage home games last year, including victories against Arsenal and eventual Europa League finalists Sporting Braga.

• The Ukrainian side won the last ever edition of the Uefa Cup in 2008-09.
  
  
• Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu has reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League with three different teams - Inter, Galatasaray and Shakhtar last season.
  
  
• APOEL have an impressive away record in Europe, having come away from both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid with unlikely points.
  
  
• The Cypriot side's victory over Zenit was their first-ever victory in the Champions League proper.
  
  
• This is the first time these two sides have met each other in European competition.

Prediction

A huge factor in APOEL's victory over Zenit was home advantage, and without the passionate GSP Stadium support, they could struggle. Beyond that, Shakhtar's stadium has become a fortress for them which saw convincing victories over the likes of Roma and Arsenal last season, and I'd expect the Ukrainian champions to cruise to victory over their ostensibly weak opposition.

Editor's Prediction

Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 APOEL Nicosia

Read More

28.09. (Wed) 18:00 Zenit - Porto

Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG Zhevnov Anyukov, Lombaerts, Hubocan, Criscito Shirokov Denisov, Danny, Fayzulin  Kerzhakov, Bukharov

PORTO Helton Fucile, Rolando, Otamendi, Alvaro Pereira FernandoMoutinho, Defour Hulk, Kleber, James Rodriguez

Zenit's No.1, Vyacheslav Malafeev, has not yet fully recovered from an injury and will remain doubtful for the match until the last minute. Yuri Zhevnov will be given the nod to start if the Russian shot-stopper is not given the go-ahead. Bruno Alves is suspended after seeing red in the 2-1 defeat at APOEL a fortnight ago. Porto will have to do without Freddy Guarin, who will serve the second of a two-match ban for his red card against Barcelona in the Uefa Super Cup. It was initially expected the Colombian would only be suspended for one match, but it has been confirmed he will have to sit out one more game, after missing his side's 2-1 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk.
James Rodriguez returns to coach Vitor Pereira's plans after missing Friday's 2-2 draw against Benfica through suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This is the first match in history between the two sides.

• Porto have won all the matches they have played on Russian soil.

• The Portuguese champions posted 1-0 and 5-2 victories at CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow, respectively, last season, before going on to win the Europa League.

• Zenit St Petersburg have two Portuguese players - Bruno Alves and Danny - in their ranks, though only the latter will be allowed to play this game, as the centre-back is suspended.

• The Russian side have achieved mixed results their matches against Portuguese opposition: in the 2005-06 Uefa Cup, they beat Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 at home, but in the 2009-10 Europa League play-off, they lost to CD Nacional 5-4 on aggregate thanks to a late goal from Ruben Micael.

• Both Porto and Zenit are topping the league in their respective countries.

• This will be Hulk's 20th match in the Champions League.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction 
Zenit 1-1 Porto

Read More

27.09. (Tue) 20:45 Real - Ajax

Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Ramos, Varane, Albiol, Arbeloa Khedira, Xabi Alonso Di Maria, Ozil, RonaldoBenzema

AJAX Vermeer Van der Wiel, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Anita De Jong, Eriksen, JanssenSulejmani, Sigthorssson, Boerrigter

The home side will be without Fabio Coentrao and Pepe who are both struggling with injury, while Ricardo Carvalho is also a major doubt after missing Madrid's win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend with concussion.
Sami Khedira may return to replace Lassana Diarra in midfield and Mesut Ozil could start in front of Kaka in attack after impressing at the weekend in a substitute appearance. Marcelo is suspended, so Alvaro Arbeloa will likely deputise at left-back.
Miralem Sulejmani and Vurnon Anita have recently recovered from injuries and will start against Jose Mourinho's men although the Dutch club will be without Nicolai Boilesen, who has a hamstring injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The two sides met in the group stage of the competition last season with Madrid winning both occasions, 2-0 at the Bernabeu and a 4-0 demolition at the Amsterdam Arena.

• In last campaign's meeting in the Netherlands, Madrid saw Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso both controversially sent-off for receiving second yellows in the closing stages of the game, meaning both entered the knockout stages with clean disciplinary records.

• Ajax defeated the Spanish giants in the semi-finals of the European Champion Club's Cup, winning 2-1 at home before recording an impressive 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu, courtesy of Gerrie Muhren's goal.

• The Dutch side are involved in the Champions League for the 10th time and won the competition back in 1995 against AC Milan.

• Last season, Madrid ended a run of six successive last 16 eliminations by beating Lyon and eventually reaching the semi-finals where they were defeated by Barcelona.

• The two sides have met on 8 occasions with Ajax winning four of the matches and losing three with the other game ending in a draw.

Prediction

Expect Jose Mourinho's men to have too much for the Dutch club when the sides meeting on Tuesday. As seems to be always the case, Ajax have several highly promising talents but will arrive at the Bernabeu with an inexperienced squad, something that Ronaldo and co will be able to take full advantage of.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 3-0 Ajax

Read More