06.12. (Tue) 20:45 Chelsea - Valencia

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA Cech Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole Meireles, Ramires, Lampard Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

VALENCIA Alves Miguel, Rami, Dealbert, Alba Costa, Topal Feghouli, Jonas, Mathieu Soldado

After being lucky not to be sent off within five minutes and otherwise enduring a difficult afternoon against Newcastle on Saturday, David Luiz may be considered too big a risk to play by Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas, with Jose Bosingwa the likeliest addition and Branislav Ivanovic moving into the centre of defence. Fernando Torres is almost sure to be on the bench once more with Didier Drogba continuing in the central striking role, with no new injury worries to report for the hosts.

The likes of Jonas, Sofiane Feghouli and in-form striker Roberto Soldado were all rested for Valencia by coach Unai Emery for the weekend's 2-1 home win over Espanyol and will surely return for the visit to Stamford Bridge. Central defender Victor Ruiz is unlikely to be able to return yet, with Angel Dealbert set to continue in his place.

DID YOU KNOW?

• A win would put Chelsea into the last 16, as would a goalless draw, which would see the Blues level with Valencia on points but through due to scoring an away goal in the reverse fixture between the two sides, a 1-1 draw on September 28.

• Chelsea's 3-0 victory over Newcastle on Saturday was only their second win in five games in all competitions.

• Valencia are one goal away from recording their 150th strike in the European Cup/Champions League over the years.

• Fernando Torres is the only player to have scored more than one goal for the Blues in Europe so far this season, having netted twice during a 5-0 triumph over Genk on October 19.

• The Liga side have won their last two Champions League matches, both at home, first a 3-1 success against Bayer Leverkusen before a 7-0 thumping of the Belgians.

Prediction

The Blues are unlikely to add to their two clean sheets in a row, given their overall defensive record this season and the red-hot form of Roberto Soldado, but they have a manager in Andre Villas-Boas who knows that nothing less than success will do if he is to avoid a serious reevaluation of his position from owner Roman Abramovich.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 2-1Valencia

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06.12. (Tue) 20:45 Racing Genk - Bayer Leverkusen

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

GENK Koteles Vanden Borre, Ngongca, Nadson, Pudil Buffel, Camus, Tozser, Limbombe Nwanganga, Barda

BAYER LEVERKUSEN Leno Castro, Reinartz, Friedrich, Kadlec Schurrle, Bender, Ballack, Sam Derdiyok, Kiessling

It is tough to call how Mario Been will line up his side as the Belgians find themselves amidst a full-blown injury crisis. Left-sided winger Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out for three weeks with a broken toe, adding to the already sizeable list which includes Abel Masuero, skipper David Hubert, Jeroen Simaeys and Torben Joneleit.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Khaleem Hyland or Jelle Vossen will feature, as the duo missed the club's previous match against Beerschot with a foot knock and the flu respectively.

For the Germans, who have already qualified, long-term injury woes keep Tranquillo Barnetta and Rene Adler out of the side, while Karim Bellarabi and Hanno Balitsch have been sidelined with thigh injuries.

Omer Toprak will probably miss the clash as well as he recovers full from a pelvic problem, having fallen awkwardly whilst playing Hertha Berlin last week.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Genk's previous Champions League match, a 7-0 defeat to Valencia, was the Belgian side's heaviest ever defeat in Uefa competition, beating their previous 6-0 record against Real Madrid in 2002.

• Jelle Vossen, who remains a doubt for Tuesday's match, has scored Genk's only goal of the competition so far.

• The hosts are joint leaders of goals conceded in the Champions League this year with 15, level with Dinamo Zagreb.

• While Genk are on a three-match losing streak away from home, the Belgians are unbeaten in four matches at home.

• Bayer Leverkusen's Michael Ballack, Michal Kadlec, Stefan Kiessling and Omer Toprak will earn suspensions with their next yellow cards.

• In-form Eren Derdiyok – who scored the equaliser against Chelsea two weeks ago – has scored five goals in his last three matches, including a hat-trick against Hertha Berlin at the end of last month.

Prediction

Amid an injury crisis and already out of Europe completely as they sit six points adrift from the nearest teams above, the hosts have only pride to play for. And, with the Belgian league to think about as well, Genk could be excused if they find themselves overrun and outplayed by the Germans.

Editor's Prediction

Genk 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen

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06.12. (Tue) 20:45 Porto - Zenit

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

PORTO Helton Maicon, Rolando, Otamendi, Pereira Fernando, Moutinho Djalma, Defour, James Rodriguez Hulk

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG Malafeyev Anyukov, Hubocan, Lombaerts, Criscito Zyryanov, Denisov, Shirokov Faizulin, Bukharov, Danny

Fredy Guarin is the most glaring absentee from Porto's first team as the Colombian is still recuperating from a calf injury he picked up while on international duty a month ago. Emidio Rafael broke his leg at the beginning of the year and has not been registered in the Champions League squad.

For the visitors, Aleksandr Kerzhakov misses the game as he is recovering from an ankle knock he suffered in the 2-2 draw against Spartak Moscow on October 2.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Porto need a win against Zenit St Petersburg if they are to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.

• The Dragons have collected no less than 16 yellow cards, which is the joint highest total in the competition together with Villarreal.

• Porto have lost just once in their last 10 home games in Europe.

• Zenit St Petersburg have played five away matches in the Champions League, winning just one of them.

• The Russians need just a point from the game in order to secure qualification for the next phase of Europe's elite club competition.

• Bruno Alves made 119 league appearances for Porto before moving to Zenit in 2010.

Prediction

Given the Portuguese side's pedigree in the Champions League, and their home advantage, it is hard to overlook them as favourites. However, the Russians will not give up without a fight, so expect a close game on Tuesday.

Editor's Prediction

Porto 2-1 Zenit

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06.12. (Tue) 20:45 Viktoria Plzen - Milan

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

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

AC MILAN Amelia Abate, Yepes, Thiago Silva, Antonini Nocerino, Ambrosini, Seedorf  Boateng Robinho, Ibrahimovic

Pavel Vrba should have a full squad to choose from, with the Czech champions welcoming back Marian Cisovsky after the defender served his suspension following his sending off in the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona.
The visitors will travel to Plzen without key defender Alessandro Nesta, who is still nursing the hip injury picked up against Barcelona last month. Marco Amelia is again expected to start after Christian Abbiati failed to recover from the shoulder problem that has seen him miss Milan's last two games.
There will also be changes to the midfield that lined up against the Spanish champions, with Mark van Bommel still suffering from a knee inflation, and Alberto Aquilani suspended for the tie.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Viktoria Plzen's victory over BATE Borisov in their last group game was the Czech champions first ever victory in the competition.

• The four points earned by Plzen this season are the only points the club have ever won in the Champions League.

• The hosts have only managed to score two goals in this years competition, with Marek Bakos netting both.

• If the hosts triumph on Tuesday, they will end the group stages with the same amount of victories as seven-time winners AC Milan.

• Milan have failed to win all of their away games in the group stages so far.

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the club's highest scorer in the competition this season with four goals, including two in his last two appearances.

Prediction

With the hosts still competing for a place in the Europa League, along with Milan's poor away form in this season's competition, a tough night for the visitors could come to pass.

Editor's Prediction

Viktoria Plzen 1-1 Milan

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05.12. (Mon) 21:00 Fulham - Liverpool

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

FULHAM Schwarzer Baird, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey Ruiz, Zamora, Dembele

LIVERPOOL   Reina Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique Henderson, Adam, Spearing, Downing Suarez, Carroll

The home side may be forced to ring the changes after their midweek exploits against FC Twente in the Europa League.

Knocks to Stephen Kelly and Damien Duff make Chris Baird and Brian Ruiz their likely replacements in a side often full of plenty of attacking intent under Martin Jol.

Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool are in fine form currently but have received a hammer blow with the loss of midfielder Lucas Leiva for the rest of the season.

Jay Spearing must now prove himself an able deputy to the Brazilian, and last year’s hat-trick hero Maxi Rodriguez may well miss out despite his strike at Chelsea in the League Cup.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Last year’s fixture between these sides at Craven Cottage ended 5-2 to Liverpool with Maxi Rodriguez (pictured right) bagging a hat-trick.

• Rodriguez’s current goalscoring run sees him with 10 goals in his last eight starts for the Reds. 

• A Liverpool win would be their seventh consecutive victory on the road in all competitions, equalling a club record.

• Fulham have won just one of six Premier League games at Craven Cottage this season.

• Kenny Dalglish has lost just 50 times in his overall seven-year spell as Liverpool manager.

• If selected, Fulham’s Norwegian full-back John Arne Riise will be lining up against his old club for the first time.

• The last time Martin Jol faced Liverpool, as Tottenham manager, his side grabbed a 2-2 draw just weeks before his eventual sacking.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool

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