Test of character lies ahead
22 Oct 2013 5:32 AM IST
Arsenal and Barcelona are two of the sides looking to make it three wins out of three when the Champions League resumes this week.
We look at Tuesday’s matches: Group E Steaua Bucharest (ROM) v Basel (SUI) Steaua Bucharest, the 1986 champions, are looking for their first points in the Champions League this season after defeats to Schalke and Chelsea.
The Bucharest club, who won their 24th Romanian title last season, have won just four of their 38 group matches over seven campaigns, picking up 11 draws.
Basel, semifinalists in the Europa League last season, could not build on their surprise 2-1 matchday one victory at Chelsea, losing 1-0 at home to group leaders Schalke last time out.
Schalke (GER) v Chelsea (ENG) Chelsea and Schalke last met in the 2007/08 group stage, with the match in Germany ending scoreless while the English club were 2-0 victors at Stamford Bridge thanks to Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba.
Schalke are hoping to welcome back goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand from a back injury, while US midfielder Jermaine Jones and Ghana star Kevin-Prince Boateng should be fit after knee injuries. But Schalke look to be without defensive midfielder Marco Hoeger, who twisted his knee against Braunschweig in the 3-2 win at the weekend.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six games since their shock defeat at home to Basel and have scored 10 goals in their last three games.
Group F Arsenal (ENG) v Borussia Dortmund (GER) Premier League leaders Arsenal and Dortmund, last season’s Champions League runners-up face in a mouth-watering clash at the Emirates. The Gunners are in the group stage for the 16th season in a row. Mathieu Flamini may miss Tuesday’s game after suffering concussion in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Norwich.
Marseille (FRA) v Napoli (ITA) Brazilian defender Lucas Mendes will miss the game after suffering an ankle injury in Friday’s 1-0 defeat at Nice. With two defeats from their first two Group F matches, Marseille must beat the Italians to keep their knock-out stage hopes alive. Napoli could be without Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain who has a thigh strain. Goran Pandev is likely to start for a Napoli team who have so far beaten Borussia Dortmund but lost to Arsenal.
Group G Porto (POR) v Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) Zenit’s record signing Hulk will make an emotional return to the club where he scored 78 goals. The 27-year-old Brazilian has started to show form for Zenit this term, after a troubled first season where some of his team-mates objected to his wages, scoring seven goals in eight league appearances.
AC Milan (ITA) v Barcelona (ESP) Milanface major problems ahead of their match against Barcelona.Injuries and lack of form will be their worry. Barcelona, looking for their third win in three group games.
Group H Celtic (SCO) v Ajax (NED) The Scottish champions desperately need a result in the first of two clashes with Ajax. Also Atletico take on Austria Wein.
We look at Tuesday’s matches: Group E Steaua Bucharest (ROM) v Basel (SUI) Steaua Bucharest, the 1986 champions, are looking for their first points in the Champions League this season after defeats to Schalke and Chelsea.
The Bucharest club, who won their 24th Romanian title last season, have won just four of their 38 group matches over seven campaigns, picking up 11 draws.
Basel, semifinalists in the Europa League last season, could not build on their surprise 2-1 matchday one victory at Chelsea, losing 1-0 at home to group leaders Schalke last time out.
Schalke (GER) v Chelsea (ENG) Chelsea and Schalke last met in the 2007/08 group stage, with the match in Germany ending scoreless while the English club were 2-0 victors at Stamford Bridge thanks to Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba.
Schalke are hoping to welcome back goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand from a back injury, while US midfielder Jermaine Jones and Ghana star Kevin-Prince Boateng should be fit after knee injuries. But Schalke look to be without defensive midfielder Marco Hoeger, who twisted his knee against Braunschweig in the 3-2 win at the weekend.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six games since their shock defeat at home to Basel and have scored 10 goals in their last three games.
Group F Arsenal (ENG) v Borussia Dortmund (GER) Premier League leaders Arsenal and Dortmund, last season’s Champions League runners-up face in a mouth-watering clash at the Emirates. The Gunners are in the group stage for the 16th season in a row. Mathieu Flamini may miss Tuesday’s game after suffering concussion in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Norwich.
Marseille (FRA) v Napoli (ITA) Brazilian defender Lucas Mendes will miss the game after suffering an ankle injury in Friday’s 1-0 defeat at Nice. With two defeats from their first two Group F matches, Marseille must beat the Italians to keep their knock-out stage hopes alive. Napoli could be without Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain who has a thigh strain. Goran Pandev is likely to start for a Napoli team who have so far beaten Borussia Dortmund but lost to Arsenal.
Group G Porto (POR) v Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) Zenit’s record signing Hulk will make an emotional return to the club where he scored 78 goals. The 27-year-old Brazilian has started to show form for Zenit this term, after a troubled first season where some of his team-mates objected to his wages, scoring seven goals in eight league appearances.
AC Milan (ITA) v Barcelona (ESP) Milanface major problems ahead of their match against Barcelona.Injuries and lack of form will be their worry. Barcelona, looking for their third win in three group games.
Group H Celtic (SCO) v Ajax (NED) The Scottish champions desperately need a result in the first of two clashes with Ajax. Also Atletico take on Austria Wein.
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