Champions League: preview

Chelsea

'We're top of the table with Lazio with four points each and the most important thing is that we don't lose tomorrow. If we could get a draw and then win our next match against Marseille at home we would be in a very strong position.' Some of Chelsea's finest performances this season have been in Europe, most notably two draws with AC Milan and a 5-0 win over Galatasaray in Turkey.

Vialli's men are enjoying a rich vein of form. Saturday's 2-1 victory over Watford, with the winner coming from Jon Harley, was their 13th game without defeat. That run has moved them up to fifth in the Premiership and secured a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Chelsea's domestic form suffered during their European travels in the autumn and Vialli will want to avoid a repeat. The fact that he rested 10 full internationals on Saturday suggests that he was saving several of them for European action tomorrow.

Dennis Wise, outstanding on his recall to the England side last week, will clearly be back as captain. Frank Leboeuf, one of Chelsea's French World Cup winning heroes, is also likely to return.

England's Chris Sutton is recovering from a virus and could be considered for a place along with Celestine Babayaro, the Nigerian defender who returned late from the African Nations Cup.

Babayaro, who has missed the past nine games, played in all of Chelsea's European ties before Christmas and seems certain to be drafted back into the side.

Barcelona

The Brazilian striker was hurt when tackled by Fernando Hierro in the closing stages of Barcelona's humiliating 3-0 defeat by Real Madrid on Saturday.

He will undergo a test after training on Tuesday before coach Louis van Gaal makes a decision on whether to include him in his squad for the group B match.

Barcelona also have injury doubts over midfielders Philip Cocu and Jari Litmanen. Both are expected to be fit by Wednesday.

Bayern, Real

Real are the group C leaders after victories over Dynamo Kiev and Rosenborg and they can take a giant stride towards the quarter-finals with another win against last season's runners-up.

Bayern, who celebrated their centenary at the weekend by crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1, are likely to provide tougher opposition that an out-of-sorts Barcelona.

But the seven-times European champions, who turned the Bernabeu into a sea of white with an 80,000-card mosaic before Saturday's game, believe they can produce their second blinding display in four days.

'Bayern will be fearful of Real Madrid after Saturday,' predicted Cameroon midfielder Geremi Njitap.

'They will have seen that we're in great form and high on confidence.'

Real are likely to stick with the side that overwhelmed Barcelona, with a three-man forward line of Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Morientes and a rejuvenated Nicolas Anelka, who scored his first Spanish league goal on Saturday.

While Real will be at close to full strength for the tie, Bayern have been hit by injury and suspension.

The German champions will be without midfield dynamo Jens Jeremies, who will also miss the return match next week as he serves out a four-match ban, and striker Carsten Jancker, nursing a hip problem.

Lazio

The Rome side are second in the Italian league after Saturday's 2-1 win over Udinese and they will face Inter Milan in the final of the Italian Cup in April.

In the Champions League, Lazio are second in group D, level on four points with leaders Chelsea.

Perhaps learning from Manchester United, who managed the treble last season, Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson has rotated his large squad and will rest some key players against the Dutchmen.

Argentine playmaker Juan Veron will be on the bench, with verteran Roberto Mancini expected to start the game in midfield.

Chilean striker Marcelo Salas will also be given a breather, with Simone Inzaghi partnering Alen Boksic in attack.

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All pictures are courtesy of Reuters Limited