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Benfica v Monaco: Visitors urged to improve in attack
2 November 2014
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim has again asked his side to improve in attack when they visit Benfica in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Jardim was left frustrated by his team's 1-1 home draw with Reims on Friday as Monaco lost further ground on their Ligue 1 rivals.
Monaco - who took the lead through Uwa Echiejile in the 20th minute - wasted a host of chances to extend their advantage and were made to pay with 10 minutes left as Reims levelled proceedings.
The Ligue 1 side visit Portugal on Tuesday for an important Group C clash and will take heart from their unbeaten record in the group stages so far.
But Monaco - who sit second in the group with five points from three matches - will take on a desperate Benfica who know victory is vital to their chances of reaching the last 16.
Defeats to Zenit and Bayer Leverkusen were followed by a goalless draw at Monaco last month, leaving Benfica with just one point from three matches.
Avoiding defeat will be difficult for Monaco, according to Jardim, if his side continue to waste good opportunities in front of goal.
In the build-up to the 0-0 draw between the two sides, Jardim urged his side to take their chances and he has sung from a similar hymn sheet once more.
"We have lots of chances in every match…we are not clinical enough," Jardim said.
Nabil Dirar (calf), Dimitar Berbatov (groin) and Borja Lopez (knee) are all set to miss out for Monaco, but Joao Moutinho - who shrugged off a niggling shoulder problem to come on in the second half of Friday's draw - should be involved from the start for the principality club, who have returned to the Champions League after a nine-year absence this campaign.
Benfica have their own injury worries, with Eliseu the latest star sidelined after suffering a foot injury in training last week. Nicolas Gaitan battled through a rib injury to play in Friday's 1-0 Primeira Liga success against Rio Ave - a side Benfica beat in the final of both domestic cups last term.
Talisca scored a stunning winner for Benfica in that success - his fifth in four league matches.
Ola John and Jardel (thigh) are both out, while Silvio (foot) is a long-term absentee.
Benfica will take heart from their performance in the clash in Monaco, given they dominated proceedings. But they were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and then had Lisandro Lopez sent off late on - ruling him out of this match.
Benfica lead the Portuguese top flight by one point ahead of Porto and will be determined to win on Tuesday to ensure they are not focused on domestic matters only this season.
Borussia Dortmund v Galatasaray: Hosts receive welcome distraction
2 November 2014
Borussia Dortmund will welcome the distraction of UEFA Champions League football again as their Bundesliga woes continue.
Jurgen Klopp's side - who host Galatasaray on Tuesday - lost their fifth league match in a row on Saturday, going down 2-1 at champions and fierce rivals Bayern Munich.
Dortmund, who have won just one point in their last seven league matches, were the better side in the first half and took the lead through Marco Reus, only for former striker Robert Lewandowski to come back to haunt them.
Lewandowski's equaliser was followed by an Arjen Robben winner from the penalty spot with five minutes to play as Dortmund's surprisingly poor start continued, leaving them 17 points off top spot in the German top flight.
The Champions League has given Klopp's men some brief respite from their domestic struggles, and they have played their best football of the campaign in the competition.
Three wins from as many Group D matches has Dortmund on top of the pool and a victory against the Super Lig outfit would guarantee their spot in the competition's last 16.
Dortmund were at their counter-attacking best in a 4-0 win at Galatasaray last month - a victory they hoped would be the catalyst for an upturn in league form.
But Klopp felt his side "buckled to the pressure" in the second half against Bayern - hardly a glowing endorsement of his charges.
Dortmund have scored nine goals without conceding in the group stage but will be without Mats Hummels, who suffered an injury to his troublesome foot against Bayern.
The last time they started a Champions League group stage with three wins from as many matches, they went on to win the competition in 1997.
Oliver Kirch and Jakub Blaszczykowski (both thigh) are back in training but Marcel Schmelzer (hand) and Nuri Sahin (knee) are set to miss again.
Galatasaray, bottom of the pool with just one point from three matches, have won five of their 13 matches in Germany in UEFA competition.
They have lost their last four Champions League road trips, though.
The Turkish giants will go into the match on the back of a victory - Umut Bulut's first goal of the season, scored in extra time, giving them a 2-1 win over Kasimpasa on Friday.
Felipe Melo (thigh) missed out on the clash and is likely to sit on the sidelines again.
Arsenal v Anderlecht: Last-16 place beckons for Wenger´s side
2 November 2014
Arsenal can book a UEFA Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday when they host Anderlecht at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger's side have won their first two home fixtures in the competition this season and victory in the fourth match of Group D would see Arsenal reach the last 16 with two games to spare, should Borussia Dortmund avoid defeat to Galatasaray.
Two goals in three minutes late on in the reverse fixture in Belgium two weeks ago saw Arsenal snatch all three points and deny Anderlecht a first win in the group.
Theo Walcott is likely to feature for Arsenal after making a late cameo appearance in the 3-0 triumph over Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
Wenger was delighted to welcome the England international back after he sustained a cruciate knee ligament in January, but the London club will still be without Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere.
While that dents their attacking threat, Chile international Alexis Sanchez reached double figures for the season last weekend and Danny Welbeck will look to build on the hat-trick he scored in Arsenal's last Champions League home game against Galatasaray.
Arsenal's goalkeeping problem that saw Damian Martinez play in Brussels has also eased with the return from suspension of Wojciech Szczesny, the Pole coming straight back in to replace his 22-year-old understudy.
Anderlecht sit top of the Pro League in Belgium coming into the fixture, but have only won once in their last seven matches in all competitions.
Besnik Hasi's side needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Zoro Cyriac to earn a 1-1 draw with Lokeren on Saturday, a third league game without a win at home for Anderlecht, but the match was overshadowed by an injury to Steven Defour.
The Belgium international suffered a calf injury late in the first half and Hasi does not expect to have the 26-year-old available for his side's trip to London.
"Steven suffered too much burden on his calf and he immediately decided to come off," said Hasi.
"I will provisionally assume that he will definitely be out for two weeks, but we will be able to estimate the severity of the injury when the doctors examine his calf.
"Perhaps Steven has a sprain or tear, the Champions League match on Tuesday against Arsenal is definitely too soon."
Matias Suarez will also be missing for the visitors with a knee injury, adding further troubles for a side who have never won in England.
Anderlecht's cause is also hampered by the fact that the team have not won on the road in the Champions League group stage since December 2005, a 1-0 victory at Real Betis.
Sturridge joins Liverpool squad in Madrid but 'highly unlikely' to be fit
By Tom Maston
Nov 3, 2014 17:44:00
The striker has been out since early September but flew out to the Spanish capital with the rest of Brendan Rodgers' players ahead of their match at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday
Daniel Sturridge has joined the rest of the Liverpool squad on their flight to Madrid ahead of their Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday, but manager Brendan Rodgers says he is "very unlikely" be feature.
The striker has not made an appearance for the Reds since August after suffering a thigh strain while on international duty with England, before picking up a calf injury in October.
Rodgers initially feared the former Chelsea striker could be set for a further four weeks on the sidelines, but his presence on the squad's plane to the Spanish capital suggests he is nearing a return to full fitness.
Tuesday's clash at the Santiago Bernabeu will probably come too soon, however, with Rodgers admitting: "With Daniel we will see how he responds, but it’s highly unlikely he will be fit."
Sturridge posted a picture on his Instagram account of Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren and himself on a plane, accompanied with the caption: "Madrid bound with the boys."
Rodgers has cited Sturridge's absence, as well as the sale of fellow striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona, as one of the main issues behind the Reds' indifferent form this season, with the pair having found the net on 61 occasions in 2013-14.
The Reds have struggled for goals in Sturridge's absence, however, with Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert having scored just twice between them since their summer arrivals from AC Milan and Southampton respectively.
The Atletico Madrid coach expects a more intense and attacking challenge from the Swedish side and hopes they play in a 3-5-2
Diego Simeone says he hopes Malmo come out and attack Atletico Madrid when they meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Last seasons' Champions League runners up currently sit joint top of Group A with Olympiakos after they beat the Swedish side 5-0 when they met on matchday three at the Vicente Calderon.
The Atleti coach expects the Swedish side to play more expansively on their own turf and would welcome that approach.
"We know what Malmo need and their characteristics on their own pitch," he said at a press conference. "They play with more intensity and with more of an attacking game. We must be attentive and respond in the best way.
"From what I have seen on TV and in videos they are a team that play 4-4-2 at home, although I don't think they will play with that system against us. Against Olympiakos they did it and then changed to a 3-5-2. I hope to play against that system.
"Since pre-season we've wanted more posession and to combine well. Last year we combined Diego Costa, Koke and Gabi, but now we need more people to play with Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann and Raul Garcia."
Atletico's Gabi says the Spanish champions must be wary of their opponents, but knows his team will boost their chances of qualifying for the second round if they pick up all three points.
"Malmo is a team that defends very well and are very dangerous on the counter-attack.
"All the teams in our group won our home matches. That speaks about the equality in the group. If we win tomorrow we will take a very important step to the next round."
The Bayern boss feels the French winger "made the difference" off the bench against Borussia Dortmund and could start him on Wednesday in the Champions League clash
Pep Guardiola says he is ready to unleash Franck Ribery on Roma after his impressive cameo in the win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Bayern Munich winger came off the bench with 20 minutes to go against Jurgen Klopp's side on Saturday and sparked his side's comeback, playing a part in Robert Lewandowski's equaliser before winning the penalty from which Arjen Robben scored the winner.
Guardiola was impressed with his display in the 2-1 triumph and has indicated he could field the 31-year-old from the start against Roma on Wednesday as he looks to get his team playing to a satisfactory standard.
"He made the difference against Dortmund," Guardiola told reporters.
"We're playing better than I thought we would, but we're not quite at the level where I want us to be.
"Roma have a very good and youthful side and can impose their game on you if you give them too much room.
"It's a different game [to the 7-1 thrashing in Rome]. We're focused on the massive chance we have to progress to the next round."
PSG more motivated for the Champions League than Ligue 1, says Blanc
By Joe Wright
Nov 4, 2014 15:24:29
The former defender has warned of the threat posed by APOEL on the counterattack and says he is not surprised to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic named in the Sweden squad despite his injury
Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc believes his side are more motivated for Champions League matches than they are in Ligue 1.
The French champions came from behind to beat Lorient at the weekend but their head coach was scathing of their performance during the first half at Le Moustoir.
A late goal from Edinson Cavani gave PSG a 1-0 win in Cyprus on matchday three to leave them on the brink of reaching the knockout phase of the competition ahead of Wednesday's meeting at Parc des Princes.
And while Blanc has warned of the danger posed by the APOEL counterattack, he admits his side appear more motivated when playing in Europe and is hoping for an improved performance.
"We had a really bad first half against Lorient. But it happened last season too. The Champions League is a different competition," he told reporters. "I'm not saying we're not motivated for the league games but we're more motivated for the Champions League.
"APOEL are a good team. Even Barcelona struggled against them. They sit deep and are very good on the counter. If we can't score early in the game (tomorrow against APOEL), we'll have trouble beating that team."
PSG are still without Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to a heel injury, yet Blanc was not surprised to see the Sweden star called up to his national squad for the up-coming internationals despite having been out for over a month.
"We miss only one thing: Ibrahimovic," he said. "I'm not surprised Sweden's national team coach called up Ibrahimovic. When you have the possibility to count on such a guy, you try your luck."
Blanc also offered words of support to former assistant Claude Makelele, who left Bastia as head coach this month, though he refused to be drawn on whether the ex-midfield could return to the capital club's staff.
"I want to say a word for Claude Makelele. My thoughts are with him," he added.
"Let him be, let him come to terms with what's happening to him. It's not that easy. I just wanted to have a word for him. Our thoughts are with him. Today, I can't answer that question [if he could return]."
Manchester City v CSKA Moscow: Win-or-bust for hosts in UEFA Champions League bid
3 November 2014
Sergio Aguero concedes it is a case of win-or-bust for Manchester City when they host CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
The Premier League champions head into the encounter in high spirits after claiming city bragging rights by beating neighbours Manchester United on Sunday, with Aguero scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
However, while that victory kept them in the early title race behind leaders Chelsea domestically, in Europe their position is far more precarious.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are third in Group E with only two points to their name after a disappointing opening.
Defeat at Bayern Munich on matchday one was followed by a 1-1 draw with Roma and a 2-2 scoreline in Moscow last time out, with City conceding twice late on at the Arena Khimki having forged a two-goal lead.
That leaves them staring at a group-stage exit for the third time in four seasons, and while defeat in the return fixture against CSKA would not mathematically end their hopes, it would leave them needing a near miracle to qualify.
Speaking after his match-winning contribution against United, Aguero was quick to stress the importance of Wednesday's clash.
"I think Moscow is the most important game because we have to win," he told the club's official website.
"I think it is very important and I think we have the squad to win it. We have to get the three points and then do the same in the last two remaining games."
Pellegrini's men will at least have a vocal sell-out support at the Etihad, after the reverse fixture was played behind closed doors as a result of a UEFA sanction on CSKA for racism and crowd trouble.
On the pitch, City could also be boosted by the return to action of Frank Lampard, who is close to a comeback after being sidelined since the middle of last month by a leg injury.
David Silva will not feature as a result of a knee problem, while full-back Aleksandar Kolarov is a major doubt after missing the Manchester derby when limping out of the warm-up.
CSKA are still without injured Swede Rasmus Elm (stomach) and Kirill Panchenko (knee), but Vitinho is available again after an ankle problem that has kept him out since August.
Pontus Wernbloom and Alan Dzagoev are expected to be restored to the squad after returning from suspension.
Coach Leonid Slutsky could opt to change his attacking options following a 1-0 Russian Premier League defeat to leaders Zenit on Saturday, conceding after that match: "We had chances to score, especially in the second half, but missed all of them."
Bayern Munich v Roma: Guardiola´s men on the brink of last 16
3 November 2014
Bayern Munich will make the UEFA Champions League knockout stages if they can do the double over Roma at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
The German champions thrashed the Serie A outfit at the Stadio Olimpico last time out, as Bayern ran riot in a 7-1 victory over their Group E rivals.
A stunning start from Pep Guardiola's side ensured Bayern were 5-0 up at the break, with Franck Ribery and Xherdan Shaqiri on target in the second half after Gervinho had pulled one back for Roma.
It was Bayern's biggest away win in UEFA competition and improved their already enviable record in the group to three wins from three, with just one goal conceded.
It leaves Guardiola's men on the verge of making the knockout stages of a competition they won the season before last, while for Rudi Garcia there will be an eagerness to exact revenge and bolster hopes of securing second spot.
DFB-Pokal progression and a win over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund followed for Bayern, who come into Wednesday's clash brimming with confidence.
And, in a stark warning to their rivals, Arjen Robben claimed there is still more to come.
"We still have room for improvement, this is always the case," he said after Saturday's win over Dortmund.
"Sometimes we play really good football. We do not need to hide.
"In Rome we won 7-1 and we beat Borussia Dortmund, so we are on the right track. Nevertheless, we must not think that it just happens."
While Bayern are 15 matches unbeaten in all competitions, Roma lost to Napoli on Saturday and slipped three points behind Juventus.
Jose Callejon added to Gonzalo Higuain's early goal on a disappointing outing for Garcia and, if Manchester City beat CSKA Moscow, another defeat for Roma in midweek would see them fall to third in Group E.
Despite a lengthy injury list that includes Maicon (knee), Leandro Castan (thigh) and Davide Astori (thigh), Garcia feels a strong start against Bayern will stand them in good stead.
"We're down to the bare bones in defence," he said after the loss to Napoli.
"We're all to blame for our first-half performance. It was a mental problem and it's something we need to work on.
"We have to do better. It might only be the first time it's happened but we must make sure it doesn't happen again."
Kevin Strootman (knee) and Marco Borriello (thigh) are also doubts for Roma, while Bayern have long-standing injury concerns of their own, with goalkeepers Pepe Reina (calf) and Tom Starke (foot) ruled out.
However, Guardiola has no new fitness worries as he prepares to welcome a club he played for between 2002 and 2003.
Paris Saint-Germain v APOEL: French champions seek qualification
3 November 2014
Paris Saint-Germain will hope to head into their crucial clash with Marseille having reached the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.
Laurent Blanc's men will progress from Group F if they beat APOEL at Parc des Princes on Wednesday and Ajax fail to defeat Barcelona.
Qualifying for the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition would leave PSG in buoyant mood ahead of their top-of-the-table encounter with Ligue 1 leaders Marseille on Sunday.
After an indifferent start to the season, PSG have won four on the bounce in all competitions and are clear favourites for the APOEL game.
However, the French champions will not need reminding of how stern a task they face having struggled to a 1-0 win in Cyprus in the reverse fixture just over a fortnight ago.
A stubborn APOEL defence looked on course for a hard-fought point, only for Edinson Cavani to score an 87th-minute winner.
The Uruguayan is likely to once more head PSG's attack in the absence of talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been sidelined since late September with a foot injury.
Jean-Christophe Bahebeck is also chomping at the bit after the 21-year-old forward scored the winner in a come-from-behind 2-1 success at Lorient on Saturday.
APOEL have just one point to show from their three group-stage matches, and a loss in Paris would surely end any hope they have of securing an unlikely qualification.
Giorgos Donis' men have proven stubborn in Europe, though, with their goal breached on just three occasions in those three outings.
Goals at the other end have proved hard to come by for APOEL too, and their solitary goal came in the 1-1 draw against Ajax on September 30.
As well as a lack of firepower, APOEL will also have to overcome PSG's fantastic record on home soil in Europe.
A 3-2 victory over Barcelona on matchday two saw PSG stretch their unbeaten home streak in UEFA competition to 30 games - with their last defeat in the French capital coming to Hapoel Tel-Aviv some eight years ago.
APOEL also have several injury worries.
Constantinos Charalambides (foot), John Arne Riise (foot) and Kaka (groin) are all sidelined, while Tiago Gomes (calf) is a doubt.
Luis Suarez is poised to make his first UEFA Champions League appearance for Barcelona against his former club Ajax on Wednesday.
Suarez's return from a four-month suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini has not gone to plan, with Barca beaten by Real Madrid and Celta Vigo in his first two competitive appearances for the club.
The Uruguay striker will be eager to end that run when he makes his Champions League debut for the Catalan giants against the club where he shot to prominence.
Suarez scored 111 goals in 159 games in a three-year spell with Eredivisie champions Ajax before moving to Liverpool, and Barca will be eager to see him rise to the occasion in Amsterdam.
The Catalian giants have slipped to fourth in La Liga after suffering a 1-0 home loss against Celta on Saturday, a week after their 3-1 El Clasico defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Coach Luis Enrique urged the Catalan giants to "stand up" and "move forward" following their defeat at Camp Nou at the weekend.
A victory in Amsterdam will see Barca progress from Group F if APOEL fail to beat Paris-Saint Germain and Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets is determined to respond from their recent setbacks.
"We've had a bad week," he said on Monday. "What we want to do now is turn things around.
"Hopefully we can put an end to this poor run."
Ajax secured a 2-1 home win over Barca in last season's group stages despite playing much of the second half with 10 men following Joel Veltman's sending off, which resulted in Xavi putting the visitors in front from the penalty spot.
And Busquets is wary of the threat posed by Frank de Boer's side.
"They came out strong and were all over us at the start of the game." he said. "With the sending off and our goal, everything changed. I hope it doesn't happen again."
Lionel Messi has not scored in Barca's last two games and he needs another two strikes to equal Raul's record of 71 Champions League goals, with Cristiano Ronaldo just one shy of the mark set by the Real Madrid legend.
Andres Iniesta and Jeremy Mathieu miss out due to calf injuries, while Sergi Roberto (groin) and Thomas Vermaelen (thigh) are also sidelined.
Ajax will move just a point behind Luis Enrique's men if they are secure three precious points on Wednesday.
De Boer's team warmed up for the crunch clash by hammering Dordrecht 4-0 on Saturday and they have reeled off three wins in a row, scoring 11 goals in the process.
The Dutch club - who lost 3-1 at Camp Nou a fortnight ago - will be without forward Viktor Fischer due to a hamstring problem.
Sporting Lisbon will be out for revenge in the UEFA Champions League after suffering a contentious defeat to Schalke a fortnight ago.
Marco Silva's Sporting appeared to be on course for a hard-earned point in Gelsenkirchen on October 21, until defender Jonathan Silva was adjudged to have handled in the area in injury time - despite replays clearly showing the ball had struck his head.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting netted from 12 yards to give Schalke a 4-3 victory, their first win in Group G, but Sporting were left fuming at referee Sergey Karasev.
In the days following the match the Primeira Liga club even asked UEFA to allow a replay of the match, but that request was rejected.
But Sporting are sure to be chomping at the bit to exorcise those bad memories in front of their own fans on Wednesday - something Schalke defender Jan Kirchhoff is aware of.
"The controversy surrounding the late penalty which we scored to make it 4-3 will definitely help motivate the opposition, so we need to deal with that," Kirchhoff told the Schalke's official website.
"We will be doing all we can to return to Germany with the three points. We know that we have enough quality to win in Lisbon.
"With a bit of luck in Lisbon and some help from Chelsea [who lead the group and visit Maribor this week], things will look better for us in the competition."
For Schalke, life under new head coach Roberto Di Matteo has started well with three wins in four games in all competitions.
Their 1-0 win over Augsburg on Friday was marred by an injury to talismanic midfielder Julian Draxler, though, with the 21-year-old expected to be out for the rest of the year as he recovers from a hamstring tear.
Victory for the visitors, combined with a Chelsea win over Maribor, could help move Di Matteo's side closer to the last 16 for the third successive season.
Striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has three in as many Champions League games this season, says the squad are fully focused on their trip to Lisbon.
"It won't be easy there," the Dutchman told the club's official website. "They're under a bit of pressure and obviously they will absolutely want to get a win against us, especially after the home result.
"We can take a big step towards the last 16 with a win."
Sporting will hope striker Islam Slimani is fit enough to be involved after returning from injury to be on the bench last weekend, but Mauricio is suspended.
Chelsea continue to battle a hectic schedule as they seek to book their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages at Maribor.
Jose Mourinho's men travel to Slovenia for Wednesday's Group G encounter knowing three points will be enough to qualify if Sporting fail to beat Schalke in the pool's other fixture.
Chelsea are sure to be confident of fulfilling their side of the bargain too, having thrashed Maribor 6-0 at Stamford Bridge just a fortnight ago.
But one potential hurdle for the Premier League leaders to overcome is fatigue, with the game representing their fourth fixture in the space of 11 days and coming before a tricky domestic trip to Liverpool on Saturday.
There were signs of Chelsea being affected by their congested schedule in a laboured 2-1 win against QPR on Saturday, with Eden Hazard's 75th-minute penalty securing three points.
"The week was very strange," Mourinho explained. "You play Manchester United on the Sunday, on the Monday you travel [to Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup].
"Some of the players had two days off. Some of the others had to go to Shrewsbury immediately and some of them played 90 minutes there. Then some had a free day the next day but it was a working day for the others.
"It was a very strange week to work and to be focused."
Mourinho will be hoping for a vociferous backing from Chelsea's away following in Slovenia after the Portuguese criticised a lack of atmosphere at Stamford Bridge against QPR.
Chelsea will be without striker Loic Remy (groin), but John Obi Mikel could come into contention after missing out at the weekend with a reported knee injury.
Mourinho must also make a decision on whether to play Diego Costa, who returned from injury and illness against Harry Redknapp's men, with veteran striker Didier Drogba having proved an able deputy with three goals in Chelsea's last four matches.
For Maribor, another defeat will almost certainly spell the end of their Champions League campaign as they have just two points from three matches.
With the gulf in quality so evident in the last match, Maribor know that a vastly improved performance is required to pull off a famous Champions League upset.
But midfielder Ales Mertelj is refusing to give up the fight, telling Maribor's official website: "Even though it is such a reputable team as Chelsea, who scored six goals at home, we will not give up and we will not surrender in advance."
Defender Aleksander Rajcevic is absent for the hosts with a head injury, while there are doubts over Zeljko Filipovic, Agim Ibraimi (both illness) and Ales Mejac (hamstring).
Shakhtar Donetsk v BATE: Azevedo cools talk of 7-0 repeat
3 November 2014
Marcio Azevedo has warned Shakhtar Donetsk not to underestimate the threat of BATE in Wednesday UEFA Champions League encounter.
The Ukrainian champions were convincing 7-0 winners in Belarus last time out as they picked up their first victory of their Group H campaign in stunning fashion.
Luiz Adriano became Shakhtar's all-time leading goalscorer with an incredible five-goal haul in that game, which moved Mircea Lucescu's side up to second in the pool.
For BATE, a defensive improvement is a must ahead of their trip to Lviv if they are to reclaim second spot, but defender Azevedo - a doubt for the game with a knee problem - has urged Shakhtar not to expect such a comprehensive victory this time around.
After a surprise 2-1 derby defeat to Metalurg Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier League on Friday, third-placed Shakhtar have lost three of their last four following a positive start to their title defence.
And with their attentions reverting back to European competition, Brazilian Azevedo believes his team-mates need to be prepared for BATE's counter-attacking approach.
"We must always go out and win. Each match must end with a win in our favour. In the last encounter, we failed to do so," he told Shakhtar's official website.
"I hope that both against BATE and in subsequent Ukrainian league games, we will do better.
"In Lviv, they will fully focus on the counter-attacks. Probably, in the first leg, our opponents got a bit slack thinking that it would be easier for them at home. Now they are facing an away game."
Despite conceding 14 goals in just three Group H fixtures, BATE remain in with a shout of progression as they seek to emulate their exploits of 2010-11 when they reached the last 16.
Aleksandr Yermakovich's side will also be buoyed from their domestic efforts at the weekend, as a 2-1 win over Dinamo Minsk extended their unbeaten run in the league to 28 matches - breaking their own record in the process.
Both sides have injury concerns to contend with, as Yermakovich could be without Egor Filipenko (hamstring) while opposite number Lucescu has further doubts over Sergey Kryvstov (ankle) and Ilsinho (illness).
BATE captain Dmitri Likhtarovich could equal the Belarusian appearance record in UEFA competition held by Aleksandr Hleb, if he features for a 92nd time.
Athletic Bilbao v Porto: Valverde predicts ´relaxed´ hosts
3 November 2014
Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde wants his team to calm down and start believing in themselves following their 1-0 win over Sevilla.
The Basque club has lost seven of 15 fixtures in all competitions this season and have yet to taste victory in the UEFA Champions League ahead of Wednesday's clash with FC Porto.
Porto lead Group H with seven points having accounted for Bilbao 2-1 on the last matchday, while Valverde's men are bottom of the standings with just one point on the board.
But speaking after Sunday's win against Sevilla, who were sitting second in La Liga before their loss in Bilbao, Valverde argued that successful result should make his team more "relaxed" as they aim to turn their fortunes around in the Champions League.
"They're [Sevilla] a very strong team. It was a well-contested game that the viewers will have enjoyed," Valverde said, according to AS.
"We were very good, especially in the first half. We were defensively strong and had good chances for goals.
"They tightened up and we didn't score as many as we would have liked but it showed the value of the points.
"Now we're happier and more relaxed because we have beaten a great team. Hopefully, beyond the points, the win drives us on to reach our expectations and commitments."
Two weeks ago, Porto trumped Bilbao 2-1 thanks to goals from Hector Herrera and Ricardo Quaresma, while Guillermo Fernandez scored for the Spanish visitors to the Estadio do Dragao.
That result was Porto's first of three consecutive wins, following their Taca de Portugal loss to Sporting Lisbon, with league triumphs over Arouca (5-0) and Nacional (2-0) following.
Porto coach Julen Lopetegui - himself hailing from the Basque region of Spain - has warned his team not to lose focus despite their unbeaten start in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and the Champions League.
"We have to retain this ambition to get what we want," he said after the win over Nacional.
A win for Porto in Bilbao will see Lopetegui's men secure a berth in the next round of the Champions League.
Algerian attacker Yacine Brahimi will be the danger-man for Bilbao with the Porto midfielder having scored against Nacional, while he struck a hat-trick in the Primeira Liga outfit's 6-0 demolition of BATE Borisov at the start of the Champions League group stage.
"Brahimi gets better with each passing day and I am sure he will keep evolving, becoming an even more complete player," Lopetegui said.
Ajax should not fear Messi, Neymar and Suarez - De Boer
By Peter Hanson
Nov 4, 2014 14:21:00
The former defender believes the Uruguay international will be "emotional" upon his return to the Amsterdam ArenA but is adamant his side should play with confidence
Frank de Boer has told his Ajax side to show no fear when they come up against a star-studded Barcelona attack on Wednesday.
The Dutch champions welcome the Spanish giants to the Amsterdam Arena in the Champions League knowing a defeat could see them eliminated from Group F.
Barcelona won the reverse clash 3-1 a fortnight ago and boast a stellar forward line of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, who is in line for his first Champions League appearance of the season against his former club.
However, coach De Boer believes his team should take confidence from a 2-1 victory over the Catalans in Amsterdam in last season's group stages.
"You always have to show respect [to your opponents] but that doesn't mean you need to fear them," he said.
"We showed last year [against Barcelona] that we can play against top teams. I want to see confidence from my team tomorrow.
"The most important thing is that we keep playing as a team and someone is always close to [Lionel] Messi. They shouldn't be afraid to play against Messi, Suarez or Neymar."
For Suarez, the match marks a return to a club where he spent three-and-a-half years, scoring 111 goals in 159 games before moving to Liverpool in January 2011.
De Boer added: "I think it will be emotional for Suarez to come back to the Arena to play his first Champions League match [this season] at his former home. It's good for him. He's a fighter, who scores easily. It will be an interesting match."
Barca have endured back-to-back defeats in La Liga and De Boer is wary that Luis Enrique's side will be desperate to return to top form - especially given the way they were outplayed by Real Madrid in the Clasico.
"They have a lot of experience. They've lost more than once twice in a row. It’s the same for us. If we lose twice there will be pressure. That’s part of being a big club like Ajax or Barcelona," he added.
"They want to get a good result. It hurts them that Real Madrid was a better team for more than an hour. They love that in Madrid, I’m sure about that. But the other way around it’s the same story. I think Barcelona want to get back in their flow as soon as possible, no matter what. They will be very motivated.”
'I knew what I was doing' - Rodgers defends Liverpool selection
By Sam Lee
Nov 4, 2014 23:31:00
The Reds boss was confident his controversial XI could get at least a point at Real Madrid, but did suggest that he expected to lose at the Santiago Bernabeu in any case
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has defended his controversial starting line-up for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Rodgers was criticised for giving up on the match and prioritising Saturday's clash with Chelsea after keeping usual starters Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Mario Balotelli on the bench.
But he insists he was not resting players for the Chelsea game, although he admitted in the pre-match build-up that the Premier League was his priority, and also hinted that he was expecting to be beaten by the European champions.
The Reds did indeed lose at the Santiago Bernabeu, thanks to Karim Benzema's solitary strike, but Rodgers is confident his side can qualify for the knock-out round by winning their remaining two games in Group B.
"I knew what I was doing, I knew what the team would be tonight in order to hopefully get the result, we’ve seen that we nearly got that, we certainly got the performance," he told ITV.
"We’re disappointed with the result but performance-wise there are many positives. Some of the young players did very well, they’re adapting to Liverpool, and we’ll take the positives from the game.
"There’s every chance [we can qualify], that’s what we probably looked at [losing to Madrid]. We felt we would need to win at Ludogorets and we were hoping then that it would come down to the last game against Basel at home, that hopefully will be the case. We’ve got some important games before that but at least it’s in our hands."
Rodgers had said immediately before kick-off that he would be "surprised" if anybody was disappointed by his starting line-up, but by full-time had changed his mind.
"I think [disappointment] is maybe understandable, because I think most people read into names on a team-sheet, but I’ve got to manage a squad that’s got seven games in 21 days and we’ve had a real tough one tonight.
"We didn’t rest players for Saturday, I picked what I thought was a team that could get the result for us tonight and I think the performance showed that.
"We might have lost 5-0 [with a different XI], I had every confidence that the players tonight would do well and I don’t think that any of the other players tonight would’ve put in the performance that we put in.
"I think it’s the first game since the Super Cup that Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t scored in, so it shows you how well we defended and I think our possession in the game was very good."
And the Northern Irishman also dismissed the notion that the rested players, particularly Gerrard and Sterling, would be angered by his decision.
"The players were brilliant, there’s no problem. For me it doesn’t matter, I’ll pick the players I think are going to get the result, they’re all well in tune with what we’re looking to do.
"Every game for Liverpool is a big game, this is a big week for us, it was important that we performed and looked to get the result. We have to go again, we’re staying here tonight, to prepare well, training here tomorrow and then get ready for the game on Saturday."
CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky believes the side's plan to beat Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League was executed perfectly.
Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia struck twice in the first half as CSKA stunned nine-man City 2-1 at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Doumbia wreaked havoc against the Premier League champions, opening the scoring courtesy of a powerful header just two minutes into the contest.
Yaya Toure, who was sent off in the second half, restored parity six minutes later via a sublime free-kick, only for Doumbia to restore the Russian champions' lead in the 34 minute as a result of some questionable City defending.
"We played our number two and we were hoping to counter-attack. Our plan worked," Slutsky told reporters afterwards.
"We had chances in the first and second half and we're happy that our plan worked."
CSKA, who won in England for the first time, leapfrogged City into third position, level on points with second-placed Roma heading into the final two matchdays.
"I think we have become stronger [from last season]. Last year, we had many players who weren't as good as those this year," Slutsky added.
"And this year, we have many more strong players. We were relying on the players who are strong in the Russian League as well."
Slutsky, though, admitted recovery may have worked against City in the lead up to Wednesday's fixture.
City were 1-0 winners in the Manchester derby on Sunday, while CSKA had an extra day to recover having lost 1-0 to Russian rivals Zenit on Saturday.
"In the current situation, they had a very tough match against Manchester United over the weekend, and they probably didn't have enough time to recover and we had one extra day to recover," Slutsky said.
