Champions League enters home straight
Wins by Manchester United and AC Milan on Tuesday could see them into the Champions League quarter-finals as the world's most prestigious club competition enters the home straight.
Wins by Manchester United and AC Milan on Tuesday could see them into the Champions League quarter-finals as the world's most prestigious club competition enters the home straight.
United and Milan could become the first two pieces of the jigsaw if they win their fourth straight second phase games though both have away fixtures in return matches from last week.
Juventus, who lost 2-1 at Old Trafford on Wednesday, host United this time and though illness and injury robbed them of many top stars, some of them should be back.
Coach Marcello Lippi may still not have Alessandro del Piero, out with a long-stranding thigh injury, but he is hopeful of having more of his squad available this week following flu.
"I was proud of the way we played in Manchester, considering we were hit badly by the flu," Lippi said.
"If we can get several of our players back and play with the same kind of spirit we showed in Manchester, we can definitely take something from the match."
Lippi's team beat Como 3-1 in the Italian League on Saturday though they were without flu victims Gianluigi Buffon, Edgar Davids, Gianluca Zambrotta, and France's Lilian Thuram, plus striker David Trezeguet was rested though he featured on the bench.
United boss Alex Ferguson has problems in his defensive line-up. Central defender Wes Brown played the whole game in United's 1-1 draw against Bolton at the weekend but is suffering from a pulled hamstring.
Fullback Mikael Silvestre injured his ankle against Juventus in midweek, did not play against Bolton and is a further selection headache for Ferguson. And Paul Scholes has a groin strain.
United lie five points behind Premiership leaders Arsenal and Ferguson admitted they were fortunate to get a draw at Bolton. "We managed to dig something out of an impossible situation," said Ferguson.
"We probably didn't deserve a point but we got it. It's well proven that the players find something extra when they need it."
In the other Group D game, Deportivo La Coruna host Switzerland's Basel in a revenge fixture after losing 1-0 last week, described by Basel coach Christian Gross as the best result in the club's history.
Real Madrid travel to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund in Group C having beaten them 2-1 last Wednesday.
Vicente Del Bosque's galaxy of stars are still without Fernando Hierro in defence though Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo, rested and suspended respectively for the 3-1 win over Valladolid in the Spanish league on Saturday, are set to come back.
Meanwhile reports say the 2002 European footballer of the year and FIFA world player of the year Ronaldo is causing tension among the Madrid squad for what is perceived as unprofessionalism.
Overweight and often work-shy during games, he might then pop up and score a fabulous goal but his moments of brilliance have allegedly not been able to cancel out behind-the-scenes bitterness that he is not really passionate about playing for Madrid.
Ronaldo was taken off in the second half against Dortmund last Wednesday having scored what proved to be their winning goal but his reception on leaving the pitch had more jeers than cheers.
Ronaldo may only be 26, but having won world titles with club and country last year, has often been described in the Spanish press as a man who has done it all and has little motivation to work hard for Real.
Russian champions Lokomotiv Moscow enter their Group C clash with AC Milan still without competitive match practice as the Russian league does not start till March 15.
Milan look set to be without key defender Alessandro Nesta who is suffering from a fever, a fate which has also befallen second-choice goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
Muscular ailments have also dealt problems for Andrei Shevchenko of the Ukraine, Massimo Ambrosini, Denmark's Thomas Helveg, Argentinian Juan Antonio Chamot and Roque Junior of Brazil.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti will have to put his thinking cap on for his team line-up depending on who has recovered in time to make the Moscow trip.
Tuesday:
Champions League second phase:
Group C:
Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid
Lokomotiv Moscow vs. AC Milan
Group D:
Deportivo La Coruna vs. Basel
Juventus vs. Manchester United