Champions League matches in Group A
Team news and probable line-ups for Tuesday's Group A matches in the second phase of the Champions League:
Team news and probable line-ups for Tuesday's Group A matches in the second phase of the Champions League:
BARCELONA vs. INTER MILAN
Barcelona midfielder Thiago Motta is struggling to overcome an Achilles injury and with new signing Juan Pablo Sorin ineligible for the Champions League, having played for Lazio in the UEFA Cup this season, new coach Radomir Antic could have a problem at left back.
If Motta misses out, Antic could shift Dutchman Michael Reiziger across to the left, leaving Gabri to cover on the right, or give a start to Swedish international Patrik Andersson, who is close to full fitness after two years plagued with injuries. Inter's worries are mostly in attack as Hernan Crespo is injured and fellow Argentine Gabriel Batistuta is ineligible, having already played in the competition for AS Roma.
Coach Hector Cuper is expected to field Uruguay's Alvaro Recoba alongside Christian Vieri, who is yet to score in Europe this season.
The lively performance of midfielder Stephane Dalmat was one of the few bright spots in Inter's 2-1 loss to Chievo at the weekend and the Frenchman should keep his place in midfield.
Probable teams:
Barcelona: 1-Roberto Bonano, 18-Gabri, 5-Carles Puyol, 3-Frank de Boer, 2-Michael Reiziger, 11-Marc Overmars, 6-Xavi, 8-Philip Cocu, 17-Gaizka Mendieta, 7-Javier Saviola, 9-Patrick Kluivert.
Inter: 1-Francesco Toldo, 4-Javier Zanetti, 13-Fabio Cannavaro, 2-Ivan Cordoba, 77-Francesco Coco, 22-Okan Buruk, 14-Luigi Di Biagio, 6-Cristiano Zanetti, 18-Stephane Dalmat, 20-Alvaro Recoba, 32-Christian Vieri.
Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden)
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BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs NEWCASTLE UNITED
Thomas Hoerster will take the Leverkusen hot seat after Klaus Toppmoeller was sacked as coach on Sunday following five consecutive league defeats.
It could mean a rest for Germany midfield linchpin Bernd Schneider after five games in two weeks as well as a host of other more familiar Leverkusen names, from Argentine defender Diego Placente to striker Oliver Neuville.
Newcastle's Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano will be missing due to a thigh strain, along with suspended strikers Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy. Shola Ameobi and Lomana Lua Lua are likely to chosen up front while injury-jinxed fellow forward Carl Cort will be on subs bench.
Wales skipper Gary Speed is expected to begin his first game of the year in midfield after a hernia operation, with new England cap Jermaine Jenas, who will be 20 on Tuesday, operating on the right flank. New signing Jonathan Woodgate is ineligible and central defender Titus Bramble will make his first Champions League appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev in October.
Probable teams:
Bayer Leverkusen: 1-Joerg Butt, 6-Boris Zivkovic, 47-Thomas Kleine, 7-Cris, 17-Pascal Ojigwe, 21-Radoslav Kaluzny, 14-Hanno Balitsch, 19-Marko Babic, 10-Yildiray Basturk, 13-Daniel Bierofka, 11-Franca.
Newcastle United: 1-Shay Given, 18-Aaron Hughes, 19-Titus Bramble, 5-Andy O'Brien, 35-Olivier Bernard, 7-Jermaine Jenas, 8-Kieron Dyer, 11-Gary Speed, 32-Laurent Robert, 20-Lomana Lua Lua, 23-Shola Ameobi.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)