Champions League matches in Group A
Team news and probable line-ups for Wednesday's Group A matches in the second phase of the Champions League:
Team news and probable line-ups for Wednesday's Group A matches in the second phase of the Champions League:
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. INTER MILAN
Inter Milan will go through if they win but there is nothing at stake for Bayer Leverkusen, last season's losing finalists who are embroiled in a battle against relegation from the Bundesliga.
Coach Thomas Hoerster will be without defenders Diego Placente and Jens Nowotny, both sidelined with long-term injuries. He is expected to rest several first-choice players, among them defender Juan, midfielders Carsten Ramelow and Bernd Schneider and striker Oliver Neuville.
Teenager Obafemi Martins looks set to spearhead Inter Milan's attack. The 18-year-old Nigerian striker stands in for regular first team strikers Gabriel Batistuta and Christian Vieri, who are ineligible and suspended respectively.
Argentine forward Hernan Crespo is expected to come on as a substitute for his first appearance since suffering a thigh injury two months ago.
In the absence of suspended Uruguayan international Alvaro Recoba, Domenico Morfeo provides the link between midfield and attack.
Probable teams:
Leverkusen: 1-Hans-Joerg Butt, 6-Boris Zivkovic, 47-Thomas Kleine, 7-Cris, 17-Pascal Ojigwe, 21-Radoslav Kaluzny, 10-Yildiray Basturk, 8-Jan Simak, 23-Thomas Brdaric, 11-Franca, 12-Dimitar Berbatov.
Inter Milan: 1-Francesco Toldo, 4-Javier Zanetti, 2-Ivan Cordoba, 13-Fabio Cannavaro, 77-Francesco Coco, 7-Sergio Conceicao, 14-Luigi Di Biagio, 6-Cristiano Zanetti, 5-Emre Belozoglu, 10-Domenico Morfeo, 30-Obafemi Martins.
Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia).
NEWCASTLE UNITED vs. BARCELONA
Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed will be missing due to a groin strain that he suffered during Saturday's victory over Charlton Athletic.
Kieron Dyer is, however, expected to return to the starting line-up despite a slight hamstring problem and will partner England colleague Jermaine Jenas in central midfield.
French winger Laurent Robert should return to action after shrugging off an ankle injury sustained during last Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Inter Milan.
Robert's presence will mean that Hugo Viana, the Portuguese international, is likely to be among the substitutes.
Barcelona coach Radomir Antic will give his squad a shake-up after last week's 2-0 win at home to Leverkusen wrapped up the side's qualification for the quarter-finals as group winners.
Victor Valdes will come in for Roberto Bonano in goal, Andres Iniesta is set to return in the playmaker's role, while reserve striker Sergio Garcia could get a chance up front in the absence of Javier Saviola, who has been handed a rest.
Former Spanish international midfielder Gerard is back in the squad after a two-month injury lay-off.
Probable teams:
Newcastle: 1-Shay Given, 18-Aaron Hughes, 19-Titus Bramble, 5-Andy O'Brien, 35-Olivier Bernard, 4-Nolberto Solano, 8-Kieron Dyer, 8-Jermaine Jenas, 32-Laurent Robert, 9-Alan Shearer, 10-Craig Bellamy.
Barcelona: 26-Victor Valdes, 18-Gabri, 32-Oleguer Presas, 4-Patrik Andersson, 2-Michael Reiziger, 17-Gaizka Mendieta, 6-Xavi, 31-Thiago Motta, 34-Andres Iniesta, 9-Patrick Kluivert, 39-Sergio Garcia.
Referee: Jan Wegereef (Netherlands).