Champions League matches in Group H
Team news and probable line-ups for Tuesday's Champions League matches in Group H:
Team news and probable line-ups for Tuesday's Champions League matches in Group H:
AC MILAN v CELTA VIGO
With qualification already assured and Sunday's Intercontinental Cup final in Tokyo looming, AC Milan will be fielding a second-string team.
Defenders Martin Laursen and Alessandro Costacurta are expected to stand in for Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini who are part of a group of players that has already departed for Japan.
In attack, Italy Under-21 international Marco Borriello looks likely to start alongside Jon Dahl Tomasson for the holders.
Celta will be without inspirational midfielder Alexander Mostovoi in their bid to finish second.
The Russian suffered a thigh strain shortly after scoring Celta's goal in the 1-1 draw against Bruges and will be out of action until the New Year.
Coach Miguel Angel Lotina will have to re-jig his midfield in Mostovoi's absence and is likely to use Jesuli and Gustavo Lopez to support Savo Milosevic up front.
Fernando Caceres may return to the back four after his team mates' poor defensive display in Saturday's 3-2 league defeat by Osasuna.
Midfielder Jose Ignacio and right back Angel are both carrying minor injuries, but should recover in time.
Probable teams:
Milan: 77-Christian Abbiati, 14-Dario Simic, 24-Martin Laursen, 19-Alessandro Costacurta, 4-Kakhaber Kaladze, 32-Cristian Brocchi, 23-Massimo Ambrosini, 20-Clarence Seedorf, 10-Rui Costa, 15-Jon Dahl Tomasson, 18-Marco Borriello.
Celta: 13-Jose Manuel Pinto or 1-Pablo Cavallero, 8-Angel, 23-Sergio, 4-Fernando Caceres or 6-Eduardo Berizzo, 3-Silvinho, 20-Jesuli, 22-Peter Luccin, 16-Jose Ignacio, 14-Juanfran, 11-Gustavo Lopez, 9-Savo Milosevic.
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).
CLUB BRUGES v AJAX AMSTERDAM
Bruges made it four defeats from six games with Friday's 3-1 loss to Standard Liege and coach Trond Sollied is not optimistic about Tuesday's clash with the Dutch.
"I am not expecting anything from the game against Ajax. With the injuries and illness we are facing, I can only say we will give everything we have," he said.
Striker Andres Mendoza (abdominal muscles), and midfielders Alin Stoica (ankle) and Serhiy Serebrennikov (knee) are all injured, while forwards Rune Lange and Bengt Saeternes are doubtful after being too ill to play on Friday.
Goalkeeper Dany Verlinden will be the oldest player ever in the Champions League if he plays at 40 years, three months and 24 days. The previous record was held by Tasos Mitropoulos of Olymopiakos, who turned out against Rosenborg in December 1997 at 40 years, three months and 17 days.
Ajax's Czech international midfielder Tomas Galasek and Belgian defender Jelle van Damme should both be available after niggling injuries. But Steven Pienaar, Hatem Trabelsi and John O'Brien are still long-term injured and coach Ronald Koeman will miss Abubakari Yakubu and Victor Sikora due to illness.
Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a toe problem and is likely to be on the bench.
"It will be a tough night in Bruges" said Koeman. "Both sides have to go for a win, because I don't expect any help from Milan, so we have to prove that we belong in the next phase."
Probable teams:
Bruges: 1-Dany Verlinden, 2-Olivier De Cock, 26-Birger Maertens, 3-Timmy Simons, 5-Peter Van Der Heyden, 8-Gaetan Englebert, 6-Philippe Clement, 10-Nastja Ceh, 17-Ivan Gvozdenovic, 7-Gert Verheyen, 11-Sandy Martens.
Ajax: 1-Bogdan Lobont, 23-Zdenek Grygera, 4-Julien Escude, 12-John Heitinga, 15-Maxwell, 10-Wesley Sneijder, 6-Tomas Galasek, 10-Rafael van der Vaart, 29-Nicolae Mitea, 9-Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 19-Wesley Sonck.
Referee:Domenico Messina (Italy).