Mendoza and Zane forced out

Mendoza misery
Club Brugge's Andrés Mendoza has been suffering from a stomach muscle injury but had hoped to return for the decisive group match against AFC Ajax next Tuesday. The 25-year-old Peruvian international has been ruled out until after the winter break. "It is hard for me to miss top matches, but I have no choice," said Mendoza. "I have too much pain."

Zane downbeat
Anderlecht, meanwhile, had been working on the fitness of Clayton Zane with a view to the Australian being available for the trip to FC Bayern München next Wednesday. The 26-year-old has missed all of his side's Champions League games to date with a knee injury but had just made his first-team comeback. However, after a setback, he now faces an anxious wait to see if more knee surgery is required.