Chelsea convey note of caution

Chelsea FC go into their UEFA Champions League decider against FC Barcelona without both Asier Del Horno and Michael Essien, two of six players ruled out of the second legs for disciplinary reasons.

Tough task
Left-back Del Horno serves a one-match ban after being sent off in the first leg of the first knockout round tie against Barça at Stamford Bridge. The Spanish international misses the return at Camp Nou but will be available should José Mourinho's side overturn a 2-1 deficit to progress to the quarter-finals. They must attempt to do so without Essien too, as the Ghanaian completes a two-game suspension.

Govou dismissal
Sidney Govou was also dismissed in Olympique Lyonnais' first-leg victory against PSV Eindhoven after collecting a second yellow card late on. He sits out the sequel in France, while Rangers FC and AC Milan will be shorn of Dado Pršo and Gennaro Gattuso respectively, after both received a third yellow card of the tournament in their first-leg matches.

Cautionary tales
FC Internazionale Milano will welcome back Cristiano Zanetti on 14 March after the midfielder served a ban that sidelined him for the first leg against AFC Ajax. His return is tempered by the absence of Iván Córdoba who picked up a third yellow card in the draw in the Netherlands. The defender's suspension provides a timely warning to no fewer than 32 players who go into the second legs just a booking away from missing the quarter-finals.

Juve concern
Córdoba's team-mates Julio Cruz and David Pizarro are among them, but it is Serie A rivals Juventus who will be most nervous as they have five players on the brink. Patrick Vieira, Pavel Nedvěd, Lilian Thuram, Robert Kovač and Mauro Camoranesi all have two bookings in the competition ahead of the visit of Werder Bremen.