Dida doubtful, Ronaldo hopeful

AC Milan v RC Deportivo La Coruña (Tuesday)

Dida worry
European champions Milan have major concerns over the fitness of Dida, the Brazilian goalkeeper who performed heroics in the penalty shoot-out that gave them the title in 2003. The 30-year-old injured his back during the 3-1 victory against AC Parma on Saturday. Although a scan has ruled out any serious injury, he may have to be replaced by Christian Abbiati against Deportivo. Alessandro Nesta has already been ruled out with a thigh injury.

Several rested
Spanish contenders Deportivo won 1-0 at home against Real Murcia CF on Saturday, while keeping Nourredine Naybet, Mauro Silva and Walter Pandiani on the bench, and resting Enrique Romero and Juan Carlos Valerón entirely. Coach Javier Irureta will be without midfield player Víctor Sánchez at the San Siro because of a one-match suspension.

FC Porto v Olympique Lyonnais (Tuesday)

Free weekend
Porto coach José Mourinho was already without Jorge Costa, Pedro Mendes, Marco Ferreira and Derlei but the latest casualty is defender Ricardo Costa. He fractured his right arm last week and has definitely been ruled out. Absentees aside, the rest of the Porto squad will have benefited from a free weekend after their match at CD Nacional was put back to next month.

Govou protected
Lyon striker Sidney Govou was rested in the 1-0 victory against FC Nantes Atlantique on Saturday in order to protect a thigh problem. Also back for Porto is France goalkeeper Grégory Coupet who featured against Nantes after a wrist injury. Eric Carrière was back on the bench after a knee tendon injury but Claudio Caçapa is still recovering from a knee operation. Lyon are unbeaten in eight games, including their last two Champions League outings.

Real Madrid CF v AS Monaco FC (Wednesday)

Ronaldo hope
Despite a 4-2 defeat at Athletic Club Bilbao on Saturday, Madrid will have been boosted by seeing striker Raúl González return to goalscoring form with both of his side's goals. Ronaldo is back in training after recovering from a thigh injury although the Spanish champions may have to be content with starting him on the bench. His compatriot Roberto Carlos is suspended.

Bernardi scare
Monaco have to recover quickly from losing top spot in France after a 1-1 draw with FC Sochaux Montbéliard on Saturday, but they have worries over the fitness of two players. Argentinian midfield player Lucas Bernardi was taken to hospital after a throat injury. He was given the all-clear but may not be able to play. Sébastien Squillaci is back after a month out with a hamstring injury but only returned to training yesterday.

Chelsea FC v Arsenal FC (Wednesday)

Striking dilemma
Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and midfield player Claude Makelele missed the 2-1 win at home against Fulham FC on Saturday with thigh strains. Manager Claudio Ranieri will have to choose between Marco Ambrosio and Neil Sullivan in goal after a recent injury to Carlo Cudicini. The former is in pole position after an excellent performance against Bolton Wanderers FC kept the returning Sullivan on the bench on Saturday against Fulham FC.

Bergkamp back
Arsenal's non-flying forward Dennis Bergkamp, the inspiration of Saturday's 2-1 win against Bolton, will probably feature in his first away match in this season's Champions League. Bergkamp has recovered fully from a rib injury, while Fredrik Ljungberg has also returned from an abdominal problem. Jens Lehmann's understudy in goal, Stuart Taylor, is still out with a shoulder injury.