The Tipster: Matchday 7

The UEFA Champions League is hotting up and, with a smaller selection of players to choose from in the second group stage, the Tipster advises players to think as carefully as ever when selecting their sides for Matchday Seven.

Midfield men missing
Leading the pack is Juan Sebastián Verón, the Manchester United FC and Argentina midfield player, who has performed consistently well in Europe this season. Verón has 45 points and will be keen to add to that tally when United travel to FC Basel on Tuesday night for their first fixture in the last 16. United are without the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane and Nicky Butt, meaning Verón will almost certainly start after sitting out of most of Saturday's 5-3 win against Champions League rivals Newcastle United FC following international duty. Basel, meanwhile, will be without the suspended Antonio Esposito.

Roma rearguard
AS Roma will be a favourite of those players keen on a strong rearguard. Francesco Antonioli, Christian Panucci and Walter Samuel are all in the Fantasy Football 'dream team' but Roma will be up against Arsenal FC on Wednesday night. The English club boast firepower aplenty and it promises to be an intriguing contest between Arsenal's strikers, Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord, and Roma's parsimonious defence. Another thing to consider is that Roma may be without Damiano Tomassi, Marco Delvecchio and Francisco Lima and Arsenal have Kolo Touré suspended.

Forwards in form
All successful sides are blessed with exquisite strikers and three such talents have been marking a mark in the Champions League this season: Internazionale FC's Hernán Crespo, RC Deportivo La Coruña's Roy Makaay and AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi have respectively amassed 44, 43 and 41 points already. Crespo will be going for goals at Newcastle United FC, Inzaghi lines up against Real Madrid CF and Makaay will have home support urging him on as Depor tackle Juventus FC.

Loskov tip
All these are obvious choices but Tipster has some advice for those looking away from the star performers so far. FC Lokomotiv Moskva sealed the Russian title last Thursday and will be on a high at home against BV Borussia Dortmund. The freezing conditions will better suit the home side and midfield inspiration Dmitri Loskov, one of the star men in Russia this season, is a good bet to turn in another eye-catching display.

Overmars back
Another suggestion would be FC Barcelona winger Marc Overmars. The Dutchman returned to action as a substitute in a goalless draw with Madrid at the weekend and looked lively. Overmars is always a threat, as Wednesday night's opponents Bayer 04 Leverkusen will be only too aware.

Injury concerns
Finally, AFC Ajax travel to Valencia CF with both likely to be missing key men. Ajax defender Jelle Van Damme has a broken toe, while Valencia trio Pablo Aimar, Kily González and Franisco Rufete are all sidelined. Other playes to look at with caution because of injury are Madrid duo Ronaldo and Claude Makelele and United's Laurent Blanc and Rio Ferdinand.

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