Baroš battling back

Milan Baroš is poised to return from a hamstring strain for Liverpool FC's crucial UEFA Champions League encounter against Olympiacos CFP on Wednesday. uefa.com rounds up the latest news on the teams in Groups A-D.

Group A

Victory by a two-goal margin will secure Liverpool's passage to the last 16 and Baroš is expected to bolster the Premiership side’s attack for the visit of section leaders Olympiacos. Luis García's hamstring injury will keep him out for a further three weeks but Rafael Benítez should be able to choose between Baroš, Harry Kewell and Neil Mellor up front. Kewell scored Liverpool's goal in a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa FC on Saturday. Olympiacos will arrive at Anfield on a high after defeating Greek rivals Panathinaikos FC thanks to Rivaldo's solitary goal. Coach Dusan Bajevic will wait until the last minute to see whether Grigorios Georgatos and influential centre-half Gabriel Schürrer recover from quadriceps injuries, while Athanassios Kostoulas has returned to training after his knee problem.

AS Monaco FC need to win at RC Deportivo La Coruña to guarantee their progress to the knockout stages and prepared in style against Stade Rennais FC by recording their first Ligue 1 victory since 22 September. Mohamed Kallon and Ernesto Chevantón scored the goals, but Sébastien Squillaci went off with a thigh injury, and he joins Shabani Nonda (thigh), Jaroslav Plašil (groin), Lucas Bernardi (hamstring), Julien Rodriguez (ankle) and Flavio Roma (ribs) on the sidelines. Deportivo can only finish bottom of Group A but showed their battling spirit as they came from behind to draw 2-2 at Real Racing Club Santander. Diego Tristán’s thigh injury will keep him out, while Víctor Sánchez (ankle) and Sergio González (hamstring) are still injured.

Group B

Jens Nowotny shook off a calf strain in time for Bayer 04 Leverkusen's 2-1 win against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, but Jacek Krzynówek pulled a muscle in his calf and looks likely to miss the visit of Group B leaders FC Dynamo Kyiv. Leverkusen need to match Real Madrid CF's result in Rome to qualify while Dynamo, who defeated FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 2-0 on Saturday, need a point. Defender Goran Sablic and striker Kleber were rested for the domestic win, which was secured by goals from Goran Gavrancic and Oleg Gusev.

Madrid know victory in Rome will guarantee their progress and rested several key players in Sunday's goalless encounter with Villarreal CF. The squad have trained in an empty Santiago Bernabéu in preparation for the game behind closed doors at AS Roma, for which Raúl González, Roberto Carlos, Luís Figo and Guti should all return. The Italian club's difficult season continued with a 1-1 draw at home against Sampdoria UC on Sunday, Francesco Totti's 84th-minute penalty sparing his side a sixth domestic defeat of the season. Besides their long-term absentees, Roma pair Antonio Cassano (muscle strain) and Philippe Mexes (back) sat out the Serie A encounter, with Cassano more likely to return to face Madrid.

Group C

AFC Ajax supporters could be forgiven for keeping one eye on events at the Ramat Gan stadium, where Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC take on Group C winners Juventus FC on Wednesday night. Ajax need to ensure they fare no worse than the Israeli side when they take on visiting FC Bayern München, who have already qualified as runners-up, if they wish to secure the UEFA Cup berth. The Dutch champions warmed up with a 2-1 win against RKC Waalwijk thanks to goals from Wesley Sneijder and Mauro Rosales, although none of their long-term absentees are close to returning against Bayern. Felix Magath’s side only remained top of the Bundesliga on goal difference after drawing 2-2 against 1. FC Nürnberg on Saturday despite having Oliver Kahn, Willy Sagnol and Robert Kovac all back from injury. Thomas Linke's knee injury looks certain to rule him out of the trip.

Erez Mesika's 87th-minute winner earned Maccabi Tel-Aviv victory against Maccabi Petah Tikva, a game Marcio Giovanini sat out, although he is likely to recover from his knee injury in time to face the Serie A leaders. Juve, winners by the odd goal in three, had Ruben Oliveria and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to thank for their comeback against S.S. Lazio. Alessandro Del Piero returned but Pavel Nedved missed the game through flu and although David Trezeguet is back in training after undergoing a shoulder surgery, the French striker will not play again until the new year.

Group D

Ruud van Nistelrooij missed Manchester United FC's 3-0 victory at home against Southampton FC on Saturday with a calf injury, meaning Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney played up front. The Dutch striker is expected to return for the trip to face Fenerbahçe SK, a game United must win to be sure of topping Group D, but with Alan Smith suffering a cut to the head against Southampton and Louis Saha a long-term absentee, Sir Alex Ferguson could be facing a striker crisis. Fenerbahçe strolled past MKE Ankaragücü 5-0 to stay top in Turkey, although Pierre van Hooijdonk and Deniz Baris (both calf) missed the game.

Although certain of at least second spot, Olympique Lyonnais must win against AC Sparta Praha and hope United slip up if they are to progress as Group D winners. An added-time AC Ajaccio goal robbed the French champions of victory in Ligue 1 on Saturday after Juninho Pernambucano's free-kick had seemingly set up victory. Knee injuries have sidelined Eric Abidal, Claudio Caçapa and Grégory Coupet while coach Paul Le Guen is also without Giovane Elber (ankle) for the visit of Sparta. Goals from Tomáš Jun and Jan Šimák wrapped up a 2-0 domestic win for the Sparta against FK Drnovice on Friday night. Goalkeeper Jaromír Blažek’s throat infection kept him out, although his replacement David Bičík was barely called into action in what was only his third league appearance.