Minds on midweek matches

GROUP E

Panathinaikos FC coach Zdenek Scasny began his reign with a goalless draw at home to Egaleo FC and will hope to be equally tight defensively when they welcome Arsenal FC to the Apostolos Nikolaidis. Scasny will be without injured midfielder Srdan Andric but should be able to recall the rested Angelos Basinas. Arsène Wenger's free-scoring team extended their unbeaten Premiership run to 49 matches with a 3-1 home victory against Aston Villa FC, but captain Patrick Vieira is a doubt for the trip to Greece after spraining his ankle midway through the second half.

Norwegian champions Rosenborg BK had their title ambitions dented with a 2-1 reverse at home against relegation-threatened Stabæk IF. Although fit-again Roar Strand played a full 90 minutes, Ørjan Berg looks certain to remain sidelined for the game against PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch side, who are hopeful Ji-Sung Park will return on Wednesday, were frustrated when their Eredivisie encounter at ADO Den Haag was abandoned after 80 minutes due to crowd trouble, with PSV leading 2-0.

GROUP F

Despite suffering fresh injury worries, FC Barcelona stayed top in Spain with a 1-0 win at city rivals RCD Espanyol. Deco scored the goal for Barça, who may be without Ludovic Giuly (thigh), Gerard López (groin) and Carles Puyol (knee) against AC Milan. The 2003 winners had Andrea Pirlo to thank for their 1-0 victory at Cagliari Calcio in Serie A, a match sat out by Cafu and Gennaro Gattuso with the visit of Frank Rijkaard's team in mind.

Juninho registered his first goal in Celtic FC colours in the 3-0 home success against Heart of Midlothian FC, which kept the Glasgow club in pole position in Scotland. Chris Sutton may play in defence against FC Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, however, with centre-halves Joos Valgaeren and Bobo Balde struggling with injuries. Shakhtar, 3-0 home winners against FC Tavriya Simferopol in the Ukrainian Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, have concerns over Ciprian Marica, Andriy Vorobey, Razvan Rat, Darijo Srna and Igor Duljaj. Nonetheless, coach Mircea Lucescu is confident, especially regarding striker Marica, who could "become one of the best players in the world".

GROUP G

Bremen hope to have Frank Fahrenhorst back as they travel to RSC Anderlecht on Wednesday. Fahrenhorst had to skip Saturday's 2-1 Bundesliga away defeat by 1. FSV Mainz 05 due to an ankle injury, but Aaron Hunt is definitely out after picking up a thigh strain in training. Pär Zetterberg's solitary strike at FC Brussels on Friday night was not the only good news for the Belgian outfit, who welcomed back Yves Vanderhaeghe after an eight-month lay-off and gave summer signing Fabrice Ehret a debut. Mbo Mpenza should also return in time for Wednesday's game.

Adriano scored twice as FC Internazionale Milano beat Udinese Calcio 3-1 at the San Siro. Roberto Mancini preferred Alberto Fontana to Francesco Toldo in goal and rested Dejan Stankovic, giving fit-again Cristiano Zanetti his first outing this season. Influential Valencia winger Vicente Rodríguez was left out of Sunday's 2-1 home loss to Sevilla FC after complaining of pain in his troublesome left ankle. Mista (stomach) is a doubt for the visit of Inter although Pablo Aimar and Francisco Rufete have been given a clean bill of health.

GROUP H

Defender Bernard Mendy and Portuguese forward Pauleta are set to return to the Paris Saint-Germain FC starting lineup at home against FC Porto after missing the capital club's last-gasp Ligue 1 defeat at FC Nantes Atlantique. The holders won 1-0 at Portuguese SuperLiga leaders SL Benfica on Sunday and have ongoing doubts over the fitness of injured trio Luís Fabiano, Nuno Valente and Pedro Emanuel.

Chelsea conceded a goal on their travels for the first time as they slipped up 1-0 at Manchester City FC in the Premiership. José Mourinho's side will be keen to return to winning ways against PFC CSKA Moskva at Stamford Bridge, although strikers Didier Drogba and Adrian Mutu will be absent. CSKA are the new leaders in Russia after a 2-0 home victory against FC Rostov took them one point clear of FC Lokomotiv Moskva. Jiri Jarošik and Vágner Love scored but CSKA are sweating over Rolan Gusev who was substituted in the second half.