Ronaldo heads list of absentees

Real Madrid CF striker Ronaldo heads the list of players suspended from the opening round of UEFA Champions League group matches.

Striking alternatives
The Brazilian misses the Group F trip to Olympique Lyonnais on Tuesday after he was sent off in Madrid's Champions League first knockout round loss to Juventus FC in March. The Spanish side have sufficient cover, however, following the summer signings of Brazilian pair Robinho and Julio Baptista.

Lehmann sanction
Another player looking on from the sidelines will be Arsenal FC goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who misses the visit of FC Thun to Highbury on Wednesday. The German international received a two-match sanction after he squirted water at a match official following Arsenal's exit at the hands of FC Bayern München last season. Manuel Almunia and Mart Poom are the contenders to fill the void.

Jankulovski wait
Czech winger Marek Jankulovski will have to wait to make his Champions League debut for AC Milan, as he sits out Tuesday's game against Fenerbahçe SK at the Giuseppe Meazza. In Group G, RSC Anderlecht travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea FC without attacking midfield player Marius Mitu, while Alberto Rivera Pizarro is out of Real Betis Balompié's home game against Liverpool FC.

Creative dearth
Villarreal CF forward José Mari misses Wednesday's game against Manchester United FC after picking up a red card in the UEFA Cup last season. He joins injured playmaker Juan Román Riquelme in the stands, depriving the Spanish side of two leading creative players. In the other Group D match, Milivoje Vitakic serves the first part of a two-match suspension for LOSC Lille Métropole and misses the games against SL Benfica and Villarreal.

Klose out
In Wednesday's other matches, Greek side Panathinaikos FC are without two crucial players for their trip to Udinese Calcio, midfield player Flavio Conceição and forward Emmanuel Olisadebe having both accumulated two yellow cards in qualifying. Also in Group C, Germany striker Miroslav Klose is banned as Werder Bremen entertain FC Barcelona at the Weserstadion.

Verheyen absence
Balazs Borbey misses FC Artmedia Bratislava's group stage debut against FC Internazionale Milano, who have no disciplinary worries, while two yellow cards mean Gert Verheyen is ruled out of Club Brugge KV's Group A fixture at home to Juventus.