As Roma playmaker Francesco Totti is set to return from a knee injury, which has kept him out for more than two weeks. This is good news for the Italians who sparkle with Totti and look ordinary without him.There are still notable absences in Fabio Capello’s squad, including Brazilian winger Marcos Cafu, who could be replaced by Diego Fuser. Up front, Gabriel Batistuta is expected to start on the bench, while Marco Delvecchio has recovered from a thigh strain to partner Vincenzo Montella.Arsenal will be without two deep-lying strikers for the trip to the Italian capital. Nigerian international Nwankwo Kanu has a knee injury and Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp refuses to fly.In their absence, Swedish midfielder Freddie Ljungberg could be asked to play in the hole behind Thierry Henry or manager Arsenal Wenger could give a rare start to England Under-21 striker Francis Jeffers. Ivory Coast midfielder Kolo Toure is suspended after being sent off aganst PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago. The English champions have had mixed fortunes in the domestic league and lost 3-2 at Southampton on Saturday.Valencia vs AjaxWinger Kily Gonzalez will miss out on Valencia’s opener at home to Ajax after he suffered serious ankle ligament damage in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Valladolid. The Argentine international will be out for up to three months after undergoing surgery on Sunday and joins countryman Pablo Aimar and midfielder Francisco Rufete on Valencia’s lengthening injury list.Given the strength-in-depth of his midfield, coach Rafael Benitez should have few problems filling the gaps, while he is likely to keep faith with Mista up Front after the tricky striker grabbed both of his side’s goals in the Valladolid game.Ajax coach Ronald Koeman has not yet fixed on the shape of his team. In training he played with Finn Jari Litmanen in midfield but the former Liverpool player could move forward if he believes he can snatch a goal on the counter attack through Valencia’s depleted midfield.Leverkusen vs BarcaLeverkusen, a lowly 11th in the Bundesliga standings, do not go into the game brimming with confidence after a 2-2 draw with strugglers Arminia Bielefeld at the weekend. Coach Klaus Toppmoeller said the match against Barcelona gave his players the perfect opportunity to restore some pride and he told them he wanted a more passionate approach.Barcelona will also have to do without skipper Luis Enriquein their attempt to extend their winning run in the Champions League to nine matches. Club doctors said earlier this week that the combativemid fielder would not play before the New Year because of a niggling Achilles tendon injury.Newcastle vs Inter MilanHugo Viana and Nolberto Solano are expected to return to the Newcastle starting line-up at St James’ Park. Viana has shrugged off a knee injury while Solano should be restored to the right side after being being dropped for the last three games. Jermaine Jenas and Olivier Bernard will be relegated to the subsitutes’ bench following Newcastle’s 5-3 defeat by Manchester United on Saturday.Wales striker Craig Bellamy looks likely to spearhead the attack alongside skipper Alan Shearer with worries over his problem knee now receding. Bobby Robson’s side have shown patchy form this season but the are on a high after creating Champions League history by becoming the first club to qualify for the second phase after losing the first three matches of the competition. Inter’s Argentine striker Hernan Crespo returns to partner Christian Vieri after missing Saturday’s Milan derby.
