Pride at stake for Barca

Defending champions take on Chelsea at home in must-win game; Inter desperate for victory too

After consecutive defeats at Chelsea and Real Madrid, Barcelona are out to dispel the doubts over their form when they host the Londoners in the Champions League at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

But it will not just be prestige that is at stake when Barca meet their old foes as the Euorpean champions know that defeat could seriously jeopardise their chances of making a successful defence of their crown. Barca are in joint second spot in Group A, level on four points with Werder Bremen and five behind Chelsea after their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago and they need a win if they want to be sure of staying ahead of the Germans.

Barca8217;s quandary is whether to keep faith with Eidur Gudjohnsen against his old club up front or opt for the more mobile Javier Saviola who has come back into the picture following the injury to leading striker Samuel Eto8217;o.

Argentine prodigy Lionel Messi, who strained an ankle against Real Madrid last week, trained normally on Sunday and should be in the starting line-up.

Chelsea8217;s preparations have been hampered by injuries to first-choice strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba. The Ukrainian missed Saturday8217;s 2-0 league win at Sheffield United with a leg muscle problem, while Drogba, currently in superb form, was taken off at halftime with a foot problem sustained early in the game.

Jose Mourinho will also be without first-choice keeper Petr Cech, out for months after brain surgery, and though Carlo Cudicini has returned to training after his own head injury, the coach seems likely to keep faith with Hilario.

Inter vs Spartak

In Group B, Inter Milan8217;s players will be full of confidence, fresh from their derby win over AC Milan on Saturday, as they prepare for the away trip to Spartak Moscow.

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The involvement of both teams in the later stages of the competition almost totally depends on the outcome of this game. Bayern Munich top the table on nine points followed by Sporting Lisbon on four.

Their 2-1 win over Spartak Moscow two weeks ago revived their campaign and another win over Spartak, albeit this time in Moscow, will give them a chance of advancing, especially if Bayern follow up their 1-0 win over Sporting in Lisbon with another win over the Portuguese side in Munich. Bayern, though, need only a draw to make sure of their progress.

Liverpool vs Bordeaux

In Group C, if Liverpool beat last-place Bordeaux and Galatasaray fail to beat second-place PSV Eindhoven, then the Reds will have qualified for the second round with two games to spare.

While Liverpool fans wonder whether Gerrard will be on form and which of their strikers will face Bordeaux on Tuesday, they won8217;t see former Liverpool player Vladimir Smicer, who is missing from the French club8217;s lineup because of a thigh strain.

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Group D toppers Valencia, favourites to go through, travel to bottom-placed Shakhtar Donetsk. Italy8217;s AS Roma, second in the group on 6 points, and with the advantage of playing at home, would look to overcome Olympiakos.