UEFA Europa League

Roma vs CSKA Sofia

Date: October 1st Time: 19:05 (GMT)

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri has named his 20-man squad for the Europa LeagueCSKA Sofia on Thursday evening, as reported by forzaroma.info.

The Giallorossi are desperate for a positive result after suffering a shock 2-0 loss to Basel two weeks ago, which has left them at the bottom of Group E.

Key players Rodrigo Taddei and Philippe Mexes will miss out through injury. Talismanic captain Francesco Totti is expected to pull the strings in attack again, probably alongside Mirko Vucinic.

Brazilian full-back Cicinho could make his return to the starting XI after missing several months with a knee injury.

The full squad is listed below.

Goalkeepers: Doni, Lobont, Julio Sergio

Defenders: Andreolli, Burdisso, Cicinho, Juan, Motta, Riise, Tonetto

Midfielders: De Rossi, Perrotta, Pizarro, Menez, Guberti, Greco

Strikers: Cerci, Totti, Vucinic, Okaka

Source: www.goal.com

Let's watch who will be the winner...

UEFA Europa League

Valencia vs Genoa

Date: October 1st Time: 19:05 (GMT)

Arrigo Sacchi has warned Genoa to keep Valencia ace David Villa quiet when they face Los Che in the Europa League on Thursday. "Valencia are a team with great history in Europe. Recently they are not brilliant or strong like previous years, but they are good technically," Sacchi told Pianetagenoa1893.net. "Genoa will need to pay attention to Villa, who is a major player and an international striker. Valencia also have the experience." However, the coach believes the Grifoni's attacking brand of football is their best weapon, and he is expecting to see it work. "Genoa play great football, not only good to watch, but it's also of a world-class level. They play really well, and they are honouring Calcio," concluded the Italian. Source: www.goal.com Let's watch who will be the winner...

UEFA Europa League

Fulham vs Basle

Date: October 1st Time: 19:05 (GMT)

UEFA Europa League

BATE vs Everton

Date: October 1st Time: 17:00 (GMT)

UEFA Europa League

Levski Sofia vs Lazio

Date: October 1st Time: 17:00 (GMT)

UEFA Europa League

Werder Bremen vs Athletic Bilbao

Date: October 1st Time: 17:00 (GMT)

UEFA Champions League

Manchester United vs Wolfsburg

Date: September 30th Time: 18:45 (GMT)

Serbia defender Vidic, a Champions League winner against Chelsea in 2008 prior to last season’s final defeat against Barcelona in Rome, is set to continue to injury-interrupted partnership with Rio Ferdinand at the heart of United’s back four against German champions Wolfsburg at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

An unusually shaky performance by Vidic against Barcelona contributed to United’s defeat against the Spanish champions.

But the former Spartak Moscow defender insists that the pain of the Rome defeat, plus United’s ability to deliver in Europe, marks Sir Alex Ferguson’s team out as one of the teams to beat in the Champions League this term.

Vidic said: “We have quality players, so the small details will decide who wins the Champions League title.

“We are still not in the best form, but that is a good thing. You don’t want to be playing you best football at this stage because we have to be ready for the most important games at the end.

“It is a very bad feeling when you go the final and lose. It is a bad memory. But you also have to acknowledge it is better to get to the final and lose than not be there at all.

“Now we need to be stronger. We know how it felt and we need to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.” Wolfsburg arrive at Old Trafford having claimed top spot in Group B with a 4-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in their first game.

Despite being placed amongst the also-rans as fourth seeds, Wolfsburg pose a live threat to United and Vidic expects a tough encounter.

He said: “They’re the German champions and they have quality players, particularly up front. It'll be a hard game and I think we’ll be the two teams fighting for top spot in the group.

"When you don’t know teams or players that well you don’t always know what to expect in games.

“But that’s why we have people at the club, who show us the videos before the game so we can work out exactly how they play.

"It’s a very important part of our preparation – we need to know what to expect from the players we’ll be up against because it’s the small details that can make the difference."

Let's watch who will be the winner...

UEFA Champions League

Apoel Nicosia vs Chelsea

Date: September 30th Time: 18:45 (GMT)

Chelsea will be without suspended duo Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa for their Group D clash.

John Obi Mikel (ankle) and Michael Ballack (calf) also miss out, but Joe Cole and Deco are both fit and will start on the bench.

Ashley Cole (knee) faces a late fitness test after being forced out of their defeat at Wigan, but the full-back will travel with the squad.

Let's watch who will be the winner...

UEFA Champions League

Bayern Munich vs Juventus

Date: September 30th Time: 18:45 (GMT)

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is ready to welcome Juventus to the Allianz Arena for Wednesday’s Champions League tie, and he is convinced the Old Lady will prove to be their main rivals in the group stage.

“We are awaiting the Bianconeri,” he said to Itasportpress.it. “It’s an important return to this competition for them after the black mark of Serie B.

“Juve are a very strong side. We must take them seriously and be very concentrated and determined.

“We have already defeated them in Munich and this could be a small advantage for us as we play in front of our fans. Besides, the Bianconeri are our most fearsome opponents in our group. They are superior to Bordeaux.”

Juventus drew 1-1 at home to the French champions in the opening round of games earlier this month, while the Bavarians defeated Maccabi Haifa 3-0 in Israel.

Source: Vince Masiello, Goal.com

Let's watch who will be the winner...

UEFA Champions League

AC Milan vs FC Zurich

Date: September 30th Time: 18:45 (GMT)

AC Milan coach Leonardo has called for an immediate reaction from his players in their Champions League clash against FC Zurich.

The Rossoneri have had a stop-start campaign and have clearly struggled following the summer departures of coach Carlo Ancelotti and star men Kaka and Paolo Maldini.

Sunday's goalless home draw against newly-promoted Bari left Milan 11th in the Serie A standings and Leonardo is hoping for a swift turnaround in fortunes amid growing discontent at the San Siro.

"We have had a season of ups and downs," he said. "Against Zurich it will be an important match.

"Now, it's the Champions League, it's an important game and we have to put into practice everything we have talked about.

"I'm not worried. A coach is always in discussion, it's impossible for there not to be talks. For me it's the least important thing.

"In these kind of moments all the games could be the one that turns things around.

"What we are looking for is the kind of security that a bit of consistency will give us."

Milan have fared slightly better in Europe and beat Marseille 2-1 away in their Group C opener a fortnight ago.

They will also have fond memories of playing against Zurich from last year when they beat the Swiss team at home and away to triumph 4-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup.

And Leonardo would love nothing more than a similar result.

"We met Zurich last year in the UEFA Cup," he added. "This year they have changed little as a squad, they are basing themselves on the same players but with a different style of play.

"They're struggling a bit in the league at the moment, but we're talking about a team that won it last year."

Christian Abbiati, Davide Di Gennaro, Marco Borriello and Thiago Silva are all out injured.

Zurich are also struggling this season and know that the last thing they want is a daunting trip to the San Siro.

The Swiss champions have lost the past two league games and are sixth in the league, while they kicked off the group stages with a 5-2 humiliation at home by Real Madrid.

Coach Bernard Challandes is fully aware of the test that lies in wait for them tomorrow.

"We have already met Milan," he said. "Milan are Milan. We know who we are playing against, they are a great team.

"But we can face great teams like this as we did against Real Madrid.

"It will be a great game, out aim is to have a good game and win points."

Challandes will be without Yassine Chikhaoui, Martin Buchel and Eric Hassli, while Daniel Stucki and Heinz Barmettler are rated as highly doubtful.

Let's watch who will be the winner...

UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid vs Maresille

Date: September 30th Time: 18:45 (GMT)

Facts and figures relating to Wednesday's Group C match between Real Madrid and Marseille.

Head-to-head record

Played: 2

Wins: Real Madrid 2

Previous meetings

CL: GP 16.09.03 Real Madrid 4 Marseille 2

26.11.03 Marseille 1 Real Madrid 2

* Real striker Raul is in position to equal or beat German forward Gerd Mueller's 32-year-old record of 66 goals in the three main European club competitions - the European Cup/Champions League, Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Cup/Fairs Cup. Raul's goal in the 5-2 win over Zurich two weeks ago brought his tally to 65, all in the Champions League.

* Surprisingly, Real have lost three of their last five CL home games and failed to win in Madrid in either of their last two games against French clubs, drawing twice with Lyon in the group stage in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

* Marseille have lost their last three European games and eight of their last 10 Champions League matches.

* Marseille have lost on both of their previous visits to Madrid, going down 2-1 to Atletico in last season's group stage and 4-2 to Real six years ago.

Reuters

Let's watch who will be the winner...