A MATCH which began with Inter Milan scoring one of the great Champions League goals ended with their Champions League ambitions all but dead as Schalke twice came from behind in the San Siro to claim a sensational advantage in last night’s quarter-final.

RAUL scored his 71th goal in European competition as Schalke recovered from a goal down to force a draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Valencia at the Mestalla last night.

Striker James McFadden and defender Liam Ridgewell are Birmingham’s main injury doubts ahead of Sunday’s Barclays Premier League match with Blackburn at St Andrews.

Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson is poised to return to action for the Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at St Andrews tomorrow.

Birmingham City will give late fitness tests to striker James McFadden and midfielder Sebastian Larsson before manager Alex McLeish finalises his side for Sunday’s derby at Aston Villa.

Birmingham defenders Franck Queudrue and Liam Ridgewell are available after suspension for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton tomorrow.

Birmingham defender Franck Queudrue has joined Liam Ridgewell in being suspended for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Birmingham striker James McFadden has been pencilled in for a comeback in the home Barclays Premier League clash with his former club Everton on April 12.

Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson is winning his battle to be fit for the Barclays Premier League bottom-six clash at Reading.

Birmingham will be without central defender Martin Taylor who will begin a three-game ban for his red card against Arsenal in the incident where Eduardo suffered a broken leg.

Birmingham’s chief creative force Olivier Kapo will miss the trip to West Ham through suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign against Sunderland 11 days ago.

Defender David Murphy is part of the Birmingham squad for the first time since his £1.5m move from Hibernian a fortnight ago.

James McFadden is poised to make his full debut for Birmingham in the Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light tomorrow night.

Birmingham’s new £5m signing James McFadden has to be content with a place on the bench for today's Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish must decide whether to give a debut to full-back David Murphy after his £1.5m move from Hibernian.

Birmingham are boosted by the return of skipper Liam Ridgewell for the St Stephen's clash with Middlesbrough at St Andrew’s.

BIRMINGHAM manager Alex McLeish has warned his players they will pay with their places if they do not learn from Saturday’s error-strewn display at Bolton.

Birmingham will be without Liam Ridgewell for the trip to Bolton with the central defender having to serve a one-match ban for incurring five bookings this season.

ALEX MCLEISH believes Mikael Forssell will play a decisive role in Birmingham’s bid to stay in the Premier League — if he can remain fit.

Alex McLeish has no fresh major injury problems as Birmingham return to Newcastle for the first time since last season’s 5-1 win in the FA Cup.

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos selected three strikers for today’s Premier League clash with Birmingham.

ERIC BLACK has thrown his weight behind Alex McLeish’s bid to become the new manager of Birmingham City.

Mikael Forssell could be poised for his first start for more than two months when Birmingham begin the post-Steve Bruce era against Portsmouth at St Andrews.

LIAM RIDGEWELL was touched by the cruellest hand of fate not once but twice yesterday as Aston Villa stole the plaudits, and the points, in a typically frenetic second city derby.

STEVE BRUCE turned the air blue as his “naive” Birmingham side stumbled out of the cauldron of Goodison Park.

Birmingham City are boosted by the return to the squad of striker Mikael Forssell and midfielder Johan Djourou for tomorrow’s trip to Everton.

CAMERON JEROME insisted Steve Bruce must remain as Birmingham manager if Carson Yeung completes his protracted takeover of the club.

Birmingham defender Johan Djourou will have a fitness test on his hamstring injury ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at St Andrews.

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON is already looking forward to Christmas. The Manchester City manager believes the hectic festive programme will give a true indication of how good his side are, although a run of six successive home wins suggests December will not hold any unpleasant surprises.

Manchester City 1 Birmingham 0

Birmingham defender Johan Djourou is a major fitness doubt for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League game with Manchester City at Eastlands.

STEVE BRUCE fears he will be sacked as Birmingam manager should prospective new owner Carson Yeung take control of the club.

Birmingham have no fresh worries for the Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce will be forced to make one change from the side which earned a goalless draw at Liverpool for the visit of Manchester United.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is set to name an unchanged side for tomorrow’s Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield.

Birmingham skipper Damien Johnson is the only injury absentee for the Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton tomorrow.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has dismissed speculation he is about to sign veteran Czech striker Jan Koller from Monaco.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is resigned to being without defenders Mat Sadler and Rafael Schmitz for the opening Barclays Premier League fixture at Chelsea on Sunday.

Birmingham are poised to make their seventh signing of the summer with Lille central defender Rafael Schmitz to join the midlands club on a season-long loan.

Man Utd 0 Lille 0

ASTON VILLA 0, LILLE 2

Lille v Aston Villa teamsheets

Hewlett-Packard Corp is to cut around 5,900 jobs from a total of 46,000 in Europe as a consequence of the merger with Compaq Computer Corp, the boss of HP Germany, Heribert Schmitz, was quoted as saying today.