Ancelotti set to rest strikers

AC MILAN coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rest strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Rivaldo for tonight’s Group C tie with Borussia Dortmund.

The Italians, who have already qualified for the knockout stages, should start with Andriy Shevchenko up front, just ahead of Portuguese play maker Rui Costa.

Fernando Redondo takes the place of regular central midfielder Andrea Pirlo, with Samuele Dalla Bona and Cristian Brocchi on the wings. Christian Abbiati replaces first team goalkeeper Dida between the posts.

To make the quarter-finals, Borussia Dortmund have to beat their Italian hosts and hope Real Madrid do not win away to Lokomotiv Moscow.

The German champions, who beat Hanover 96 2-0 on Saturday to stay second in the Bundesliga, 13 points behind leaders Bayern Munich, are without Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky who is suffering a thigh injury.

If Dortmund were to go out, Germany would be without a team in the quarter-finals of European club competition for the first time in 19 years.

Probable teams DORTMUND: J. Lehmann; C. Metzelder, C. Woerns, Evanilson, S. Reuter; T. Frings, S. Kehl, Dede; Ewerthon, J. Koller, M. Amoroso.

AC MILAN: C. Abbiati; D. Simic, A. Nesta, A. Costacurta, P. Maldini; S. Dalla Bona, C. Seedorf, F. Redondo, C. Brocchi; R. Costa, A. Shevchenko.

Referee: Graham Barber (England).