Ajax one match away from Champions League quarter-finals

VICTORY for Ajax tonight against Valencia in Group B will secure the Dutch team’s place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Holland's most promising football talent, Rafael van der Vaart, returns to partner Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front for the tie against the Spaniards.

Fellow striker Ahmed Hossam, better known as Mido, has been banished to the reserves but the Egyptian is awaiting FIFA approval on a possible loan move to Spanish club Celta Vigo.

Van der Vaart showed his scoring talent last Saturday by scoring twice on his league return after a three-month absence in a 5-0 win over lowly Zwolle. US defender John O'Brien is also back from injury and will play on the left behind Brazilian Maxwell. With midfielder Tomas Galasek the only player over 30, Ronald Koeman's team will line up an average age of 22.7.

Valencia will be desperate to get their Champions League campaign back on track after an unexpected 3-0 home defeat against Roma last time out. A win will give Rafa Benitez's side a strong chance of making the last eight, but defeat against group leaders Ajax will spell the end if it is accompanied by an Arsenal victory against Roma.

Veteran Italian defender Amedeo Carboni is likely to return to replace the injured Fabio Aurelio at left back, while Francisco Rufete should slot into the midfield to replace the suspended Miguel Angel Angulo.

Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar came through unscathed in the weekend 1-0 league defeat against Atletico Madrid and will look to provide the spark that was missing for much of the Roma match. Up front big Norwegian striker John Carew may just get the nod over the more agile Mista.

In Group A, Barcelona coach Radomir Antic has a series of injury worries as his side look to clinch their place in the last eight against an out-of-sorts Bayer Leverkusen.

Versatile midfielder Luis Enrique, who had only just returned from a four-month lay off, is the latest addition to the lengthening injury list after he tore a leg muscle during Saturday's 1-1 draw against Valladolid.

Dutch international midfielder Philip Cocu, inspirational defender Carles Puyol and reserve striker Dani are also out of action through injury, while midfielder Thiago Motta is doubtful for the game with a suspected groin strain.

Swedish defender Patrik Andersson could make his first start in over a year in the centre of defence. Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme should feature while Gaizka Mendieta is likely to slot into midfield if Motta fails a late fitness test.

Leverkusen are already eliminated and are focused on their battle against relegation from the Bundesliga. Last season's Champions League finalists wasted their last chance of playing in Europe next season when they lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich in a German Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

They went on to lose 3-0 to the same opponents on Saturday to drop to 15th in the German first division standings one spot above the relegation zone.

Coach Thomas Hoerster will be without defensive midfielder Carsten Ramelow (heel) and striker Oliver Neuville (back).

Brazilian defender Juan is being rested.