Jaap gets back for Milan’s crunch tie

TONIGHT Milan host Schalke 04 at the San Siro in a crucial Group E game. The sides drew 2-2 in Gelsenkirchen in their first clash and, with PSV Eindhoven hot on their heels, both will be keen to avoid defeat.

Milan's Paolo Maldini faces a late fitness test but the Italians welcome Jaap Stam back from suspension, given Serginho and Cafu are suspended. Schalke will look to in-form Levan Kobiashvili for goals. Only a win will definitely see Milan through, though a low-scoring draw will also get the Italians into the next round.

Elsewhere in Group E, Eindhoven face a visit from Fenerbahçe.

The Dutch side know a draw may see them through to the next stage, depending on other results. However, the Dutch outfit lost 3-0 in Istanbul to the Turkish club and both Eindhoven and Fenerbahçe lost heavily in their last Champions League outing. Eindhoven were beaten 3-0 by Schalke and Fenerbahçe lost 4-0 to Milan.

In Group F the focus will be on Real Madrid, who axed coach Wanderlei Luxemburgo on Sunday. The Galacticos travel to Olympiacos with reserve coach and stop-gap manager Juan Ramon Lopez Caro as confirmed runners-up, thanks in no small way to a late win over Olympiacos in their earlier meeting.

The Greeks are unbeaten at home against Spanish sides in UEFA competitions and had a good 3-1 win away in their domestic league last weekend. However, even though Madrid are somewhat in disarray with David Beckham sent off last weekend and Raul out with a knee injury Olympiacos have only managed one point so far in the group stages.

In the other Group F clash Lyon host injury-struck Rosenborg, who are missing Ciljan Skjelbred, Jan Gunnar Solli, Ørjan Berg, Miika Koppinen and Robbie Russell. The French side who are missing defenders Eric Abidal and Jérémy Berthod through injury have already topped the group and will be keen to continue their good run with a win over the Norwegians. Lyon grabbed a 1-0 away win when they went north to Rosenborg, who will now be planning their UEFA Cup campaign.

In Group G Real Betis recently linked with Florent Sinama Pongolle are visited by Anderlecht. The Spaniards will, like Rosenborg, face into the UEFA Cup in the new year and would obviously like to crown their debut season in the Champions League with a win.

Anderlecht have had a miserable run of late, with 12 consecutive defeats. One of their losses came in the return game against Betis, a 1-0 Spanish victory courtesy of a Ricardo Oliveira goal; unfortunately for them Oliveira is now a long-term injury absence with knee ligament damage.

Though the Rangers-Inter game is the glamour tie in Group H, Artmedia face visitors Porto and both harbour hopes of progressing. Rangers are on six points but Artmedia are on five and Porto on four, so this group will go to the wire.

In their previous meeting the Slovakians carved out a dramatic win, coming from two goals down to beat the Portuguese. Artmedia have just one injury absentee, Lukas Hartig.