Aimar absence vexes Valencia

Group E 
Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie scored as Arsenal drew 2-2 at home to Southampton FC on Saturday. Sol Campbell (calf), Gilberto (back) and Gaël Clichy (ankle) were absent and all are doubtful for the visit of Panathinaikos FC. Meanwhile, the Greek champions beat Panionios NFC 4-0 with returning striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos scoring in each half after three weeks out with a groin injury. Panathinaikos played without Nasief Morris (ankle), while Emmanuel Olisadebe and Ioannis Goumas were rested. Dutch leaders PSV Eindhoven drew 0-0 at FC Utrecht on Friday. Mark van Bommel (muscle) and defender Alex (foot) are expected to play against Rosenborg but John de Jong, André Ooijer, Kasper Bøgelund, Michael Lamey and Heurelho Gomes are on the injury list. Rosenborg had the best possible preparation by being crowned champions of Norway with a 4-1 win against SFK Lyn on Saturday. Vidar Riseth limped off with an achilles problem and is a doubt for Tuesday's match in the Netherlands. Christer Basma and Ørjan Berg are definitely out.

Group F
Barcelona remain top in Spain despite being held to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Club Bilbao on Saturday, Samuel Eto'o scoring. Right-back Juliano Belletti was ruled out before the game with an achilles problem and his place went to Damiá Abella but the Brazilian should be fit for the visit of AC Milan. Thiago Motta, Gabri García, Edmílson, Sylvinho and Albert Jorquera are all still sidelined, however. As for the Italian side, they needed a goal by Andriy Shevchenko to beat UC Sampdoria 1-0 on Saturday and move within two points of Serie A leaders Juventus FC. Shevchenko, who became a father on Friday, will lead the attack in Spain as Filippo Inzaghi is still out with an ankle injury, while defender Jaap Stam will also be absent. Celtic FC were boosted as midfielder Alan Thompson returned from a hamstring injury to score in the 3-2 Saturday win against Motherwell FC. Striker Chris Sutton (chest) is ruled out for the home game against FC Shakhtar Donetsk as are Stephen McManus, John Kennedy, Shaun Maloney, Ulrik Laursen and David Fernández. Henri Camara is also doubtful but Stanislav Varga is expected to recover from illness. Shakhtar needed a goal in added time by Cosmin Barcauan to win 2-1 at FC Kryvbas Kriviy Rih on Friday. Striker Dmytro Moldovan made his debut, but Ciprian Marica, Julius Aghahowa and captain Anatoliy Tymoschuk were rested.

Group G 
Werder Bremen have more options ahead of the match against RSC Anderlecht. Petri Pasanen returned to the starting lineup in the 1-1 draw against Hamburger SV on Saturday although Pekka Lagerblom, Tim Borowski and Angelos Charisteas were missing - all are expected to return on Tuesday. Anderlecht earned a 2-2 draw at KSC Lokeren OV with goals from Christian Wilhelmsson and Aruna Dindane but Vincent Kompany went off at half-time with a possible hamstring injury. Midfield player Pär Zetterberg (back) and Fabrice Ehret (toe) missed the match while definitely out are Martin Kolar (knee), Hannu Tihinen (foot), Clayton Zane (knee), Mark Deman (thigh) and Nenad Jestrovic (arm). In Italy, FC Internazionale Milano were held 1-1 by S.S. Lazio but Adriano scored again. Sinisa Mihajlovic, Alvaro Recoba and Cristiano Zanetti are all available again for midweek selection against Valencia CF but the situation is not so clear regarding Christian Vieri (ankle). Defender Giuseppe Favalli is doubtful and Carlos Gamarra and Kily González are long-term casualties. Valencia midfielder Pablo Aimar picked up a head injury in the 1-1 draw with Club Atlético de Madrid on Saturday night and could be missing for several weeks. He was released from hospital on the following day but faces further tests. Club doctor Jorge Candel said: "He suffered a complete loss of consciousness, was unable to breath properly for a short while and remembers nothing about the match." Vicente Rodríguez (ankle) will be out for at least two more weeks. Third-choice goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle has returned after undergoing an operation on his spleen.

Group H 
PFC CSKA Moskva warmed up for Chelsea FC's visit with a 1-1 home draw against FC Krylya Sovetov Samara on Saturday. The Russian champions, who are without Chidi Odiah (shoulder), have seen their lead at the top cut to just one point, with two rounds to play. Chelsea won 4-1 at West Bromwich Albion FC with goals from William Gallas, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Damien Duff and Frank Lampard. Earlier in the week the club sacked Romania striker Adrian Mutu following his failed drugs test while another striker, Didier Drogba, faces another two weeks out with an injured groin. FC Porto threw away a two-goal lead courtesy of Diego and Benni McCarthy at CD Nacional to finish with a 2-2 draw, although they were boosted by the return of Luis Fabiano following a muscle injury. Costinha, who picked up a head injury in midweek, was released from hospital on Saturday and faces a further fortnight out. Porto's visitors Paris Saint-Germain FC came away from third-placed AJ Auxerre with a share of the spoils as Pauleta struck his fifth league goal this season in a 1-1 draw. Vahid Halilhodzic's side are still missing French internationals Jérôme Rothen and Bernard Mendy.