UEFA Champions League Preview, Wednesday Fixtures

As UEFA Champions League action continues tonight, Manchester United will be looking to  wrap up their spot in the knockout phase of the prestigious competition as they take on  Portugese side, Braga.

However, United will have it all to do to take the three points as Braga have beaten English opposition at home in their last four outings – Liverpool, Arsenal, Birmingham City and Portsmouth know how it played out.

The hosts also showed they were no pushovers in the two sides meeting last month when they led United 2-0 before losing 3-2 at Old Trafford.

In other news, Chelsea will be looking to maintain a home record that has seen them remained unbeaten in the Champions League since a 1-0 semi-final first-leg defeat to Manchester United on April 6 2011. Although John Terry is available for the game, Di Matteo has admitted that he may not play him while left back, Ashley Cole is sidelined with a hamstring injury, he will be replaced by his young understudy, Ryan Bertrand.

Chelsea’s opponent, Shakhtar Donetsk, have a full-strength squad to choose from with no injury concerns.

Barcelona go into tonight’s tie against Celtic confident that they have claimed nine points from their first three matches and a win at Parkhead, would see them qualify for the knockout stages with two games remaining.

Tito Vilanova will have centre-back Gerard Pique back in contention for the clash at Celtic Park, the Spaniard having been sidelined with a foot problem since the win over Spartak Moscow, meaning Alex Song may miss out.

Alexis Sanchez is set to return after missing the league win over Celta Vigo, while Adriano will undergo a late fitness test but is likely to miss out with Dani Alves returning.

Elsewhere, Celtic boss, Neil Lennon, is expected to name largely the same line-up that impressed in Spain in the first meeting between the two sides, where a late Jordi Alba goal denied the Scottish side a famous point.

Meanwhile, former winners, Porto and impressive debutants Malaga, became the first teams to reach the last 16 of the Champions League when they guaranteed progress from the group stage with two games to spare on Tuesday.

Tonight’s Matches

Celtic : Barcelona (8:45pm)

Chelsea : Shakhtar Donetsk (8:45pm)

Sporting Braga : Manchester United (8:45pm)

Juventus : Nordsjaelland (8:45pm)

Valencia : BATE (8:45pm)

Bayern Munchen : Lille (8:45pm)

Benfica : Spartak Moskva (8:45pm)

CFR Cluj : Galatasaray (8:45pm)