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<SPAN class=art-title2>All eyes on Stamford Bridge</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Old foes reunited - Chelsea and Barca will lock horns again in Tuesday's marquis match.</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>CESAR RANGEL
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">16 Oct 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Six teams have won their opening two games (Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Lyon, Manchester United and Valencia), while Italian champions Inter Milan have slumped to two defeats. Since the group stage began, a total of 81 goals have been scored, leading to an average of 2.5 per encounter.
The last away team to win at Stamford Bridge (2-1 in last year's round of sixteen), Barcelona would give their eye teeth for a repeat performance. However, the champions of Europe will be without star striker Samuel Eto'o for several weeks, offering his deputy Eidur Gudjohnsen an early return to the stadium he knows so well. Andriy Shevchenko, meanwhile, will be desperate to use this showcase encounter to spark his Chelsea career into life and start sharing the goalscoring burden with Didier Drogba. This prestigious clash could well serve as a turning point for the Blues, who are still a considerable way from exploiting their full potential. But with both their top goalkeepers, Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, having suffered bad injuries this weekend, Portuguese third-choice Hilario will most likely endure a baptism of fire.
As for Werder Bremen, a win over Levski Sofia is essential if they are to retain any hope of challenging the big two for Group A's qualification berths.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid face a tricky trip to Bucharest to face Steaua in Tuesday's Group E clash. The Spanish giants enjoyed a less than ideal warm-up this weekend, slipping to their first league defeat of the season, away to Getafe (1-0), having Ronaldo sent off on his comeback. Steaua have already been beaten once at home by Lyon (0-3), and there are doubts as to the involvement of their playmaker Vasilica Cristocea. That said, it should not be forgotten that they romped to a 4-1 win in Kiev on the opening matchday. Also in Group E, five-time French champions Lyon could book their qualification early if they can win in Ukraine against a disappointing Dynamo Kiev, who have thus far shipped nine goals in two games.
Six-pointer at Celtic
In Group F, Benfica, beaten 1-0 at home by Manchester United, will find their chances of reaching the knockout stage severely compromised if they return home from their match with Celtic empty-handed. Comfortable 4-0 winners at the weekend over Leiria, the historic Lisbon club look to have finally kick-started what has been a faltering season so far. As for their opponents, Celtic will be counting on the experience of Thomas Gravesen and Jan Vennegor of Hesselink to help them claim a second win of the campaign and put five points between them and their Portuguese rivals. Elsewhere in the group, FC Copenhagen continue their challenging UEFA Champions League initiation with a trip to Old Trafford to face a Manchester United side who were convincing in their 3-1 Premiership win over Wigan at the weekend.
Group G leaders Arsenal could also go a long way towards cementing their place in the round of sixteen if they can overcome second-placed CSKA Moscow. With the return of their captain and talisman Thierry Henry, the Gunners have rediscovered their cutting edge, but they will need all their guile to break down a side yet to concede a goal in the group. The second Group G tie features Porto and Hamburg, with both sides aware that another defeat will effectively spell
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