PARIS (AFP) - Ankle-victim Patrick Vieira will miss Arsenal's Champions League trip to Panathinaikos in a big blow to manager Arsene Wenger on the run-up to the Athens tie.
The Highbury captain was fouled by Aston Villa's Jlloyd Samuel during Arsenal's 3-1 home win on Saturday and Wenger said: "I think there's a big problem after the way I've seen him limping."
Vieira, who was treated at the club's London Colney training centre on Monday, is still determined to be fit to face Manchester United on Sunday in what has become a crucial Premiership clash for Alex Ferguson's team, who are 11 points behind Wenger's table toppers after their 0-0 draw at Birmingham.
Vieira's absence gives Brazilian Edu a chance on Wednesday night to show he is worth a new contract, which he has so far failed to negotiate with Arsenal.
With Gilberto Silva recovering from a back injury and Dennis Bergkamp missing the match against the Greeks because of his unwillingness to travel by air, Wenger's options are limited.
Freddie Ljungberg is set to return after missing Saturday's game with a hamstring problem and it looks likely Edu will be paired with dynamic teenager Francesc Fabregas in central midfield and Jose Antonio Reyes moved forward as the support striker to Thierry Henry.
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard returns to the stadium where he was once idolised as the Spanish giants take on AC Milan at the San Siro.
Rijkaard was part of the great Milan team of the late 1980s and early 1990s, playing alongside fellow Dutchmen Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, who were equally revered.
While van Basten provided the goals and Gullit the flair, Rijkaard stiffened up the midfield and never shirked a tackle.
He won back-to-back European Cups with Milan in 1989 and 1990 before enjoying consecutive league title triumphs in 1992 - when he was voted the best player in the Italian league - and 1993.
One of Rijkaard's fondest memories with Milan was when he scored the winning goal against Benfica in the 1990 European Cup final in Vienna.
Milan defender and Rijkaard's former team-mate Alessandro Costacurta said the home fans will not have forgotten the contribution Rijkaard made in making the club great.
"I think Rijkaard will recieve a standing ovation from the San Siro public as he is a person they will remember with great affection for the effort he gave on the pitch," said the 38-year-old, now in his 19th season at Milan.
Barcelona and Milan have both won their two Group F matches, while Scottish side Celtic and Ukrainian outfit Shaktar Donestk, who meet in the former Soviet Republic, have no points.
German champions Werder Bremen must raise their deflated confidence for the Group G clash with Anderlecht in a significant match for both clubs.
Bremen took the 2-1 scalp of Spanish champions Valencia in their last European match but subsequent defeats to Bayern Munich and a shock 2-1 reverse against Mainz 05 at the weekend has the team on a low ebb.
"Of course the mood in the camp is bad," admitted Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic. "The Mainz defeat should have been avoided."
A double-header against Belgian champions Anderlecht, with the return fixture on November 2, is vital to Bremen's chances of progressing to the knockout phase with a daunting trip to Valencia still to come.
Bremen are perched second with three points, the same as Valencia, while Inter Milan lead the standings with a maximum six points.
Chelsea, who host CSKA Moscow at Stamford Bridge, have been embroiled in a drugs scandal the last couple of days with 25-year-old striker Adrian Mutu having failed a test for cocaine at their training ground last month.
The Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph said on Monday Mutu could face a two-year ban if the positive result is confirmed by a follow-up test.
A Chelsea spokesman said: "We have no comment to make at this stage."
In the other Group H match, Mario Yepes, suspended for the previous two games, is set to make his Champions League debut for Paris Saint Germain at home to Porto.
However Bernard Mendy, who fractured his shin and missed the last two French league games, is doubtful and will need a late fitness test to see if he is at the disposal of coach Vahid Halilhodzic.