Striker crisis for Chelsea at Barcelona

Chelsea's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho speaks during a press conference at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, October 30. Chelsea will travel to Barcelona for today's Champions League fixture knowing that a draw would leave them firmly in the driving seat in Group A.

Chelsea will travel to Barcelona for today's Champions League fixture knowing that a draw would leave them firmly in the driving seat in Group A.

The English champions went five points clear of the reigning European Champions thanks to a Didier Drogba strike at Stamford Bridge and have a maximum nine pints from three games.

Their next two games however are tough away to Barcelona and the other main rival in the group Germany's Werder Bremen.

Jose Mourinho's side have been in fine form of late and a 2-0 win at Sheffield United on Saturday kept them level with Manchester United atop the English Premiership.

But the Portuguese coach admitted he is facing a striker crisis ahead of the visit to the Nou Camp Tuesday.

With Andriy Shevchenko already missing with a leg muscle injury, Didier Drogba had to be replaced at half-time during the win in Sheffield after the Ivory Coast international hurt his right foot.

Mourinho is refusing to rule the pair out of Tuesday's match, but said both men could struggle to recover in time.

"Drogba was feeling a lot of pain and couldn't play on," Mourinho explained after goals by Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack gave the reigning Premiership champions their fifth straight win.

Barcelona's Tiago Motta (R) of Brazil and Leo Messi of Argentina stretch during a training session at the Camp Nou stadium, October 30. Chelsea will travel to Barcelona for today's Champions League fixture knowing that a draw would leave them firmly in the driving seat in Group A.

"I don't know if they will be fit, but for the first game against Barcelona earlier this season (which Chelsea won 1-0) we played without two keepers.

"Maybe we will have to play without both strikers this time."

Barcelona are also short of strikers with last season's top scorer Samuel Eto'o out with a knee injury and coach Frank Rijkaard will be looking to former Chelsea favourite Eidur Gudjohnsen to finally make his mark.

The 2004 champions Liverpool take on Bordeaux at Anfield, having edged the French side 1-0 away in the last round of games.

Both sides are struggling to find their best form in their domestic leagues although both recorded 3-1 wins on Saturday, Liverpool at home over Aston Villa and Bordeaux at home over Sedan.

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez has concerns over knocks to Steven Gerrard and Momo Sissoko which have left them doubtful for Tuesday's clash and left him set to change his team for the 100th successive game.

"If you are playing two games a week and if you have injuries you have to make changes," Benitez explained.

"Some players need more than two or three days rest to be fit again for another game so, if you have someone who is equally good, why take the risk? Why not make the change?"

Bordeaux have injury problems of their own with left back Franck Jurietti almost certainly out after injuring an ankle against Sedan.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez smiles after his team beat Chelsea 2-1 during an FA Cup semi-final game at Old Trafford in Manchester in April 2006. Benitez has concerns over knocks to Steven Gerrard and Momo Sissoko which have left them doubtful for today's clash and left him set to change his team for the 100th successive game.

But midfielder Pierre Ducasse said that the French side, who have just one point from three games so far, have nothing to lose.

"We will give all we have and will go out to enjoy ourselves," he said. "It's not everyday that you get the chance to play in such a stadium.

"The win over Sedan will liberate us and Liverpool may be too confident. We have our chances of winning at Anfield."

PSV Eindhoven, who are level on seven points with Liverpool, also have the chance to all but clinch qualification for the next group stage by defeating Turkish champions Galatasaray at home.

In Group B, unbeaten Bayern Munich will have to do without the services of German international striker Lukas Podolski at home against Sporting Lisbon.

The World Cup hero is out for at least three weeks after injuring his right ankle in a practice session last Thursday.

Bordeaux' striker Jean-Claude Darcheville (C) and defender David Jemmali (L) celebrate after scoring against Le Mans during their French L1 football match, at the Chaban Delmas stadium in Bordeaux. Bordeaux have injury problems of their own with left back Franck Jurietti almost certainly out after injuring an ankle against Sedan.

Group rivals Inter Milan will welcome back defender Fabio Grosso for the trip to play Spartak Moscow.

Grosso was banned for two games for fouling Bayern full-back Willy Sagnol in the 2-0 home defeat, but this was cut in half on appeal and Grosso sat out the 2-1 home win over Spartak.

Group D sees Spain's Valencia hoping to keep up their unbeaten record away to bottom side Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine while second-placed Roma are at home to Olympiakos of Greece.

Tuesday's fixtures

Group A:

Levski Sofia (BUL) v Werder Bremen (GER)

Barcelona (ESP) v Chelsea (ENG)

Group B:

Spartak Moscow (RUS) v Inter Milan (ITA)

Bayern Munich (GER) v Sporting Lisbon (POR)

Group C:

Liverpool (ENG) v Bordeaux (FRA)

PSV Eindhoven (NED) v Galatasaray (TUR)

Group D:

Shakthar Donetsk (UKR) v Valencia (ESP)

Roma (ITA) v Olympiakos (GRE)

Champions League standings