LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Rafael Benitez made scuppering Chelsea’s Champions League hopes a pastime when he was at Liverpool but on Wednesday he has the chance to preside over an unlikely rescue act at Stamford Bridge.

His chances of steering the faltering European champions into the knockout stages of the competition are slim as they not only have to beat Denmark’s Nordsjaelland but also need Juventus to slip up against group leaders Shakhtar Donetsk.

LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) – Barcelona’s early season form has been on a par with their habitually high standards but as they prepare to visit Celtic in the Champions League there remains a question mark hanging over their makeshift defence.

One more win in Group G on Wednesday would see the Catalans into the knockout stages but fans worry whether a back four that has an increasingly stand-in look about it can win a fifth European Cup.

By Toby Davis

(Reuters) – Manchester City’s struggle to transfer their Premier League form to the Champions League will come into focus again on Wednesday when they face Ajax Amsterdam knowing defeat would leave them in a precarious position.

After going out in the group stage last season, City’s expensively assembled squad have failed to light the touch paper in this year’s competition and occupy third place in Group D with a solitary point from their opening two games.

Oct 23 (Reuters) – Manchester City’s struggle to transfer their Premier League form to the Champions League will come into focus again on Wednesday when they face Ajax Amsterdam knowing defeat would leave them in a precarious position.

After going out in the group stage last season, City’s expensively assembled squad have failed to light the touch paper in this year’s competition and occupy third place in Group D with a solitary point from their opening two games.

LONDON (Reuters) – A traditional strength of England teams, the centre back position has suddenly become a nagging worry for manager Roy Hodgson.

Following the retirement of John Terry, Hodgson’s latest England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland reflected his continued desire to look to the future.

LONDON, Oct 4 (Reuters) – A traditional strength of England teams, the centre back position has suddenly become a nagging worry for manager Roy Hodgson.

Following the retirement of John Terry, Hodgson’s latest England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland reflected his continued desire to look to the future.

LONDON (Reuters) – Arsenal face Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League on Wednesday with manager Arsene Wenger talking nervously about a defence he says lacks personality and authority after they suffered their first defeat of the season.

The north London club will be expected to return to winning ways against the Greek league leaders after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Premier League pacesetters Chelsea on Saturday.

LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Arsenal face Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League on Wednesday with manager Arsene Wenger talking nervously about a defence he says lacks personality and authority after they suffered their first defeat of the season.

The north London club will be expected to return to winning ways against the Greek league leaders after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Premier League pacesetters Chelsea on Saturday.

LONDON (Reuters) – Michael Owen used to terrify international defenders and made scoring look easy but the extent to which his career has gone off the boil will be brought into focus on Saturday when he lines up for modest Stoke City.

Just days after his former England colleagues struggled in a 1-1 draw against Ukraine, Owen, who scored 40 international goals while representing some of Europe’s most illustrious clubs, could make his Stoke debut against Manchester City.

LONDON, Sept 13 (Reuters) – Michael Owen used to terrify
international defenders and made scoring look easy but the
extent to which his career has gone off the boil will be brought
into focus on Saturday when he lines up for modest Stoke City.

Just days after his former England colleagues struggled in a
1-1 draw against Ukraine, Owen, who scored 40 international
goals while representing some of Europe’s most illustrious
clubs, could make his Stoke debut against Manchester City.