Champions League Form watch: (Bayern Munich:) Coach Felix Magath is brimming with confidence following Saturday's 1-0 win over Werder Bremen, a victory which effectively makes the hunt for the Bundesliga a two-horse race with joint-leaders Schalke - the side Bayern face next weekend in Gelsenkirchen.
Six of Bayern's last seven Bundesliga games have ended without a goal being conceded and Magath believes his side can keep a clean sheet once again on Wednesday night at Highbury. "I'm confident about Wednesday's game," Magath said yesterday. "With (Oliver) Kahn, (Robert) Kovac, Lucio and (Martin) Demichelis, it's hard to score a goal against us."
The two-goal advantage will mean Arsenal have got to score at least twice at Highbury and this, according to Magath, will lead to an open contest. "I'm sure we'll have a lot of chances on the counter-attack so I am very confident about the game. Arsenal are always good for a goal and so we'll have to stay strong in defence and make sure we take our chances in attack."
Bayern make the trip without their prolific striker Roy Makaay, who has been ruled out for a fortnight with torn muscle fibres in his right thigh, but this doesn't alter Magath's approach as he ponders whether to strengthen his midfield or replace Makaay with hot prospect Jose Paolo Guerrero. "Arsenal have got to take more risks and attack so of course it would be better for us to go for a goal."
AC Milan: Serie A leaders AC Milan racked up their sixth consecutive league win at the weekend thanks to a last-minute goal by midfielder Andrea Pirlo. The champions had taken the lead in the 72nd minute through Massimo Ambrosini, only for Atalanta striker Stephen Makinwa to level with the next move of the match.
German Herbert Fandel will referee tomorrow's match with Manchester United at the San Siro.
Barcelona: The Primera Liga leaders claimed their first win in three outings on Saturday when leading scorer Samuel Eto'o notched his 18th goal of the season with a well-taken strike five minutes before the break at Osasuna. The African Player of the Year smashed a fierce first-time shot past goalkeeper Juantxo Elia inside the far post after racing on to a magnificent through ball from Portugal midfielder Deco.
Uefa announced yesterday that Italian Pierluigi Collina will referee the match between Chelsea and Barcelona at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Lyon: Lowly Caen handed Olympique Lyon their second setback in a week when they scored a late goal to clinch a 1-0 home victory over the Ligue 1 leaders. The champions suffered only their second league defeat of the season as Caen's young striker Sebastien Masure slotted home the winner from close range in the 72nd minute.
It was Lyon's second defeat in a week, as they made third round French Cup exit to second division Clermont last Tuesday.
Werder Bremen: Champions Werder Bremen lost 1-0 away to Bayern Munich on Saturday, with Michael Ballack getting the decisive goal. Werder striker Nelson Vahdez managed to round Oliver Kahn in the 73rd minute, but he was unable to get in a clear shot from a wide angle. Defeat leaves third-placed Bremen seven points off the pace.
Bayer Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen's uninspiring attacking display at Hamburg at the weekend will not worry Liverpool.
Hamburg's Daniel van Buyten got the only goal in the 21st minute, a powerful header from a corner that rifled past the keeper and in off the crossbar.
Juventus: Juventus kept pace with AC Milan at the top of Serie A by winning a tense game at Rome's Olympic Stadium. Paolo Cannavaro nodded the visitors ahead in the 11th minute, but Antonio Cassano responded for Roma, slipping the ball under Gianluigi Buffon's diving body to equalise.
Alessandro Del Piero sealed the result just before half-time, when he fired in from the penalty spot after defender Traianos Dellas was judged to have tripped Marcelo Zalayeta just inside the area.
Real Madrid: Real came from behind to earn a draw against a revived Valencia on Saturday thanks to a first goal in eight games from leading scorer Ronaldo, but it was not enough to prevent them slipping eight points behind Barcelona.
Valencia took a deserved lead in the 14th minute when Pablo Aimar let fly from the edge of the area after Ruben Baraja had charged down the middle of the pitch. But Ronaldo levelled the match just before the half hour when he jinked past goalkeeper Santiago Canizares and then defender Carlos Marchena after a disguised through pass from Guti.
Monaco: A chance to close the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Lyon was missed by fourth-placed Monaco on Saturday as they were held 0-0 by Metz.
PSV Eindhoven: The top of the Eredivisie table remains unchanged after the top teams saw their fixtures wiped out by snow and ice. League leaders PSV Eindhoven had their match at FC Groningen called off.
Inter Milan: An 89th-minute penalty from Brazilian Adriano gave Inter Milan a 2-1 victory over Lecce yesterday in Serie A. Fourth-placed Inter trailed to a 21st-minute goal from Alex Pinardi, but drew level five minutes later thanks to a header from their Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba.
FC Porto: South African striker Benni McCarthy scored an injury-time winner for league leaders Porto as the defending champions eked out a 2-1 victory at Penafiel on Saturday.
