20.02. (Wed) 20:45 Milan - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AC MILAN
Abbiati
Abate, Zapata, Mexes, De Sciglio
Montolivo, Ambrosini, Nocerino
Boateng, Pazzini, El Shaarawy

BARCELONA
Valdes
Alves, Pique, Puyol, Alba
Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas
Pedro, Messi, Iniesta


AC Milan will assess forward Stephan El Shaarawy (knee) ahead of the Champions League last-16 clash against Barcelona.

Mario Balotelli is cup-tied and Nigel de Jong is sidelined with an ankle injury, but Giampaolo Pazzini (hamstring) is available.

Elsewhere, Daniele Bonera (thigh) and Robinho (knee) are doubts, while Philippe Mexes returns after serving a one-game European ban.

Barcelona are boosted by the return of playmaker Xavi, who has recovered from a hamstring problem.

However, Adriano (thigh), Eric Abidal and David Villa (both illness) have not made the trip to Italy.

DID YOU KNOW?

AC Milan are on a seven-game unbeaten run in Serie A and have won their last six matches at San Siro in all competitions.

The Rossoneri faced Barcelona four times in the Champions League last season, drawing two and losing two. Their overall home record against Spanish opposition is W11, D6, L6.

Bojan Krkic made 163 appearances for Barca between 2007 and 2011, scoring 41 goals.

Barcelona have won eight of their last 11 away matches in the Champions League and are targeting a sixth straight quarter-final appearance.

The Catalan giants are on a seven-match unbeaten streak against Milan. Their overall record on Italian soil is W6, D7, L5.

Lionel Messi has scored 56 goals in the Champions League, level with Ruud van Nistelrooy and behind only Raul (71).

Prediction

Milan look a much weaker side than the one that bowed out in last season’s quarter-final, while Barcelona have arguably gotten stronger since then. Nonetheless, the Rossoneri are still quite capable of packing bodies in the Barca midfield and stifling their flowing football in heavy traffic, while the likes of El Shaarawy and Pazzini can catch the Catalans’ suspect rearguard on the break.

Editor's Prediction
Milan 1-1 Barcelona

20.02. (Wed) 20:45 Galatasaray - Schalke 04

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GALATASARAY
Muslera
Eboue, Nounkeu, Semih, Riera
Hamit, Felipe Melo, Selcuk
Sneijder
Drogba, Burak

SCHALKE
Unnerstall
Hoger, Howedes, Matip, Fuchs
Jones, Neustadter
Farfan, Draxler, Bastos
Huntelaar

Galatasaray are set to hand Didier Drogba his first start for the club, with the Ivorian having scored on his debut after coming off the bench on Friday against Akhisar.

However, Tomas Ujfalusi and Johan Elmander will miss out due to injury, while Emmanuel Eboue could come back in at right-back, with Sabri Sarioglu dropping to the bench.
Schalke, meanwhile, are expected to welcome back Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, with the Dutch striker having struggled with an eye injury in recent matches.

However, they will be without a host of big-name players, including Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Atsuto Uchida, Ibrahim Afellay and Ciprian Marica all missing out.

DID YOU KNOW?

Galatasaray star Drogba scored just five minutes into his Super Lig debut on Friday. His last Champions League touch won Chelsea the competition.

Hamit Altintop started his career at Schalke, and enjoyed spells at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid before moving to Istanbul.

Burak Yilmaz has scored six of his side's seven Champions League matches.

Schalke have not lost a Champions League match since their semi-final tie at Old Trafford in 2010-11.

The Veltins Arena club have won just once in 2013 - a 5-4 home triumph over Hannover on January 18.

Michel Bastos has scored three goals in as many games for Jens Keller's side since moving there from Olympique Lyonnais in January.

Prediction

Galatasaray will be encouraged by Schalke's appalling run of form, which has seen them win just once since the start of November, and, backed by their raucous home support, should be able to claim a first-leg lead.

Editor's Prediction
Galatasaray 2-1 Schalke