كتب : Omar AbdelAziz
Unbeaten powerhouses Chelsea, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Liverpool aim to maintain their runs and close in on the last 16 phase.
On the other hand, surprise packages like CFR Cluj and Anorthosis Famagusta look to carry on their gutsy displays and fancy their chances of reaching the next round.
Group A
Roma and Chelsea clash at Olimpico, and the Blues will almost book an early ticket to the knockouts if they managed another victory over the Romans.
Whilst Roma are struggling in Serie A, following another defeat at the weekend, Chelsea have gone top in England after an impressive 5-0 drubbing of Sunderland.
However, the Giallorossi are boosted by the news that Francesco Totti is fit to play on Tuesday after missing out on the Juventus defeat. Alberto Aquilani and Marco Cassetti remain sidelined.
Chelsea will miss defenders Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho due to injury, but welcome back Didier Drogba. The Ivorian hitman will start on the bench though as the in-form Nicolas Anelka is set to keep his place upfront.
In the other group game, Cluj host Bordeaux as the Romanian debutants aim to cement their position in second place behind Chelsea. However, coach Maurizio Trombetta admitted that a UEFA Cup spot is his team's utmost goal.
Cluj will miss suspended midfielder Eugen Trica and injured striker Didi. Bordeaux will be without veteran goalkeeper Ulrich Rame.
Group B
Leaders Inter visit Anorthosis after scraping to a 1-0 victory over the resilient Cypriots two weeks ago. The latter are unbeaten in 10 home games this season.
Inter will be without Romanian defender Christian Chivu, who suffered a knee injury in the 3-2 win at Reggina in midweek. Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is doubtful.
Werder Bremen entertain Panathinaikos as the Greek champions will almost have no hope of seeing the knockout stage if they lost at Weserstadion.
Bremen will be without influential midfielder Torsten Frings, who is suspended, while Daniel Jensen is out with an Achilles injury.
Group C
High-flying Barcelona are out to secure their last 16 place and overwhelm minnows Basel at Nou Camp, following the Catalans' 5-0 thrashing to the Swiss side in the reverse fixture two weeks ago.
Primera Liga leaders Barca, who have maximum points, are the highest scoring team in Europe at the moment despite a shaky start to their domestic campaign.
The Blaugrana will miss injured trio Gabriel Milito, Eric Abidal and Seydou Keita, while Basel will have to do without influential Australian midfielder Scott Chipperfield after surgery.
In Lisbon, Sporting will face Shakhtar Donetsk as the Portuguese outfit look to edge closer to the next round with another win over the Ukrainians.
Group D
The match of the day will see joint leaders Liverpool and Atletico Madrid locking horns at Anfield for the group's summit.
Liverpool were handed their first defeat of the season at Tottenham Hotspur, but the Reds could have back ex-Atletico ace Fernando Torres, who is struggling with a hamstring injury.
Coach Rafa Benitez said that Torres is 70 percent fit to face his favorite club, while Atletico sensation Sergio Aguero is likely to be included despite his fatigue problems.
In Marseille, the pointless l'OM have one last chance of making up for their poor start when they take on PSV Eindhoven, who will at least secure a UEFA Cup place if they won at Velodrome.
Marseille will miss star man Mamadou Niang due to a groin injury as Jeremie Brechet, Nordin Amrabat and Bas Roorda miss out for PSV.