Rivaldo's clarion call for ailing Barcelona

Barcelona's Brazilian striker Rivaldo knows exactly what is on the line in tonight's Champions' League game at Milan - his side's European survival.

Barcelona's Brazilian striker Rivaldo knows exactly what is on the line in tonight's Champions' League game at Milan - his side's European survival.

"We're all aware what the match means," he said, mindful that the Spanish club lost 2-0 at home last month to the Italians and, with only three points from three games in Group H, are in serious danger of elimination. "The two last defeats in the Champions' League have us up against the ropes."

Barça's cause is not helped by injuries to three key players in the strikers Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars, and the midfielder Josep Guardiola. Milan give a late fitness test to Paolo Maldini, who has flu.

In Group E, the joint leaders, Juventus and Deportivo La Coruña, meet in Spain. Deportivo will be without their injured captain, Fran, and the midfielder Mauro Silva as they try to rebound from a 3-0 weekend defeat to Real Madrid.

Juventus are without their talismanic French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who is suspended after being sent off for a reckless tackle during the earlier goalless draw with Deportivo in Turin. Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Del Piero and Alessio Tacchinardi are expected to be back after missing recent games.

The top match in Group F sees Paris St-Germain visit Bayern Munich. Both sides head the group with six points, and the French side are boosted by the return of the midfielder Laurent Leroy. Bayern, in contrast, have selection problems, with the injured Giovane Elber, Paulo Sergio and Jens Jeremies missing.