Injury worries for Liga duo

Deportivo forward Rodolfo Bodipo is set to be sidelined for up to four weeks after injuring his right knee during his side's 3-1 victory in the Primera Liga over Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.

Deportivo are looking to get their UEFA Cup campaign back on track following a 3-0 opening defeat at CSKA Moscow.

The news that Equatorial Guinea striker Bodipo will now miss the rest of his team's Group H games, beginning with Feyenoord today, will come as a setback for the 2004 Champions League semi-finalists.

Deportivo meet Lech Poznan away on Matchday 4 before hosting Nancy on December 17 in their final group-stage fixture.

Another Spanish club, Racing Santander, are also facing injury worries ahead of today's round of UEFA Cup group matches.

Racing lost the services of defenders Jose Moraton and Oriol Lozano Farran for the remainder of their UEFA Cup Group A campaign with the players suffering thigh and knee injuries respectively.

The 27-year-old Oriol, who has played just 55 minutes for the Cantabrian outfit this season, suffered a left thigh tear during a training session and is expected to be out for four weeks.

Moraton has undergone surgery on a troublesome left knee problem with his club estimating a six-week recovery period for the 29-year-old.

Racing Santander have taken one point from their opening two Group A games, losing 1-0 at FC Twente before drawing 1-1 at home against FC Schalke 04.

Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's men visit Paris SG today before a home meeting with Manchester City on December 18.

Maldini to skip Pompey trip

Paolo Maldini and Marek Jankulovski are out of contention for tonight's Anglo-Italian Group E clash between Portsmouth and Milan at Fratton Park.

The two defenders were omitted from the squad due to minor fitness concerns.

Marco Borriello also misses out, as he continues the recovery process from a muscular strain, but Massimo Ambrosini and Philippe Senderos are available.

Kaka was likely to skip this match, but since he will be suspended for the weekend match against Palermo, coach Carlo Ancelotti will most probably include the Brazil ace in his line-up. Kaka was booked for diving in the final minute of the 2-2 draw with Torino last Sunday.

Today's matches

Group A: Schalke vs Manchester City; Paris SG vs Racing Santander.

Current standings: Schalke 4; Manchester City, Twente 3; R. Santander 1; Paris SG 0.

Group B: Galatasaray vs Metalist; Olympiakos vs Benfica.

Current standings: Galatasaray 6; H. Berlin 2; Metalist, Benfica 1; Olympiakos 0.

Group C: Sampdoria vs Stuttgart; Partizan vs S. Liege.

Current standings: Sampdoria, Sevilla, S. Liege, Stuttgart 3; Partizan 0.

Group D: Nijmegen vs Tottenham; D. Zagreb vs S. Moscow.

Current standings: Udinese 6; Tottenham, D. Zagreb 3; Nijmegen, S. Moscow 0.

Group E: Portsmouth vs Milan; Braga vs Wolfsburg.

Current standings: Milan 6; Wolfsburg, Braga 3; Portsmouth, Heerenveen 0.

Group F: Zilina vs S. Prague; Hamburg vs Ajax.

Current standings: Aston Villa 6; Hamburg, Ajax 3; Sparta Prague, Zilina 0.

Group G: Club Bruges vs St Etienne; Rosenborg vs Valencia.

Current standings: St Etienne 6; Valencia, Club Bruges, Copenhagen, Rosenborg 1.

Group H: CSKA Moscow vs Lech Poznan; Deportivo vs Feyenoord.

Current standings: CSKA Moscow 6; Nancy 4; L. Poznan 1; Deportivo, Feyenoord 0.