Return of Chelsea

Chelsea, beaten by sanctions in this year's Champions League final in Moscow, have a home tie against Girondins Bordeaux and will be boosted by the return of midfielder Michael Ballack.

"The will play on Tuesday but I do not know whether it will be for 45 minutes, 60 or 70," Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said after Saturday's 3-1 victory over Manchester City.

The return of the German captain, who has not played since Aug. 24 and missed the start of his country to World Cup qualifying campaign, is an encouragement for Londoners must navigate Group A without injured midfielder Michael Essien.

England representatives of the remaining Group G Arsenal launch their assault outside to Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday with Porto at home to Fenerbahce in the same group.

Barcelona were dealt a blow ahead of their Group C opener at home to Portugal's Sporting on Tuesday when Aleksander Hleb was ruled out for three weeks after spraining his left ankle in his side draw 1-1 against Racing Santander.

Nine times champion Real Madrid had no serious injuries ahead of their Group H opener against debutants Bate Borisov of Belarus on Wednesday after scraping a 4-3 victory over Numancia.

Italian champion Inter Milan prepared for their Group B, travel to Greece with Panathinaikos a 2-1 victory over Catania, while fellow Italians Fiorentina were beaten 2-1 by Napoli ahead of their Group F match at French champions Olympique Lyon.

Werder Bremen is at home to the Republic of Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta for the first time in other places in Group B, while Bayern Munich - returning to competition after last year's absence - travel to 1986 winners Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday the other Group F games.