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Henry doubtful as Barca face Kiev test

September 28, 2009 15:33 IST

European champions Barcelona may be without striker Thierry Henry when they host Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday looking for their first Champions League win of the season.

The Frenchman pulled up with a strained muscle in Saturday's 2-0 win over Malaga in La Liga.

Barca, who drew 0-0 at Inter Milan in their opening Group F match, won their fifth successive La Liga game on Saturday with Zlatan Ibrahimovic maintaining his record of scoring in every match.

Dynamo, UEFA Cup semi-finalists last season, head for Spain as group leaders after their victory over Russian champions and competition debutants Rubin Kazan.

Rubin welcome Inter to their refurbished 30,000-capacity stadium, with the Italian champions travelling without Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who is suffering from a hip injury.

While Barca were maintaining their perfect La Liga start, Real Madrid, aiming to win a record-extending 10th European Cup at their Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in May — also won their fifth successive league match by beating Tenerife 3-0.

Real won 5-2 at FC Zurich in their opening Group C match, and host Olympique Marseille on Wednesday with the French side reeling from their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season.

"I didn't recognise Marseille," defender Cyril Rool told reporters after Saturday's 3-2 loss at Valenciennes. "Obviously, it would have been better to win before going to Madrid."

Manchester United, who began their Group B campaign for a third successive Champions League final appearance with a 1-0 win at Besiktas, host Wolfsburg knowing the German champions have conceded 14 goals in seven Bundesliga games.

Liverpool travel to Fiorentina in Group E with the English side having beaten Debrecen of Hungary 1-0 in their opener and the Italians having lost to Olympique Lyon by the same score.

Chelsea should follow up their opening 1-0 win over Porto with another victory in Group D against APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus, especially if England midfielder Joe Cole continues his rehabilitation from his long injury layoff and plays.

APOEL gained a point from a surprise 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid two weeks ago and the Spaniards, at the wrong end of La Liga without a win in five matches, will be hoping to kickstart their season in their trip to Porto.

Arsenal, who came from two goals down to beat Standard Liege 3-2 in their Group H opener, host Olympiakos Pireaus, while Liege travel to AZ Alkmaar.

Source: REUTERS
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