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 Premiership side Chelsea, who have never won a Champions League or European Champions Cup title, visit German side Schalke 04 in a Group B match while nine-time European champions Real Madrid travel to Greek outfit Olympiakos in a Group C encounter.

 A victory for Olympique Marseille at Porto would mean qualification for the French side in Group A.

 In the same group, Liverpool, losing finalists against AC Milan in Athens in May, face a fight to stay in the competition, needing victory at home to Turkey's Besiktas to stay in contention.

 Elsewhere, Brazilian striker Ronaldo could play for the first time this season for holders AC Milan at Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, while Dutchman Ronald Koeman makes his coaching debut for struggling Valencia at home to Norway's Rosenborg Trondheim.

 If Chelsea win and Rosenborg overcome Valencia in Group B, the Londoners will be assured of a place in the knockout round with two group matches remaining.

 Chelsea defeated Schalke 2-0 at home two weeks ago and appear to have hit a run of good form while the Bundesliga side are struggling.

 Schalke were beaten 1-0 at bottom club Energie Cottbus on Friday and coach Mirko Slomka indicated there would be changes. He may have to replace striker Kevin Kuranyi who has a groin strain, while others are facing the axe.

 "Some players have now missed the opportunity of experiencing a big game against Chelsea," he said.

 Valencia, smarting from a 2-0 defeat away to Rosenborg two weeks ago, will be hoping Koeman will revive the Spanish side's stuttering Champions League campaign.

 Having lost to both Chelsea and Rosenborg, Valencia are on just 3 points in the group, a point behind Rosenborg.

 Koeman will be without star striker David Villa, who is still recovering from a twisted ankle, as well as defender Alexis Ruano. However, Carlos Marchena, Edu and Ruben Baraja could be fit.

 Real Madrid, topping Group C on 7 points, could ensure progress with a victory at Olympiakos, who are on 4 points.

 Real coach Bernd Schuster will again have to get by without injury victims Pepe and Arjen Robben, though Wesley Sneijder and Gonzalo Higuain could be ready to return.

 In the same group, Italian side Lazio (2 points), who have yet to win, desperately need an improvement against visiting Bundesliga hopes Werder Bremen (3).

 Lazio are hardly in the best frame of mind after a 1-0 defeat at home to Fiorentina on Saturday following a 3-2 loss to city rivals Roma and the 2-1 defeat in Bremen two weeks ago.

 "It is going to be difficult to lift our heads but we are only thinking about beating Werder. We only have this one chance," said defender Lionel Scaloni.

 Group A leaders Olympique Marseille (7 points) are at Portugal's Porto (5), while Besiktas (3) are at Liverpool (1), who need a win to have any chance of progressing.

 The permutations of the remaining group games means a win for Marseille ensures qualification.

 Group D meanwhile remains open to many permutations, with AC Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk on 6 points and Celtic and Benfica - who meet in in Glasgow - both on 3 points.

 Ronaldo is tipped to play a part of the game in Donetsk. He joined Milan from Real Madrid in January and scored seven goals in 14 matches last season, but has yet to see action this season.

 "I am glad to be back," said Ronaldo, who has been sidelined since he pulled a muscle in late July but is now back in full training.

 "I trained well, with some tough tests, and I think I am fine, even to play from the start. I'll look for a goal if have the chance. I'd really like it," he said.

 Celtic conceded a late goal to lose 1-0 in Lisbon two weeks ago, but may draw encouragement from a 3-0 drubbing of Benfica at home in the competition last season.

DPA