Chelsea coach faces tough Champions League test against Valencia

Chelsea's under-fire new manager Avram Grant will face his first European test Wednesday away to Valencia who are keen to avenge last season's quarter-final loss in the European Champions League.

There has been a chorus of protest since Grant took over from Jose Mourinho which grew louder after his first home match resulted in a 0-0 stalemate against Fulham on Saturday when the Chelsea players were booed off the pitch.

Grant will travel to Europe for the first time as Chelsea manager for the Group A match probably without captain John Terry, who fractured his cheek against Fulham, and striker Didier Drogba who was sent off in the same match.

Chelsea are languishing in eighth place in the English Premiership, eight points away from leaders Arsenal.

However Valencia come into Wednesday's match after their 1-0 win over Recreativo Huelva on Sunday, their fifth victory in a row, and one point behind leaders Real Madrid.

David Villa, who scored Valencia's winner on Sunday, admitted revenge for last season's painful quarter-final defeat, when Chelsea scored a late winner, was on their minds.

"We want to do well against Chelsea because of what happened last season," said Villa. "We are playing well and continue to win matches - hopefully nothing changes against Chelsea."

The Spanish side started their European Champions League campaign with a solid 1-0 away victory against Schalke 04 while Chelsea were disappointing with a 1-1 home draw with Rosenborg.

It will also be the first European match for new Marseille manager, Belgian Eric Gerets, who faces a tough Group A match away to last year's Champion's League finalists Liverpool.

Gerets last week replaced Albert Emon who was sacked after Marseille's disastrous start to the French league season -- they are currently 16th with one win from nine games.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard attends a training session on the eve of their Champions League match against Marseille.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard attends a training session on the eve of their Champions League match against Marseille.

Liverpool, fourth in the English Premier League after a 1-0 win over Wigan, will be looking to notch up their first European win after a 1-1 away draw with FC Porto when they were reduced to 10 men just eight minutes into the second half.

Marseille started their European campaign with a 2-0 win over Turkish side Besiktas, their first home win in any league this season.

But Liverpool's Rafael Benitez will be hoping his team can continue the impressive home form which helped them reach last season's final in Athens where they lost 2-1 to AC Milan.

They lost only one game in front of their own supporters in the first knockout round against Barcelona (1-0) after winning the away leg (2-1).

Celtics' hopes of upsetting last year's Champion League winners AC Milan at Celtic Park, in a Group D Champion League match, received a blow on Saturday when Dutch international striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink suffered a hamstring injury.
Liverpool footballers Jose Reina (L) and Fernando Torres attend a training session on the eve of the Champions League match against Marseille.

Liverpool footballers Jose Reina (L) and Fernando Torres attend a training session on the eve of the Champions League match against Marseille.

However Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is hoping their Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura, who has missed their last three games with a ligament injury to his left knee, may still make it.

Celtic come into the game after moving to the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday with a 3-0 at home win over Dundee United.

They will be looking to avenge last season's defeat in the first knockout round by the Italian giants whom they are yet to beat after six meetings.

Celtic lost their first Champions League match away to Ukrainian side Shakhtar 2-0.

In other matches, Spanish league leaders Real Madrid are away to Lazio, Besiktas host Porto, Olympiakos travel to Werder Bremen, Benfica host Shakhtar and Rosenborg entertain Schalke 04.