Man United, AC Milan still chase places in last 32
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-05 11:35

Looking at the list of teams already sure of places in the last 16, United doesn't want to miss out.

As well as defending champion Liverpool and English champion Chelsea, the list includes Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Arsenal, Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Lyon.

"We have to get through," said experienced winger Ryan Giggs, who has been sidelined with the broken cheekbone he sustained against Lille November 2. "Wednesday is a big night for us because it is important we go forward in Europe.

"We have seen the teams already in the hat. There is plenty of quality there already and we want to be in the draw."

Milan, which ousted United last season before losing on penalties to Liverpool in the final, hosts Germany's Schalke on Tuesday and needs just a draw.

But Carlo Ancelotti's team, which tops the group on goal difference but is level with Schalke on points, comes off a 2-1 loss at Chievo that left the team eight points behind leader Juventus in the Serie A standings.

PSV Eindhoven is a point behind and hopes to capture a spot by beating last place Fenerbahce. But last season's semifinalist looks likely to be without DaMarcus Beasley, who has missed four league and cup games because of hamstring trouble.

Udinese hopes to join Barcelona by beating the Group C winner at home on Wednesday although even a draw will edge out Werder Bremen, which hosts Panathinaikos. The Italian club has a three-point advantage.

Inter Milan already has clinched a place in the last 32 by winning Group H but could be joined by any of the other three teams.

With Inter likely to rest many of its regulars, second-place Rangers hopes to shake off poor domestic form by beating the Italian club in Glasgow on Tuesday. Slovakia's Artmedia Bratislava, which has never been this far, bids to reach the next round by beating FC Porto at home.

But Porto, which won the title two seasons ago under Jose Mourinho, could make it by winning in Bratislava as long as Inter wins in Glasgow.