Eight Champions League fixtures are scheduled for tonight including two involving English clubs and three where some of Europe’s giants face tricky away ties.

Both Arsenal & Chelsea will expect to build on their impressive starts. Chelsea will be without a few key players including Didier Drogba who is suspended, and Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard & Yossi Benayoun who are all injured, however given the depth of their squad this shouldn’t be a major problem. They are in the unusual position of having lost two games in a row so they will be out to make sure it doesn’t become three.

Arsenal have a trickier tie away to talented Serbian side Partizan Belgrade. The Gunners will still be missing  injured trio of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie, and it looks like goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could also miss the trip (although after Saturdays performance against West Brom this may be a blessing in disguise).

Partizan will be hard to beat in their home Stadion FK Partizan and will be backed by a passionate crowd. A draw for Arsenal in this one will not be a bad result.

Ajax v AC Milan is arguably the big match of the night pitting two teams with great European traditions Ajax have won the competition 4 times and AC Milan 7 times and both will be expecting good runs this year, They are in a tremendously competitive group and neither will want to lose this one. A draw would probably suit AC better and they should at least get that.

Real Madrid travel to the groups bottom seed Auxerre knowing nothing less than a win will be good enough and although this could be close they should scrape a win.

Last years beaten finalists Bayern Munich travel to Swiss qualifier Basle and the 4 times winners will be looking for at least a draw to ensure they maintain their good start. They have one of the easier groups (on paper anyway) and should manage a win here to consolidate their position as group favourites.

Of the teams new to this stage of the competition Braga look the most likely to record the groups first win, they are quite good at home and providing they have recovered from their baptism of fire against Arsenal they should gain a draw at least.

Tonight’s games in full:

Spartak Moscow v MSK Zilina
Ajax v AC Milan
Auxerre v Real Madrid
Basle v Bayern Munich
Braga v Shakhtar Donetsk
Chelsea v Marseille
Partizan Belgrade v Arsenal
Roma v CFR 1907 Cluj-Napoca