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Illustrious trio in danger of early exit

Holders Barcelona face former striker Samuel Eto'o in their tie against Inter Milan where defeat, combined with a win for Russia's Rubin Kazan over Dynamo Kiev, would see them go out.

Five-times champions Liverpool have a relatively straightforward match away to table-propping Hungarians Debrecen but their fate is largely out of their hands as they will be eliminated if Fiorentina beat already-qualified Olympique Lyon at home.

Inter's visit to Barcelona on Tuesday in Group F provides the highlight of the week.

Pep Guardiola's team are rushing to get Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi back to fitness for the potentially decisive encounter.

Argentina forward Messi picked up a thigh muscle injury in Saturday's 1-1 La Liga draw at Athletic Bilbao and Ibrahimovic missed the game, also dogged by a thigh problem.

"If players aren't there... we'll play with others. You don't win titles with two or three players," he said after the Bilbao game.

Liverpool, who can ill afford to miss out on the lucrative final stages, are already without key striker Fernando Torres for Tuesday's trip to Hungary in Group E.

Rafael Benitez's team are third with four points, five behind Fiorentina who could already be out of touch when they visit Anfield on the final match day.