PARIS: Last season's Champions League winners Chelsea headline the four English clubs vying for a berth in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday, as several high-profile names stare at the exit door.
Despite the ignominy of becoming the first Champions League winners to bow out at the group stage, Lampard, who is just three goals shy of Bobby Tambling's club record tally of 202, insisted more European success was still firmly on Chelsea's radar.
Chelsea go into the second leg of their tie with Sparta Prague at Stamford Bridge holding a 1-0 advantage thanks to Oscar's late strike a week ago in the Czech capital.
Despite the ignominy of becoming the first Champions League winners to bow out at the group stage, Lampard, who is just three goals shy of Bobby Tambling's club record tally of 202, insisted more European success was still firmly on Chelsea's radar.
Three-time UEFA Cup winners Liverpool will need to overturn a two-goal deficit against 2008 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St. Petersburg to prevent a premature end to their European campaign at Anfield.
Fresh from Sunday's 5-0 battering of Premier League rivals Swansea City, Spanish defender Jose Enrique hopes Brendan Rodgers' side can replicate that performance on Thursday.
Gareth Bale's brace ensured Tottenham travel to Lyon leading 2-1 on aggregate. Two stunning free-kicks from the Wales international handed Spurs a slender advantage, but the Londoners stressed their approach would remain the same at Stade Gerland.
Former Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris again appears set to miss out against his old club with Villas-Boas likely to opt once more for reserve custodian Brad Friedel, while England striker Jermain Defoe remains sidelined with an ankle problem.
Sub-zero temperatures will greet Newcastle as they make the trip to Kharkiv for their second-leg fixture against Metalist.
Alan Pardew's men were left to rue their profligacy as they were held to a goalless stalemate by the Ukrainian outfit last time out.
However, the Magpies could be boosted by the return of France international Hatem Ben Arfa from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since early December, while January recuit Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa says there is plenty of reason for optimism.
Two goals from Rodrigo Palacio at the San Siro helped Inter Milan to a 2-0 first-leg advantage over Romanian side CFR Cluj, but a steep task awaits holders Atletico Madrid in Russia after the Spaniards suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Rubin Kazan.
Italian title challengers Napoli must overturn a three-goal deficit away to Czech league leaders Viktoria Plzen if they are to progress, a feat never achieved before in the Europa League. (AFP)
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