London, October 18:

Inter Milen and Lyon are poised to win their third straight Champions League games on Wednesday. Inter plays at 2004 champion FC Porto, which has lost its first two in Group H. Four-time defending French champion Lyon is home in Group F against Olympiakos. Six other games are set for Wednesday. In Group E: Fenerbahce vs Schalke; AC Milan vs PSV Eindhoven. Group F: Real Madrid vs Rosenborg. Group G: Andevleclt vs defending champion Liverpool; Chelsea vs Betis. Group H: Rangers vs Avtmedia Bratislava.

Inter’s pre-match talk centres on Brazil striker Adriano. Will he play, or won’t he? Adriano returned late from Brazil’s World Cup qualifying matches and missed Inter’s 5-0 win over Livorno on Sunday in the Italian league. Teammate Juan Sebastian Veron was critical of his absence, with coach Roberto Mancini stepping in to mediate. “The team can win without Adriano, but it can’t do without him if it wants to attain its big goals,” Mancini said. Porto has dropped its first two games by identical 3-2 scores — to Rangers and Artmedia Bratislava. In the other Group H game, Artmedia is at Rangers. Lyon leads the French league by seven points.

In the other Group F game, Rosenborg plays at Real Madrid. Both have three points. Real will be without striker Ronaldo, who injured his left ankle in the weekend’s 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. The Spaniards will also be without injured right back Michel Salgado. Zinedine Zidane said he expected to play, despite some pain from a groin injury. Group E leader AC Milan is home in a difficult match against PSV. Milan leads with four points. PSV and Fenerbahce have three, and Schalke one. After only one victory in its first three Serie A games, Milan has won four straight. Christian Vieri did not make the trip to Cagliari but should start against PSV, as should Cafu.

In the other Group E game, Schalke plays at Fenerbahce. Group G is led by Liverpool and Chelsea with four points each. Liverpool plays at Anderlecht. Already 17 points behind Chelsea in the Premier League, Liverpool drew 0-0 with Chelsea three weeks ago in the Champions League.

Four days later, Chelsea beat Liverpool 4-1 in an English league game. Chelsea is home against Seville’s Betis. The game matches Jose Mourinho against Betis coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer. The two were assistants together at FC Barcelona under Luis van Gaal.