Vennegoor ruled out of Celtic tie

Champions League, Group D match
Date: Wednesday, 3 October
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Venue: Celtic Park
Listen: BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 5live Updates: BBC Sport website and mobile; Score on BBCi (1930 BST)

Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will miss the Champions League tie against AC Milan with a hamstring injury suffered on Saturday.

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura remains doubtful with a knee injury, while defenders Mark Wilson and Steven Pressley are definitely still out.

Goalkeeper Dida is a doubt for the holders, while defender Kakha Kaladze is the latest to be ruled out.

Ronaldo, Serginho and Paolo Maldini were already missing through injury.

And Georgia defender Kaladze was not included in the Milan squad after limping off with a thigh strain during Sunday's disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Calcio Catania.

Dida is travelling to Glasgow, despite missing the last two Serie A games with a shoulder injury.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said at the weekend it would have take another week for the injury to heal.

But the Brazilian goalkeeper will attempt to make an early recovery and play against the Scottish champions.

Vennegoor of Hesselink picked up the injury during Celtic's 3-0 victory over Dundee United on Saturday, when they returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League on goal difference.

Nakamura missed that game but is hoping to persuade club doctors of his fitness to face Milan.

Celtic (from):

AC Milan (from):

BIG MATCH STATS

Head-to-heads

These sides have met six times before. AC Milan have won three and Celtic none.

Their last meeting was in the second round in last year's Champions League. The first leg in Glasgow ended in a 0-0 draw. Two weeks later, AC Milan knocked out the Scottish champions by a Kaka goal in the 93rd minute following extra time.

European history

This is Celtic's fifth Champions League campaign. They reached the last 16 last year and were knocked out by AC Milan (0-0, 1-0 AET).

Milan are taking part in the Champions League main competition for the 12th time. Only FC Porto and Manchester United have made more appearances in Europe's leading club competition (13 each). Last season, AC beat Liverpool in the Champions League final (2-1). No team has successfully defended the trophy in Champions League history.

Current European form

Celtic are without a win in their last four CL matches and have failed to score in the last 3. They've not lost in their last six at home, keeping a clean sheet in all six. The record for most successive CL home matches without conceding a goal is seven.

AC Milan have won their last three Champions League matches.

Player and disciplinary info

Celtic's most experienced player in the Champions League is Czech midfielder Jiri Jarosik with 38 appearances; Paolo Maldini is AC Milan's with 105 matches.

Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati played at AC Milan for one season. He made 17 Serie A appearances for the rossoneri in the 2001-02 campaign.

Other miscellaneous facts

Scott McDonald scored three times for Celtic as they eased past Dundee United (3-0) on Saturday, and lead Rangers on goal difference at the top of the SPL.

AC Milan drew 1-1 with Catania in the Serie A on Sunday, and are 11th place in the table, trailing leaders Inter by seven points.

Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

Source: BBC Sport