Ibrahimovic returns to Inter team

PARIS, France -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to lead the Inter Milan attack as the Italians aim to clinch qualification for the Champions League knockout stages by beating Fenerbahce on Tuesday.

Inter lead group G on nine points, one ahead of their Turkish opponents, and a victory for either side would book their place in the second round.

If PSV Eindhoven lose in Moscow against CSKA, both Inter and Fenerbahce will be assured of progress. But a PSV victory, coupled with a Fenerbahce win over Inter could leave Inter with problems going into their final group game, against the Dutch side.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini left the Swedish forward on the bench for the Serie A game with Atalanta and Argentina forward Hernan Crespo was not even in the squad.

Ibrahimovic will start and Julio Cruz may keep out Crespo after scoring the winner against Atalanta.

Mancini said: "It's an important and decisive match in terms of qualification. It will be a hard game against a solid team," he said.

"It's important to win because we would win the group with a game left to play."

Crespo has been suffering from back trouble but Cruz has scored six goals in 11 games this season which eases Mancini's problems.

World Cup winning center-back Marco Materazzi is expected to stay on the bench and midfielder Dejan Stankovic is likely to be kept out again by an ankle problem.

Mancini has expressed annoyance with the the team's doctors for delaying the return of certain players.

"In recent years the doctors have been getting worse, holding players back far too long before letting them return to play," he said.

"It's not possible that someone who has a slight muscle pull is out of action for an entire month."

Fenerbahce are the group's only unbeaten team

Barcelona, AS Roma and Rangers are on the brink of qualification and English representatives Arsenal and Manchester United have already booked their knockout spots.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger intends to field some of his young players in the Group H trip game in Sevilla.

Manchester United top Group F with a 100 percent record as they prepare to meet Sporting Lisbon at Old Trafford.

Rangers face a tough test at German champions VfB Stuttgart, who have recaptured their best form after a disappointing start to the campaign.

Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger said: "We are back to our old strength because we believe in ourselves again. After the terrible start we were determined to come back. The results have given us new self-confidence."

Stuttgart may have to cope without German player of the year Mario Gomez, who has injured his back.

The Germans are unlikely to include the 22-year-old if there is any risk involved because they cannot make the last 16 after losing all four of their Group E matches so far.

A Rangers victory combined with Lyon losing at home to Barcelona would send the Scots through with a game to go.

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o is training again after a three-month lay-off after rupturing a tendon in a friendly match with Inter Milan in late August.

Lyon will field Brazilian Fred in the spearhead role but may be without Karim Benzema who has a right thigh injury.

AS Roma captain Francesco Totti is a major doubt after suffering a recurrence of the foot problem that has sidelined him for the last month.

Totti lasted just 15 minutes of his return to first-team training on November 22 .

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said he did not know when Totti would be fit again though it appears unlikely that Totti, 31, will be available for the Group F match in Kiev where Roma can secure their place in the knockout rounds. E-mail to a friend