GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Rafael van der Vaart returns for struggling Hamburg in Champions League for their Group G clash against B Porto

Rafael van der Vaart is ready to make his first Champions League appearance for Hamburg SV against Porto on Wednesday but the Dutchman's return is likely to be too late to save the struggling German side. Van der Vaart was the inspiration behind Hamburg's run to third place in the Bundesliga last season. He suffered a serious thigh injury in August and has been sorely missed as Hamburg have lost all three of their matches in Group G to date. The last of those, a 4-1 defeat away to Porto, pretty much ended Hamburg hopes of making the last 16 of the Champions League. They are not mathematically out of it, but realistically their best hope would appear to be third place and a spot in the UEFA Cup. Since Van der Vaart returned to the team, Hamburg have managed a win and a draw to move out of the bottom three in the Bundesliga. Another win on Wednesday would take them to within a point of third place with two games to play. Porto's coach Jesualdo Ferreira has said ahead of the Champions League game against Hamburg SV that "we know if we win in Hamburg we have the way open to reach the knockout phase of the competition." For Porto, the target will be another victory to take them up to seven points from four games and put pressure on top two CSKA Moscow and Arsenal, who meet in London. Porto regained first place in the Portuguese Premier League at the weekend thanks to a dramatic 3-2 win over Benfica. The 2004 Champions League winners blew a two-goal lead in the match with their arch-rivals but a Bruno Moraes header in stoppage time saw them to victory. They will be without Brazilian playmaker Anderson, who will be out for up to three months with a calf injury suffered against Benfica. He will be replaced by Raul Meireles. Brazilian striker Adriano, winger Ibson and defender Pedro Emanuel are still recovering from injury. Probable teams: Hamburg SV: 12-Sascha Kirschstein; 7-Mehdi Mahdavikia, 10-Vincent Kompany, 5-Joris Mathijsen, 3-Thimothee Atouba; 33-Benny Feilhaber, 15-Piotr Trochowski, 2-Juan Pablo Sorin, 23-Rafael van der Vaart; 17-Boubacar Sanogo, 9-Paolo Guerrero Porto: 1-Helton; 13-Jorge Fucile, 3-Pepe, 14-Bruno Alves, 5-Marek Cech; 18-Paulo Assuncao, 8-Lucho Gonzales, 16-Raul Meireles, 7-Ricardo Quaresma; 23-Helder Postiga, 9-Lisandro Lopez. GROUP G standings: P W D L F A Pts CSKA Moscow 3 2 1 0 2 0 7 Arsenal 3 2 0 1 4 2 6 Porto 3 1 1 1 4 3 4 Hamburg SV 3 0 0 3 2 7 0

ITN Source | November 1, 2006

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