MOSCOW - Diego Simeone says Europa League title holders Atletico Madrid will go down fighting as they aim to overturn a 2-0 deficit on Thursday night away to Russian side Rubin Kazan.
"The most important thing is that we have 90 minutes to change the result," said the Argentinian coach. "It will not be easy, but we have not lost hope. In the Europa League we have always been competitive and tomorrow we will show it again. We came here with the desire to win and get the result."
With questions raised about Atletico's ability to deal with the cold facing them at the Stadion Luzhniki, as the mercury is set to dip well below freezing, striker Falcao stresses the desire to get the result will override any discomfort. "I am not afraid of the cold, the will to win is superior to anything else," said the competition's leading scorer of the past two seasons. "On the field you forget everything, we are just going to play. We are in a difficult situation, but the result after one game does not decide the tie – only after two."
Liverpool will also be aiming to undo a two deficit against Russian opposition when they take on big spending Zenit at Anfield on the same evening.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will be forced to make at least two changes from the side which beat Swansea City 5-0 on Sunday - with both Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho cup tied after appearing in Europe earlier in the season for Chelsea and Inter respectively.
Martin Skrtel could come in to face his former club in place of Jamie Carragher, while Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling may well also get an opportunity to impress from the start. Fabio Borini misses out after being ruled out for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder against the Swans.
For the visiting side, Luciano Spalletti could well name the same starting lineup as that which started the first-leg tie in Russia. This would mean scorer Sergey Semak will again have to settle for a place on the bench.
Axel Witsel is poised to start in midfield alongside Danny and Igor Denisov, while Hulk will again be expected to support Aleksandr Kerzhakov by coming in from his wide position.
Tottenham will be taking a slender 2-1 lead to Lyon with top scorer in the Europa League Jermain Defoe (ankle) missing while Younes Kaboul (knee) is still several weeks away from returning to first-team duty.
With Tom Huddlestone (knee) a doubt for the match and Brazilian enforcer Sandro (also knee) out for the remainder of the season, Scott Parker and Mousa Dembele are likely to continue in midfield.
Lyon boss Remi Garde has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Les Gones’ second-leg clash with Tottenham, though Yoann Gourcuff (hamstring) remains sidelined.
Steed Malbranque was not in the squad for Lyon's 4-0 win over Bordeaux on Sunday, while his replacement, Clement Grenier, grabbed two goals and an assist which could see him start against Spurs.
Andre Villas-Boas may rotate his squad with one eye on Monday night's Premier League clash with West Ham, so Steven Caulker and Kyle Naughton could slot back into the defence.
Spurs' Portuguese boss has opted to rotate his goalkeepers in Europe, which means Brad Friedel is likely to start and thus deny ex-Lyon shot-stopper Hugo Lloris a reunion with his former club.
Last year’s Champions League winners Chelsea take on Sparta Prague having won the first leg away 1-0 while Greek champions Olympiacos have it all do to at home to Levante after losing the first leg in Spain 3-0.