Benfica playmaker Rui Costa will miss the Champions League clash with Manchester United tonight (Tuesday) after failing to recover from a thigh injury.

The veteran Portugal international suffered the injury during a league match against Boavista two weeks ago and also missed his side's Group F draw against FC Copenhagen.

Rui Costa, 34, returned this season to the club that launched his career after 12 years in Italy. Benfica beat United 2-1 in Lisbon last year when Sir Alex Ferguson's side failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time in a decade.

Meanwhile, Levski Sofia striker Emil Angelov will miss Wednesday's Group A match against Chelsea - also because of a thigh injury.

He initially picked up the injury during the Bulgarian team's 5-0 thrashing by European champions Barcelona two weeks ago and aggravated it during the 1-0 win over city rivals CSKA five days later.

"I really wanted to play against Chelsea," said Angelov, 26, who scored twice in Levski's four qualifying round matches.

 "Everyone wants to play against the best and I'm not an exception. But unfortunately I will not recover in time."