Champions League Group C prospects
A look at the prospects for Bayern Munich, Juventus, Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Group C of the Champions League this season:
A look at the prospects for Bayern Munich, Juventus, Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Group C of the Champions League this season:
BAYERN MUNICH (GERMANY)
A season in which they failed to retain their German title and to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, resulted in the exit of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and the arrival of Felix Magath from Stuttgart.
Brazilian Lucio should bolster their defence, Torsten Frings should solidify midfield and there should be added bonuses if Sebastian Deisler, who has sparkled since returning from depression, maintains his form and Michael Ballack does for his club what he has for his country.
Magath says he has no fear of his opponents, saying Bayern are the favourites to progress and recalling fond memories of scoring the winner in Hamburg SV's 1983 European Cup triumph over Juventus.
COMMENT: Coach Felix Magath, remembering his famous 1983 Eurppean Cup winning goal: "I only have fond memories of Juventus -- and Juventus the worst memories of me after my goal in the 1983 final. That was a long time ago of course, but I would say we start as favouries this time."
JUVENTUS
New coach Fabio Capello, a European Cup winner when in charge at AC Milan, has introduced a new spine to the team with three quality signings.
Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic should bring fresh ideas to the attack alongside established strikers David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero while Brazilian playmaker Emerson, who moved with Capello from Roma should compliment European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved in midfield.
The responsibility for tightening up last season's uncharacteristically weak defence will fall to Italy skipper Fabio Cannavaro, signed from Inter -- a move which signalled Juve's intent to make a real push in Europe this season.
COMMENT: Coach Fabio Capello, worried that the late start to the Serie A season would be a disadvantage: "In the Champions League the most difficult game tends to be your first one and we have got Ajax at home.
"They are ahead of us in terms of preparation because their season has been already under way for some time. I know Ajax very well, just as we are aware of the strengths of Bayern, who were already strong but who have reinforced in a bid to do well in Europe as well as at home. Maccabi are less well known on the big stage but they are a good team."
AJAX AMSTERDAM
The Dutch champions suffered an enormous setback on transfer deadline day when Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a four year deal with Ajax's first Champions League opponent Juventus, while his supposed successor, Arouna Kone from Roda JC Kerkrade, failed a medical test in Amsterdam.
Argentine winger Mauro Rosales, a gold medal winner at the Athens Olympics, is the only new signing for the Amsterdam club who might be short of some firepower in attack.
Ajax is looking to restore some pride after last season's humiliating first round elimination after a defeat to Club Bruges in the final match.
COMMENT: Coach Ronald Koeman: "Its a tough group. Bayern Munich and Juventus are teams with a great history, just like us. But only in theory Maccabi Tel Aviv is a favorable opponent.
"Bayern have quality strikers like Roy Makaay who we know well, but I think Juventus is favorite in this group but we will host them for the opening match and then know exactly what we can expect.
MACCABI TEL AVIV
Maccabi survived the qualifiers to reach the group stages but they have a tough task if they are to make an impression in their group which contains three giants.
Maccabi, a big fish in the smaller pond of Israeli soccer, were runners up at the end of last season to Maccabi Haifa, the first Israeli club to make it to the group stages of the competition in 2002.
Unlike Haifa, forced to play in Cyprus, the Tel Aviv outfit will be playing at home, with the UEFA ban over security fears lifted earlier this year.
Coach Nir Klinger will rely heavily on promising local talent but also imports such as Nigerian defender John Pantsil and Brazilian midfielders Bruno Heiss and Mauricio Giovanini.
COMMENT: Coach Nir Klinger: "Just looking at the calibre of the opposition can give you a headache. But at the same time, we wanted to play against the big teams and we have been pitted against the biggest of the lot. We have no intention of lying down and letting them walk all over us. We are in this competition to win matches and this is exactly what we intend to do."