Real hope all roads lead to Old Trafford -- via Rome
Defending champions Real Madrid begin what they hope will be yet another journey to the European Cup final when their Champions League campaign opens with a visit to AS Roma on Tuesday.
Defending champions Real Madrid begin what they hope will be yet another journey to the European Cup final when their Champions League campaign opens with a visit to AS Roma on Tuesday.
Just over a year ago, Real embarked on the journey that led to their ninth European Cup success with a 2-1 win over Roma in Rome and will be hoping for a similar outcome this week.
With this season's final scheduled for Old Trafford next May 28, Real believe that by adding Ronaldo to their already glittering array of stars they will be able to triumph again -- and it is hard to argue against them.
On Saturday, the champions were denied a full work-out in their domestic league when the floodlights at Real Betis failed and the match was called off after 44 minutes with the Seville side leading 1-0.
With Belgian champions Genk, first time qualifiers, and AEK Athens making up the numbers in Group C, Real will hardly be pushed to qualify for the last 16 -- and in fact their entire journey could be little more than a procession.
United will have other ideas and coach Alex Ferguson believes his side have been strengthened defensively by the signing of Rio Ferdinand from Leeds. at 29 million pounds ($45.3 million), the world's most expensive defender.
But they go into their opening Group F match against Champions League debutants Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday on the back of two successive 1-0 defeats to Bolton and Leeds United.
Haifa, the first Israeli team to play in the Champions League, are just happy to be taking part in a group that also includes Olympiakos of Greece and Bayer Leverkusen.
The German club lost to Real in last season's final after knocking United out in the semi-finals.
United are one of four English clubs to win the European Cup -- the others being Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa -- but Arsenal go into the competition believing they have a chance to join that select band.
The Gunners, unbeaten in 27 league matches and seemingly set for another English title, have never impressed in Europe, winning only the now-defunct European Cup Winners Cup and the old European Fairs Cup.
They could do well this season -- but have a tricky first phase group which includes German champions Borussia Dortmund, a PSV Eindhoven side back under the stewardship of Guus Hiddink and a young and enterprising Auxerre team that cannot be lightly dismissed.
Arsenal's opening game against Borussia at Highbury on Tuesday could be a good pointer for their season's hopes.
Arsenal warmed up for Borussia with a convincing 3-0 win on Saturday at Charlton which saw them score for the 45th successive premier league match -- an English top flight record -- while Borussia drew 1-1 with Schalke 04.
Christian Woerns is a doubt for the Germans after hurting his troublesome left knee.
For the first time in a number of seasons, Italian clubs are going into the competition believing they can make an impression after three barren campaigns in which no Serie A team has reached the semi-finals.
While Roma start with a home match against Real, Inter Milan travel to Champions League perennials Rosenborg Trondheim on Tuesday with Juventus visiting Feyenoord and AC Milan, with Rivaldo now wearing their famous red-and-black stripes, hosting Racing Lens on Wednesday.
Roma fell to a shock last-minute 2-1 defeat at Bologna on Saturday although Inter and Milan both won their matches.
Inter beat Torino 1-0 with Christian Vieri heading the only goal after 23 minutes. Milan looked impressive in a 3-0 win at Modena with Filippo Inzaghi scoring twice.
But the team starting the competition in the best mental shape of all are Dynamo Kiev who set a Ukrainian League scoring record on Friday when they beat Vorskla Poltava 8-0 while their opponents on Wednesday, Newcastle United, lost 3-0 at Chelsea.