Real Madrid hope for smooth ride in Champions League
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.