Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster is already looking beyond the Champions League group stages in his mission to raise the nine-time champions back to the summit of European football.
Madrid8217;s journey to May8217;s final in Rome begins against BATE Borisov, the Belarusians making their Champions League debut. 8220;If we have just a little more luck we can get past the first knockout round without any problems,8221; Schuster said. Defender Fabio Cannavaro could make his first appearance of the season after missing Euro 2008 with an ankle injury.
Group H has gained the 8220;group of death8221; tag due to the presence of 1996 champions Juventus and Zenit St. Petersburg, who last month added the UEFA Super Cup to the UEFA Cup they won in May.
Two-time champions Juventus will be determined to show the Champions League just what they have missed during their two-year absence resulting from Italy8217;s match-fixing scandal.
Bayern Munich return to the Champions League against Steaua Bucharest in Group F without Franck Ribery. The midfielder is back in training after ankle surgery, but isn8217;t ready for a full match.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger isn8217;t relishing the trip to Dynamo Kiev as the prelude to further tricky ties with FC Porto and Fenerbahce in Group G. 8220;It is a difficult group because all the teams are used to playing in the Champions League 8212; and they are all strong at home,8221; Wenger said.
In other matches, Scotland8217;s Celtic take on Danish side Aalborg BK and FC Porto face Turkey8217;s Fenerbahce. French champions Lyon are up against Italian club Fiorentina.
