Real start as favourites to win Champions League

Real Madrid start as favourites to be crowned European champions for an unprecedented 10th time this season.

The Spanish side, who added Brazilian World Cup scoring hero Ronaldo to their already glittering array of stars at the end of August, won the title for the ninth time when they beat Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow last May.

They now look even stronger than last season and if the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos, as well as Ronaldo, all gel and hit top form, it is hard to see anyone stopping them.

If they do go all the way they will have to win the final at Old Trafford, the home of one of their greatest European rivals, Manchester United. The final is scheduled to take place in Manchester on May 28 next year.

Manchester United of course will be determined to win the Cup on their own home ground and believe that they can go one stage better than last season when they lost to Leverkusen in the semifinals.

Real Madrid were handed a fairly easy start to the defence of their title when the draw was made in Monaco on August 29.

They were drawn to play AS Roma, AEK Athens and Genk of Belgium and should come through that easily.

Bayern Munich and AC Milan, who have won the European Cup nine times between them, were drawn in the same group, while United, 1999 winners Manchester United will face Bayer Leverkusen again.

Manchester United, who qualified for the competition proper after beating Hungarian champions Zalaegerszeg 5-1 on aggregate, will face Olympiakos and Maccabi Haifa, the first team from Israel to reach the Champions League, as well as Leverkusen.

United chief executive Peter Kenyon said they were happy not to have any long journeys in the opening phase, but warned that he expected very difficult matches against Leverkusen.

United were knocked out of last season's competition by the German side on the away goals rule in the semifinals after the teams drew 2-2 at Old Trafford and 1-1 in Germany.

SERIOUSLY WEAKENED

Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmoeller said he did not expect to defeat United again because his team had been seriously weakened since last season by the departure of key midfielders Michael Ballack and Ze Roberto da Silva to German rivals Bayern Munich.

"We are not so strong, but we will do our best even if I know I cannot expect another great result," he said. "But we have some very good youngsters.

Olympiakos and United also met in the first stage last season -- with United beating the Greek champions 2-0 away and 3-0 at home.

Haifa were delighted to be drawn against United, even though due to the political unrest in Israel, their home matches will all take place in Nicosia in Cyprus.

"It is so exciting for us, so fantastic, nobody can believe it," said general manager Itamar Chizik. "The whole of Israel wanted this, I think, and they all wanted us to bring Manchester United to them. So, now it has happened.

"The stadium, in Nicosia, is a good one. It is a new one and it holds 25,000 people and the pitch is good."

Bayern Munich, whose European Cup success in 2001 was sandwiched between Real's victories in 2000 and 2002, head a tough group that includes last season's Spanish League runners-up Deportivo La Coruna, perennial Italian powerhouse AC Milan and Lens, runners-up in the French League last season.

Bayern's chairman was rubbing his hands in anticipation of sell-out crowds at the Olympic stadium in Munich.

"I'm personally really looking forward to the game against Milan, with Rivaldo and Co in the Olympic Stadium. It'll be a sell-out," Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of Bayern Munich.

Barcelona, desperate to win the European Cup for the second time after their only success in 1992, face familiar opposition in their opening group when they meet Galatasaray.

They were also paired in the second group stage last season when they drew 2-2 in Spain before Barcelona won 1-0 in Turkey. Lokomotiv Moscow and Bruges complete their group.

"At first sight it appears an easier draw than last year so we are quite happy," said Anton Parera, Barcelona's director-general.

Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven, who have both won the top club trophy in Europe once, will play AJ Auxerre of France and English double winners Arsenal, who start their bid to win the European Cup for the first time in group A.

"It's a strong and attractive group, which promises much. The clubs are also ones that our fans can realistically reach. Our goal is passage to the second round, we simply have to do that," said Dortmund's commercial manager Michael Zorc.

Frank Arnesen, PSV's technical director, said: "We know all about Arsenal and it will be even more interesting because they have Dutchmen Dennis Bergkamp and Giovanni van Bronkhorst. It should be a fascinating series of games in the group."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told his club's website: "I'm conscious that it's a difficult group, but no matter who we play we want to go through and we are good enough to go through".

Valencia, losing finalists in 2000 and 2001, play four-times winners Liverpool, Spartak Moscow and Basel in group B.

"I am very happy about the draw. It is the competition we want to win having lost two finals and we are still hoping that we can win the final this year in Old Trafford," said Jaime Orti, president of Valencia.

Italian champions Juventus also head a tough group, which includes UEFA Cup holders Feyenoord, Dynamo Kiev and Newcastle United, while compatriots Inter Milan and Ajax were happy with their group which also includesto Lyon and Rosenberg.

The competition starts with the opening matches on September 17 and 18. The final is at Old Trafford, Manchester, next May.