The Road To Madrid

August 27, 2009

This year’s draw for Europe’s elite football competition took place in Monaco this afternoon with Britain’s representatives handed relatively favourable ties. Last season’s runners-up Manchester United were paired in Group B alongside CSKA Moscow of Russia, Turkey’s Besiktas and German Champions Wolfsburg.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea will come up against Portuguese Champions FC Porto, Atletico Madrid of Spain and Cypriot title holders APOEL Nicosia in Group D. 2005 winners Liverpool will face French side Olympique Lyonnais, Italians Fiorentina and one of this season’s surprise entries, Debrecen of Hungary.

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, who were drawn into Group H, will compete with Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar, Greek Champions Olympiacos and Standard Liege of Belgium for a place in the tournament’s latter stages.

Scottish title holders Glasgow Rangers were pitted alongside Sevilla of Spain, VFB Stuttgart of Germany and another of this season’s newcomers Unirea Urziceni of Romania.

Reigning holders Barcelona will have to overcome Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, Ukranians Dynamo Kiev and Russian Champions FC Rubin Kazan if they are to progress and retain the trophy that they won in Rome earlier this year.

In Group C Real Madrid will face A.C Milan in what should prove to be an intriguing encounter with Brazilian icon, Kaka, lining up against his former suitors. Marseille of France and Swiss side FC Zurich complete the group.

German giants Bayern Munich, Italy’s Juventus, French Champions Girondins de Bordeaux and Maccaibi Haifa of Israel are the remaining clubs who will battle it out for a place in the knockout stages.

As always, supporters around the globe will be looking forward to enjoying some top class football, as Europe’s best compete for the ultimate prize that will be lofted into the air by the victorious side’s captain inside the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium come next May.

Group A

Bayern Munich(Ger)

Juventus(Ita)

Bordeaux(Fra)

Maccaibi Haifa(Isr)

Group B

Manchester United(Eng)

CSKA Moscow(Rus)

Besiktas(Tur)

Wolfsburg(Ger)

Group C

A.C Milan(Ita)

Real Madrid(Esp)

Marseille(Fra)

FC Zurich(Swi)

Group D

Chelsea(Eng)

F.C Porto(Por)

Atletico Madrid(Esp)

APOEL Nicosia(Cyp)

Group E

Liverpool(Eng)

Olmpique Lyonnais(Fra)

Fiorentina(Ita)

Debrecen(Hun)

Group F

Barcelona(Esp)

Inter Milan(Ita)

Dynamo Kiev(Ukr)

FC Rubin Kazan(Rus)

Group G

Sevilla(Esp)

Rangers(Sco)

VFB Stuttgart(Ger)

Unirea Urziceni(Rom)

Group H

Arsenal(Eng)

AZ Alkmaar(Nld)

Olmpiacos(Grc)

Standard Liege(Bel)

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