UEFA Champions League Draw

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

The draw is today..

The only odd thing is the sevilla/aek in pot 2, as a result of Puerta's death they didn't play on Tuesday.

007/08 UEFA Champions League
Group stage draw - 18.00CET, Thursday

POT 1
Team Pairing
AC Milan (ITA, holders)
FC Barcelona (ESP)
Liverpool FC (ENG)
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)
Arsenal FC (ENG)
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
Chelsea FC (ENG)
Manchester United FC (ENG)

POT 2
Team Pairing
Valencia CF (ESP)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
FC Porto (POR)
Sevilla FC (ESP) / AEK Athens FC (GRE)
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
AS Roma (ITA)
SL Benfica (POR)
Werder Bremen (GER)

POT 3
Team Pairing
Celtic FC (SCO)
FC Schalke 04 (GER)
VfB Stuttgart (GER)
FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU)
PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
S.S. Lazio (ITA)
Olympique de Marseille (FRA)

POT 4
Team Pairing
Rangers FC (SCO)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Beşiktaş JK (TUR)
Olympiacos CFP (GRE)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)
SK Slavia Praha (CZE)
Rosenborg BK (NOR)

[rocketsauce]

anywhere to watch this live on the internet?

[kenbuzz]

Pot 1 Assignments:

A: Liverpool
B: Chelsea
C: Real Madrid
D: Milan
E: Barcelona
F: Man. United
G: Internazionale
H: Arsenal

[kenbuzz]

anywhere to watch this live on the internet?
www.uefa.org ... click on "Live Draw"

[kenbuzz]

After Pot 2 Assignments:

A: Liverpool, Porto
B: Chelsea, Valencia
C: Real Madrid, Bremen
D: Milan, Benfica
E: Barcelona, Lyon
F: Man. United, Roma
G: Internazionale, PSV
H: Arsenal, Sevilla/AEK

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

Utd with Roma again.

Liverpool get Porto

[kenbuzz]

I hope Arsenal gets CSKA Moskva.

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

Happy with Liverpools Group so far!

[kenbuzz]

After Pot 3 Assignments:

A: Liverpool, Porto, Marseille
B: Chelsea, Valencia, Schalke
C: Real Madrid, Bremen, Lazio
D: Milan, Benfica, Celtic
E: Barcelona, Lyon, Stuttgart
F: Man. United, Roma, Sporting
G: Internazionale, PSV, CSKA Moskva
H: Arsenal, Sevilla/AEK, FC Steaua

[kenbuzz]

Full Draw:

A: Liverpool (ENG), Porto (POR), Marseille (FRA), Besiktas (TUR)
B: Chelsea (ENG), Valencia (ESP), Schalke (GER), Rosenborg (NOR)
C: Real Madrid (ESP), Bremen (GER), Lazio (ITA), Olympiacos (GRE)
D: Milan (ITA), Benfica (POR), Celtic (SCO), Shaktar (UKR)
E: Barcelona (ESP), Lyon (FRA), Stuttgart (GER), Rangers (SCO)
F: Man. United (ENG), Roma (ITA), Sporting (POR), Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
G: Internazionale (ITA), PSV (NED), CSKA Moskva (RUS), Fenerbahce (TUR)
H: Arsenal (ENG), Sevilla (ESP)/AEK (GRE), FC Steaua (ROM), Slavia (CZE)

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

Nice Work Ken..

So winner of Group A versus winner of Group D for the final again a la 2005?

Nothing to be afraid of for Liverpool there.

Cisse's return to Liverpool.
And a trip to Turkey.

[wendersfan]

So Barca have Lyon, Stuttgart, and Rangers? That should be a walk in the park. :)

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

Rangers got screwed!! ha! Barcelona should be easily through..

[wendersfan]

Some news stories:

<b><a href = "http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=399239">Inter Respond To CL Draw</b></a>

Italian champions Inter have been drawn alongside Psv Eindhoven, Fenerbahce, and CSKA Moscow in group G of the Champions League. Seems like a very acceptable draw, but reactions from the Inter camp were traditionally diplomatic and cautious.

"It's difficult, as always," said coach Roberto Mancini. "When you are participating to an important competition like the Champions League, it's difficult to make a list of preferred opponents. All opponents, at this level, are important and difficult to face. The same goes for the teams we have drawn today, they are all teams with tradition and pedigree in European football."

Captain Javier Zanetti commented: "It's a well-balanced group, they are all potentially dangerous teams and we can't underestimate any of them. But everything will depend on us, we have a great team which, if it wants to, can do well against everyone. We know about the difficulties of the Champions League, but we re very focused on doing well and we will give our all to go as far as possible."

<a href = "http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=399197"><b>CL Draw: Ferguson Relishes Roma Re-Match</b></a>

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is relishing his club's re-match against AS Roma in this year's Champions League campaign, and sees it as the key talking point in the draw for Group F that was made this evening in Monaco

During last season's Champions League quarter-final between United and Roma, violence erupted at both legs.

United supporters were attacked by fans and baton-wielding police in Rome's Stadio Olimpico, resulting in a £31,000 fine for Roma for the behaviour of their fans. United were fined £14,500 by Uefa.

In the second leg, United tore Roma apart on the pitch, running out 7-1 winners to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit.

United boss Ferguson described that second leg showing as "the best ever European evening in my time at the club."

He said today after the draw threw up a reunion for the clubs: "That will be the talking point after last season."

But it is not all about Roma - United are also paired with Sporting Clube de Portugal, the Lisbon outfit from whom the Red Devils signed both Cristiano Ronaldo and, this summer, Nani. Then there will be a difficult trip to Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev.

"It is a very tight group," said he added. "Dynamo Kiev are a good side.

"We also have two of Sporting Lisbon's former players, so we know a bit about them."

United have previously met Sporting just once, in the old European Cup Winners' Cup. That was 44 years ago, when George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law were in the United side that lost 5-0 in Lisbon.

Ferguson will hope for a different outcome and has set United a target of 10 points to reach the knock-out stages.

"The whole group possesses some very interesting aspects," he said.

"We hope we can get 10 points. It will be difficult but if we can get that I think we will qualify."

[BadlyDrawnBoy]

I'll throw in Rafa's


RAFA'S REACTION TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW

Rafael Benitez has warned his Liverpool side face a tough task to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League following today's draw in Monaco.
The Reds have been placed in Group A of the competition along with Porto, Marseille and Besiktas as they look to enjoy another successful European adventure this term.

"It's clear when you look at some of the other groups that ours could have been easier," said the Reds' boss.

"Porto have good experience in the Champions League and have enjoyed a good record over recent seasons. They will be tough opposition for us.

"Marseille are a good side in the French league and they will know a lot about us which could make it more difficult.

"And you always know when you go to Turkey that it will be hard because of the travelling involved and the wonderful support they give their teams over there.

"I am always confident we can qualify but as ever the key will be winning the home games and picking up results away."



And for our beloved Arpeggi

Peter Kenyon, as Jose must be busy.

KENYON SATISFIED AND DETERMINED
Chief executive Peter Kenyon has given an early reaction from within the club to this season's Champions League group stage draw. Chelsea, drawn from Pot 1, have been given games against Valencia, Schalke 04 and Rosenborg. Kenyon, in Monaco for the proceedings, said: 'We were a top seed and that is always going to make a huge difference but you are always going to have tough competition. 'Valencia we know from last season when we knocked them out in the quarter-finals and with Schalke, German teams are always tough. Rosenborg are eternal qualifiers. 'Overall I think there are no easy groups but we have got to be satisfied with that.' Kenyon also spoke more generally about the ambition within the club to win the competition. 'We have been semi-finalists three times in the last four years. We have gone through the group stages every year but it is the elusive competition for us when you look at our record at domestic level. So there is a big determination. 'That is fuelled by a squad we think we have a strengthened and is as strong as we have had in the last four years. 'There is huge determination to reach the next stage which is certainly reaching the Final, and then when you get there, it is a whole new board game. We have a lot of confidence and experience and we are looking forward to this campaign.'

[astrochimp]

I like Liverpool's draw with Porto and Marseille both good opponents but i expect them to make it thru.

[Arpeggi]

Good draw.

[educator_bhoy]

for Roma supporters the line of thinking is in the words of the immortal Homer Simpson in one episode, REVENGE!!! hehehe