Football News

Wed Champs League preview

Wed Champs League preview


Wed Champs League preview

Arsenal, Man Utd and Rangers are the next British sides to kick off their Champions League adventures tonight. Arsenal will play a tough looking match vs. Sevilla at the Emirates, whilst Ronaldo's Man Utd take on Sporting in Lisbon. Elsewhere, Rangers take on German champions VfB Stuttgart and the tie of the round sees Barcelona play Lyon.

Man Utd's trip to Sporting Lisbon will be the first time both Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo have played their old clubs.

Utd's mercurial winger Ronaldo commented on the impending trip to Lisbon, "It's always good to come back to my second home," he said. "I have lots of friends and colleagues here. I like Sporting a lot but my primary colour now is red. To be honest I think the people like me here and the reception will be different than the last season in Estádio da Luz. (When Utd played Benfica)"

As Arsenal prepared for their battle with Sevilla, they will be delighted with the way their season started. Last seasons treble winning Sevilla have looked as impressive this year, and Kolo Toure has moved to tell his side to keep Freddie Kanoute off the scoresheet.

Kolo said, "Kanouté will be motivated against Arsenal and he's a great player. I have lots of respect for him and I'll need to be very careful.

"It's the ideal time to start our Champions League campaign because we're top of the league and playing well," said the 26-year-old.

In the tie of the round, Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona take on Lyon, and it is the first time that Barcelona's new signing Eric Abidal comes up against his old club. Abidal has warned his new side to keep a close eye on Lyon striker Sidney Govou who will be a threat throughout.

Abidal said, "This really isn't about revenge for me; I think I gave my best for Lyon and then moved on - they were good years. But I'll give all the information I'm able to if it will help my new team-mates and the Barça coach construct an important win in our first group game."

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Group E:

Rangers v Stuttgart: Stuttgart have only won one away game in the Champions League - against Panathinaikos.

Barcelona v Lyon : The only French side to win at Camp Nou in European competition were Metz in the 1984/85 Cup Winners' Cup.

Group F:

Roma v Dynamo Kiev: Dynamo Kiev have kept two clean sheets in the last 15 matches.

Sporting Lisbon v Manchester United: United have won just twice in the last 14 Champions League away games.

Group G:

PSV Eindhoven v CSKA Moscow: PSV have kept six clean sheets in the last nine Champions League home games.

Fenerbahce v Internazionale: Inter have scored more than two goals in only one of their last 20 Champions League games.

Group H:

Arsenal v Sevilla: The last non-English team to beat Arsenal on their own patch was Inter back in September 2003.

Slavia Prague v Steaua Bucharest: Since the Champions League started, Steaua have won three times away from home - always against Eastern European teams and always scoring three or more goals.