The Champions League kicks off this week, and the usual suspects are expected to dominate.
Ten former champions -- including defending champion AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United -- and three runners-up for European club soccer's top prize start the first group stage on today and tomorrow.
"All the big names are there," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said. "There's a lot of quality."
United have reached the last eight for seven seasons in a row, winning it in 1999. And with Panathinaikos, Stuttgart and Rangers also in Group E, United look likely to advance again.
Panathinaikos visits Old Trafford today, but Ferguson hopes the match is not overshadowed by the two matches against Scottish champion Rangers in October and November.
"We need to get this England and Scotland thing out of the road," said Ferguson, who is Scottish. "If we're not too careful, we could be sidetracked."
Rangers hosts Stuttgart today.
Arsenal has a challenging start in Group B -- hosting last year's semifinalist Inter Milan at Highbury on Wednesday.
"There are 10 or 12 teams who can win the Champions League, and we are one of them," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It looks to me that Bayern and Real Madrid are stronger. Milan and Juventus will be there as well. With Chelsea, it is difficult to know, because they have bought so many players. But I would certainly say that United are one of the favorites to win it."
Inter could be without striker Christian Vieri, who sustained an ankle injury in Italy's Euro 2004 qualifier draw against Serbia and Montenegro. He missed Sunday's match at Siena.
"The game against Inter is vital for us," Wenger said. "We start with maybe the biggest opponents of the group, and to begin with a victory is crucial."
Defending champion AC Milan hosts Ajax today in Group H, and Celta de Vigo travel to Belgium to play FC Bruges, runner-up to champion Liverpool in 1978.
In Group G, Turkish side Besiktas meets Lazio and Sparta Prague hosts big-spending Chelsea. Partizan Belgrade plays Porto and eight-time winners Real Madrid tackle Marseilles in Group F.
Tomorrow, 2001 winner Bayern Munich goes against Celtic, and Lyon play Anderlecht in Group A.
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