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Ronaldinho's return bodes ill for German champions

Ronaldinho's return after what was whispered to be an enforced team sidelining by Barcelona is likely to spell bad news for German champions VfB Stuttgart.

Last year's Bundesliga winners have won only three of their eight league games and host last year's European champions knowing they will have to produce a stellar performance if they want to score a major upset.

Ronaldinho should be champing at the bit after a three-game absence for Barcelona, which was officially because of a leg injury, although reports suggest he was sidelined because of his late night partying.

As the Brazilian midfielder prepares to get back to dazzling opposition defenses, elsewhere there will be a moment to spare for remembering absent friends.

Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest made a dubious return to Europe's elite two weeks ago with a 2-1 defeat to Champions League new boys Slavia Prague.

Steaua's credentials will face a somewhat stiffer test when they host English giants Arsenal in the absence of emblematic former coach Gheorghe Hagi.

Romanian legend Hagi resigned days after Steaua's defeat to Slavia, citing his inability to work under the pressure of club owner Gigi Becali.

"I've had enough. It's torture at Steaua," Hagi said a day after the club's 2-1 Group H defeat to Slavia.

Hagi may have jumped ship at the right time, given Arsenal's glittering form.

Arsenal are top of the English Premier League with a two-point lead on champions Manchester United, with a game in hand.

Ironically, the Gunners are coping conspicuously well in the absence of one of their most emblematic players, France's Thierry Henry.

Henry's departure from the north London club hit Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hard during what he described as a "tough" summer, but it brought equal amounts of joy to Barcelona fans who saw the Frenchman shine on Saturday with his first hat-trick for the club.

Thanks to their victory over UEFA Cup champions Sevilla a fortnight ago, Arsenal sit top of Group H and already look odds-on to qualify for the first knockout round in February.

Wenger's best run in the Champions League with Arsenal was their final appearance last year when Henry and company were outshone by Barcelona.

However it appears that this season domestic silverware -- in the shape of the league title -- will takes precedence over any achievement in Europe.

"To be honest, I think it [the Champions League] is overrated," Wenger said.

"It's a cup competition and the real test of a team, and their manager, comes in a championship," he said.

"If you were to organize a European Club Championship over 38 or 40 games, the team that won that really would be best in Europe," he said.
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