Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness admits he would prefer to be lining out in Europe's elite competition this week than enduring the punishment of heading into the group stages of the UEFA Cup.
Four-time European champions Bayern, who won the UEFA Cup in the 1995-1996 season, will join four English Premier League clubs in their UEFA Cup first round matches today.
Bayern start their campaign at home to Portuguese outfit Belenenses, while Dutch giants Ajax, who like Bayern won three consecutive European Cup titles in the 70s, travel to Dynamo Zagreb.
The German club, which last won the Champions League in 2001, missed out on a spot in European soccer's showcase tournament after finishing fourth in the Bundesliga last season.
"I think it's a real shame we're not competing this season. But we made our own beds last season and we've received the appropriate punishment," Hoeness said. "So there's no point wringing our hands, it's a sporting setback and we have to live with it. I do believe it'll be a one-season intermission, and we'll be back in the competition next term."
Hoeness will be looking to get back to winning ways against the Portuguese in Munich after being held to their second consecutive draw at home in the Bundesliga at the weekend.
Bayern remain top, and Hoeness takes heart from their Bundesliga rivals having tougher European ties.
"Their somewhat smaller squads have plenty of traveling ahead," he said.
But despite being favorites against Belenenses, who are eighth in their domestic league, Hoeness remains wary of their Lisbon-based opponents, who are packed with creative Brazilians.
"We should all stop believing we're capable of wiping the floor with all our opponents. We must avoid arrogance," he said.
In addition to Bayern and Ajax, four other teams who have won the UEFA Cup will play, with inaugural champions Tottenham Hotspur opening their bid for a third triumph at White Hart Lane against Cypriot side Anorthosis.
In-form Turkish side Galatasaray, the 2000-2001 winners, travel to FC Sion in Switzerland, Anderlecht host Rapid Vienna in Belgium and Bayer Leverkusen host Portuguese side Union Leiria.
"For us the UEFA Cup is a big thing and we will try to do better than last year," said Tottenham's sporting director Damien Comolli, whose side were semi-finalists last year. "We were all frustrated that we didn't go through against Sevilla because everyone knew whoever would win that tie would probably win the competition and that's what happened."
English soccer clubs are well represented with David Moyes' Everton opening at Goodison Park against Ukrainian outfit Metalist Kharkiv as league rivals Bolton Wanderers play away to Macedonian side FK Rabotnicki and Blackburn Rovers head to Larissa.
"The trip to Greece will be difficult because they usually have a vociferous crowd and the away tie will be key," Rovers manager Mark Hughes said.
Aberdeen are Scotland's only representatives after Dunfermline's elimination in qualifying and open at home against Ukrainian side Dniepropetrovsk.
Serie A side Empoli play their first tie in Europe against Zurich, as do Spanish club Getafe, at home to Danish outfit Twente.
Second leg matches take place on Oct. 4 with the 40 teams that progress from the first round going into a group phase comprising eight groups of five clubs.
The top three teams progress through to the round of 32, at which point they will be joined by eight sides finishing third in their Champions League group. The final takes place at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 14 next year.
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