Champions League 2009-10 starts

The Champions League starts in earnest on Tuesday evening with the first round of group matches as the race for the final in the Santiago Bernabéu next spring begins.


Some 32 teams are all vying to be crowned the champions of Europe on May 22 and it all starts this week with eight games on Tuesday and another eight on Wednesday.

Group A

The first games in the group see Juventus take on French champions Bordeaux, their first meeting in 24 years, while Maccabi Haifa tackle Bayern Munich.

Louis van Gaal will take the Bundesliga giants into a tough enconter against the Israeli outfit in the Kiryat Eliezer Stadium.

Juventus
Bordeaux

Maccabi Haifa
Bayern Munich



Group B

Manchester United start their campaign to reach a third consecutive final in Turkey as they travel to play Besiktas. The Red Devils do not have a great track record on Turkish soil having one just once in four attempts there.

German champions Wolfsburg are making their debut in the Champions League and they face a stern test against Russian side CSKA Moscow, who are now coached by former Barça B, Sevilla, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid boss Juande Ramos.

Wolfsburg
CSKA Moscow

Besiktas
Man.United


Group C

AC Milan return to the Champions League on Tuesday after playing in the UEFA Cup last time out. The Rossoneri will meet Olympique Marseille in the Stade Velodrome in what promises to be an exciting encounter.

The other match in Group C pits FC Zurich against Real Madrid as the Swiss side make their debut in the competition as it currently stands, although they did appear in the original European Cup.

FC Zurich
Real Madrid

O.Marseille
AC Milan


Group D

Chelsea against Porto is one of the most attractive fixtures on the opening day with the Blues having Deco, Carvalho, Ferreira, Henrique Hilario and Jose Bosingwa all preparing to face their former club.

Atlético de Madrid meet Cypriot side APOEL in the other encounter with Los Colchoneros looking to put their season back on track after winning only one point from their first two league games.

Chelsea
Porto

Atlético de Madrid
APOEL Nicosia