The UEFA Champions League

[backin-strachan]

http://images.supersport.co.za/ChampionsLeagueLogoBG.jpg

The Official 360monster thread for the Champions Legue is here.

The draw has been made:

GROUP A
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GROUPABanner.jpg

1.Barcelona
2.Chelsea
3.Weder Bremen
4.Levski Sofia

GROUP B
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GROUPBBANNER.jpg

1.Inter Milan
2.Bayern Munich
3.Sporting Lisbon
4.Spartak Moscow

GROUP C
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GroupCbanner.jpg

1.Liverpool
2.PSV Eindhoven
3.Bordeaux
4.Galatasaray

GROUP D
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GroupDBanner.jpg

1.Valencia
2.AS Roma
3.Olympiakos
4.Shakhtar Donetsk

GROUP E
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GROUPEBanner.jpg

1.Real Madrid
2.Lyon
3.Steaua Bucharest
4.Dynamo Kiev

GROUP F
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GroupFBanner.jpg

1.Manchester United
2.Celtic
3.Benfica
4.FC Copenhagen

GROUP G
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GroupGBanner.jpg

1.Arsenal
2.Porto
3.CSKA Moscow
4.Hamburg

GROUP H
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/backin-strachan/GROUPHBanner.jpg

1.AC Milan
2.Lille
3.AEK Athens
4.Anderlecht

GOD MAHN That took ages i.e designing this page. I deserve a kiss for this never mind rep but anyway roll on Matchday 1

Enjoy:)

[backin-strachan]

The Fixtures and Results

Sorry with the late update but lots of updating takes its time anyway Halfway through the Group stages and some fantastic matches players and goals to show.


Group A

Tuesday, 12 September 2006
Chelsea 2-0 Werder Bremen, 19:45
Barcelona 5-0 Levski Sofia, 19:45

Wednesday, 27 September 2006
Levski Sofia 1-3 Chelsea, 19:45
Werder Bremen 1-1 Barcelona, 19:45

Wednesday, 18 October 2006
Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona, 19:45
Werder Bremen 2-0 Levski Sofia, 19:45

Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea, 19:45
Levski Sofia v Werder Bremen, 19:45

Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Levski Sofia v Barcelona, 19:45
Werder Bremen v Chelsea, 19:45

Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Chelsea v Levski Sofia, 19:45
Barcelona v Werder Bremen, 19:45


Group B

Tuesday, 12 September 2006
Bayern Munich 4-0 Spartak Moscow, 19:45
Sporting 1-0 Inter Milan, 19:45

Wednesday, 27 September 2006
Inter Milan 0-2 Bayern Munich, 19:45
Spartak Moscow 1-1 Sporting, 17:30

Wednesday, 18 October 2006
Sporting 0-1 Bayern Munich, 19:45
Inter Milan 2-1 Spartak Moscow, 19:45

Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Bayern Munich v Sporting, 19:45
Spartak Moscow v Inter Milan, 17:30

Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Spartak Moscow v Bayern Munich, 17:30
Inter Milan v Sporting, 19:45

Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Bayern Munich v Inter Milan, 19:45
Sporting v Spartak Moscow, 19:45


Group C

Tuesday, 12 September 2006
Galatasaray 0-0 Bordeaux, 19:45
PSV 0-0 Liverpool, 19:45

Wednesday, 27 September 2006
Liverpool 3-2 Galatasaray, 19:45
Bordeaux 0-1 PSV, 19:45

Wednesday, 18 October 2006
Bordeaux 0-1 Liverpool, 19:45
Galatasaray 1-2 PSV, 19:45

Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Liverpool v Bordeaux, 19:45
PSV v Galatasaray, 19:45

Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Bordeaux v Galatasaray, 19:45
Liverpool v PSV, 19:45

Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Galatasaray v Liverpool, 19:45
PSV v Bordeaux, 19:45


Group D

Tuesday, 12 September 2006
Olympiacos 2-4 Valencia, 19:45
Roma 4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk, 19:45

Wednesday, 27 September 2006
Valencia 2-1 Roma, 19:45
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Olympiacos, 19:45

Wednesday, 18 October 2006
Olympiacos 0-1 Roma, 19:45
Valencia 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk, 19:45

Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Roma v Olympiacos, 19:45
Shakhtar Donetsk v Valencia, 19:45

Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Valencia v Olympiacos, 19:45
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma, 19:45

Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Olympiacos v Shakhtar Donetsk, 19:45
Roma v Valencia, 19:45

Group E

Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Lyon 2-0 Real Madrid, 19:45
Dynamo Kiev 1-4 Steaua Bucuresti, 19:45

Tuesday, 26 September 2006
Real Madrid 5-1 Dynamo Kiev, 19:45
Steaua Bucuresti 0-3 Lyon, 19:45

Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Steaua Bucuresti v Real Madrid, 19:45
Dynamo Kiev v Lyon, 19:45

Wednesday, 01 November 2006
Lyon v Dynamo Kiev, 19:45
Real Madrid v Steaua Bucuresti, 19:45

Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Real Madrid v Lyon, 19:45
Steaua Bucuresti v Dynamo Kiev, 19:45

Wednesday, 06 December 2006
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti, 19:45
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid, 19:45


Group F

Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Man Utd 3-2 Celtic, 19:45
FC Copenhagen 0-0 Benfica, 19:45

Tuesday, 26 September 2006
Celtic 1-0 FC Copenhagen, 19:45
Benfica 0-1 Man Utd, 19:45

Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Man Utd 3-0 FC Copenhagen, 19:45
Celtic 3-0 Benfica, 19:45

Wednesday, 01 November 2006
Benfica v Celtic, 19:45
FC Copenhagen v Man Utd, 19:45

Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Celtic v Man Utd, 19:45
Benfica v FC Copenhagen, 19:45

Wednesday, 06 December 2006
FC Copenhagen v Celtic, 19:45
Man Utd v Benfica, 19:45


Group G

Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Hamburg 1-2 Arsenal, 19:45
FC Porto 0-0 CSKA Moscow, 19:45

Tuesday, 26 September 2006
Arsenal 2-0 FC Porto, 19:45
CSKA Moscow 1-0 Hamburg, 17:30

Tuesday, 17 October 2006
CSKA Moscow 1-0 Arsenal, 17:30
FC Porto 4-1 Hamburg, 19:45

Wednesday, 01 November 2006
Arsenal v CSKA Moscow, 19:45
Hamburg v FC Porto, 19:45

Tuesday, 21 November 2006
CSKA Moscow v FC Porto, 17:30
Arsenal v Hamburg, 19:45

Wednesday, 06 December 2006
FC Porto v Arsenal, 19:45
Hamburg v CSKA Moscow, 19:45

Group H

Wednesday, 13 September 2006
AC Milan 3-0 AEK Athens, 19:45
Anderlecht 1-1 Lille, 19:45

Tuesday, 26 September 2006
AEK Athens 1-1 Anderlecht, 19:45
Lille 0-0 AC Milan, 19:45

Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Anderlecht 0-1 AC Milan, 19:45
Lille 3-1 AEK Athens, 19:45

Wednesday, 01 November 2006
AC Milan v Anderlecht, 19:45
AEK Athens v Lille, 19:45

Tuesday, 21 November 2006
AEK Athens v AC Milan, 19:45
Lille v Anderlecht, 19:45

Wednesday, 06 December 2006
AC Milan v Lille, 19:45
Anderlecht v AEK Athens, 19:45

[bingo83]

I hope Celtic get a decent Draw. I dont have a Season Book, but I do get the Champions League package as one of my friends works in Switzerland and cant make it back for Midweek games.

With the confirmed signing of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink we have a team which shows great promise.

[backin-strachan]

http://www.uefa.com/video/drawvideo.html

You can catch the draw here now!!!

[backin-strachan]

OMG Man Utd for Celtic. We are snookered:'(

[phatmuther]

go man utd!!!! :party:
:D

[backin-strachan]

RiLu vs Me vs Phatmuther

I am delighted with the draw To be honest we've avoided some really tough ties. Copenhagen should be one we look for no less than 4 points from, Benfica are beatable at home although tough away draw and Man Utd can be real hit or miss these days.

I'd say we should approach this one with a bit of confidence.

[phatmuther]

its a good group, there should be some good games from it, man utd will get through, top of the table? hmmm maybe

[AfroJoe]

Great draw for Celtic, which I'm happy about.

I don't like them in the SPL, but I always support Scottish teams in Europe.

[Killer 57]

Pfft easy group, We're going to cruise into the next round. :cool:

[RiLu@]

Oh boy, I'll try to get tickets for both games

Man united - benfica
Celtic - benfica

A guy that works with me goes to alot of united games he can get me tickets.

Can you get me a couple of tickets BS to the celtic game and much you think it will cost, if you do I'll most grateful and I'll give you a 360 game.

[backin-strachan]

Eh I honestly wouldnt know. Probably could get you one in the Celtic end if thats what you meant but I think you would have to go through Benfica. Ill ask at the game on Saturday(Y)

[RiLu@]

that would be great, i'll talk with a friend in Portugal too.

now I really want to go this 2 matches, plus 1 in Portugal.

it's maybe the last year Rui costa is playing and I never saw him play.

just waiting for the dates to get things going.

[Uriel Septim]

GROUP G
1.Arsenal
2.Porto
3.CSKA Moscow
4.Hamburg

ace group for arsenal we should win this group

[Kalou]

Suspicious that Chelsea and Barcelona have met eachother 3 times in 3 seasons.........

I wouldn't be too confident Septim, Hamburg have a very good squad, Porto are good too and can surprise us all and CSKA are also strong, but I think Arsenal will win by a point or two.

[AfroJoe]

Yeah, people are way underestimating CSKA and Hamburg because they're lower seeds.

Stupid, really, because Hamburg are a VERY good side, and CSKA have the weather advantage when playing at home, so could be dangerous.

[Kalou]

Hamburg have Nigel De Jong, Kompany and Van Der Vaart so they seem to have a very talented side, not sure about the rest though but they will definately not be an easy 3 points.

[neworderdude]

Class draw for us

Im gonna do Copenhagen and Celtic away

cant do benfica because its too soon though :(

[tidus04]

Chelsea playing Barcer again for the 3rd time. I really think this is a rig as I would but then I dont mind having to play Barcerlona as a fun game always comes out of it. We will just come secound or first so having to play Barcer should have a nothing effect to us going through. I think we will both go through and yet again no matter what we will play each other again in the knockouts. I hbet anything on it.. =]

[neworderdude]

Chelsea playing Barcer again for the 3rd time. I really think this is a rig as I would but then I dont mind having to play Barcerlona as a fun game always comes out of it. We will just come secound or first so having to play Barcer should have a nothing effect to us going through. I think we will both go through and yet again no matter what we will play each other again in the knockouts. I hbet anything on it.. =]

will you be in attendance at any of the games?

[domfh89]

Class draw for us

Im gonna do Copenhagen and Celtic away

cant do benfica because its too soon though :(

Too (stop using expletives & asterisks in your posts!) right we are :cool: :cool:

[RiLu@]

so BS do you think you can get me at least one ticket for the match?

[backin-strachan]

Right well I have got my tickets in and also my dads ticket as well but he has an away trip to Japan with his work (lucky bugger;)) so he says he will miss one of the games between Benfica or Copenhagen so theres a possibilty but we have just signed two massive players and every game is sold out i.e. the ticket office que was massive.

I will know whether my dad will be going soon so will keep you updated but it will be pushing it:( Have you contacted Benfica

[RiLu@]

a friend of my is working it out, there's this package with plane tickets I don't need that.

But anyway th 10th oct I'll in portugal for 2 weeks I'll have to look at it.

But tyhe away match at united it's a must

[backin-strachan]

But the match at Celtic isnt???:(

K/O:)

You will find a lot of tickets being sold on the night of the game but it could be a gamble:)

Ill keep you posted

[RiLu@]

ok thanks mate, We're thinking going to Glasgow before going to portugal, if we dont find a cheap hotel & plane tickets package, do you guys call it "charter" too?

I'll not buy a ticket on the streets it's against the law.

[backin-strachan]

No no I dont think the police would mind too much as long as it for face value so dont pay over the odds.

[RiLu@]

ok in some countries people get big fines

[backin-strachan]

Well I see tickets being held up for sale here and nothing happens so just keep your eye out for raised hands or stand near the ground and raise your own:)

[RiLu@]

I really want to see this game

[Killer 57]

I really want to see "A" game.

[backin-strachan]

Dont we all but only 2 more weeks too wait:)

[backin-strachan]

Eh Benfica and Porto possibly being chucked out The champions League:o

[RiLu@]

yeh, but i hope the people in portugal get it fixed in time

[backin-strachan]

I hope its on and hope its not if you get me but we will get slated of Rangers for getting an easy route rather than earning it!!!

You know when the verdict is???

[Bigcon100]

no way chelski gonn awin, real will do better than last time - not sure hu will win though

[backin-strachan]

Right Champs League fever has hit and just to let you know that Im updating the 2nd post as fast as possible and will have match previews up as well(Y)

[phatmuther]

good stuff (Y)

[backin-strachan]

Thats it up and running. I have spent all day doing that first page man and its still not quite finished yet. Rep me now guys and enjoy the thread;)

[RiLu@]

edit the first post BS, look around the CL logo

[phatmuther]

already repped earlier my friend (Y)

[backin-strachan]

Yeah I was in a rush to get off and didnt realise. Will see to it now :)

[backin-strachan]

Claude Makelele is expected to return to the Chelsea team for their Champions League match against Werder Bremen.

The midfielder was rested for the game against Charlton after playing for France against Italy.

Joe Cole is close to a return after his knee injury, but Arjen Robben is still out with an ankle problem.

World Cup Golden Shoe winner Miroslav Klose is a major injury concern for Werder Bremen after he picked up a thigh injury at the weekend.


But Bremen keeper Tim Wiese has bronchitis and definitely misses out, while doubts remain over Tim Borowski and Torsten Frings, who missed out through injury on the weekend.



Chelsea (from): Cech, Boulahrouz, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, A. Cole, Bridge, Geremi, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, J. Cole, Wright-Phillips, Kalou, Shevchenko, Drogba, Cudicini.


BIG MATCH STATS
Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Head-to-heads

Chelsea and Werder Bremen have never met before in European competition.

Chelsea have hosted German sides on four occasions, winning three and drawing one. Their last home win over a German club was in April 2005 when they beat Bayern Munich (4-2) in the Champions League quarter-finals. Werder have played only two European matches against clubs from England and have lost both - against Arsenal (2-0, 2-4) in the Uefa Cup quarter finals in 1999-2000.

European history

Chelsea's biggest successes in European competition are their two Cup Winners' Cup victories. They won the trophy in 1971 and 1998. They also won the European Super Cup in 1998. In the Champions League, Chelsea have reached the semi-final twice, in 2003-04 and 2004-05. They have reached the last 16 in each of their three previous CL participations. They have always survived the group phase in their four CL campaigns, and are one of only three clubs to have always survived the group phase on multiple occasions. Real Madrid (10) and Nantes (two) are the others.

Werder Bremen won the 1991-92 Cup Winners' Cup beating AS Monaco 2-0 in the final.They reached the quarter-final group stage of the Champions League in 1993-94. In the last two CL campaigns, the German club were eliminated at the last 16 stage, by Olympique Lyon (2004-05) and Juventus (2005-06) respectively.

Current European form

Chelsea have not won in their last three Champions League matches. This equals a club record which was set twice before.

Werder Bremen have failed to keep a clean-sheet in each of their last 10 CL matches.

Player and disciplinary info

No players are suspended for this match and no players will be suspended if booked.

Andriy Shevchenko is the most seasoned Chelsea player with 79 CL appearances, and Torsten Frings is the most experienced Werder Bremen player, with 28 CL appearances.

Other miscellaneous facts

Chelsea go into this match on the back of Saturday's 2-1 home win over Charlton, which leaves them trailing leaders Manchester United by three points in the Premiership table. They have a 100% home record this season (won two of two).

Werder Bremen were knocked out by Regionalliga club FK Pirmasens in the first round of the DFB Pokal after a penalty shoot-out on Saturday.

[backin-strachan]

John Arne Riise is Liverpool's only absentee for the Champions League Group C tie away at PSV Eindhoven.

The Norwegian suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury at the weekend and will be out of action for two weeks.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez has included young defenders Daniel Agger and Gabriel Paletta in the squad and Craig Bellamy is included once again.

PSV are without the suspended Philip Cocu, Alex will be brought back and Patrick Kluivert could make his debut.



Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Paletta, Aurelio, Luis Garcia, Sissoko, Gerrard, Alonso, Pennant, Gonzalez, Zenden, Crouch, Fowler, Bellamy, Kuyt, Dudek, Warnock.


BIG MATCH STATS
Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Head-to-heads

PSV and Liverpool have never met before in European competition. PSV have hosted English opposition 10 times before, winning four, drawing four and losing twice. They have failed to win their last four home matches against English sides. Their last home victory over an English opponent came on 26 September 2000, when they beat Manchester United 3-1 in the CL group phase.

Liverpool have visited Dutch opponents on three occasions, winning once (1-0 against Vitesse Arnhem in 2002), drawing once (2-2 against AZ'67 in 1981) and losing once (5-1 against Ajax in 1966).

European history

PSV won the Uefa Cup in 1977-78 and the Champions Cup in 1987-88. Last season, PSV made it past the group phase in the Champions League for the second year in a row, after eight unsuccessful attempts. This is the Dutch club's 11th Champions League campaign, and their 38th in European competition.

Liverpool have won the Champions Cup/Champions League five times with the most recent coming in 2004-05 when they won their first Champions League, on penalties against AC Milan. Their previous successes came in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984. They have also won three Uefa Cups and three Uefa Super Cups. This season will be Liverpool's fifth in the Champions League and their 34th in European competition.

Current European form

PSV have failed to win their last six European matches against English opposition, drawing three and losing three. Their last victory over an English club came in February 2002 when they won 1-0 away at Leeds United in the Uefa Cup fourth round.

Liverpool have failed to win their last four Champions League matches. The club record for the longest CL non-winning run is five and dates back to the 2001-02 season. Liverpool have failed to score in their last four Champions League matches, which is already a club and English record. The Merseysiders qualified for the CL main tournament by beating Maccabi Haifa 2-1 and 1-1.

Player and disciplinary info

No players are suspended nor will be suspended upon receiving another yellow card.

PSV captain Philip Cocu is their most experienced player in the competition having played 72 matches. Goalkeeper Jerzy Dukek is the most experienced player in the Liverpool squad with 44 CL matches under his belt.

Other miscellaneous facts

Last season, Liverpool were eliminated by Benfica, coached by Ronald Koeman. Koeman is now in charge of PSV. If PSV win this initial match it will be their 50th victory in the Champions Cup/Champions League. Their very first came 51 years ago, on 1 November 1955, at home against Rapid Vienna (1-0).

Liverpool go into this tie on the back of Saturday's humiliating 3-0 defeat by Everton in the Merseyside derby - their first loss in six European and domestic matches this season.

[Jazza Blaze]

well, not a bad night for the opening of the group stages, a good win for barca, a disapointing draw for liverpool, and a shock defeat for inter.

just another night in the greatest club tournament in the world :)

now lets brings on united and celtic :D

[WACCOE]

Watched 1st half of the Barca mach - was okkk.

Then I watched Supernanny. Mile's more entertaining.

[AfroJoe]

Bayern Munich - Spartak Moscow was a really good game.

I'm not exactly sure WHY I was watching it, but I did, and enjoyed it a lot.

[backin-strachan]

Man Utd v Celtic
Old Trafford
Wednesday, 13 September
Kick-off: 1945 BST

Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes are both expected to start against Celtic after completing their three-match bans.

Park Ji-sung (minor knock) and Edwin van der Sar (stomach bug) both missed training on Tuesday but are expected to be fit for the Champions League match.

Celtic's Stephen McManus, Gary Caldwell and Lee Naylor are all injury doubts.

The defenders could only manage light training following the Glasgow side's arrival in Manchester on Tuesday.


McManus (thigh) and Gary Caldwell (heal) have been carrying injuries for some time and these were aggravated during the weekend victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Recent signing Naylor will also be taking it easy before the clash in Manchester having twisted his ankle in training.



Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Brown, Rooney, Saha, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Scholes, Solskjaer, O'Shea, Richardson, Fletcher, Jones, Silvestre.

Celtic (from): Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Gravesen, McGeady, Zurawski, Miller, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Pearson, Riordan, Sno, Jarosik, Marshall, Cuthbert.


BIG MATCH STATS
Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Head-to-heads

Manchester United and Celtic have never met each other before in European competition. United have played Scottish sides four times and they have never been beaten. Their only loss of points came in November 1984 when they drew 2-2 at home to Dundee United in the Uefa Cup. Since then, the Red Devils have won all three matches against Scottish opposition.

Celtic have played clubs from England 12 times, winning half of them. In away matches, Celtic have lost only one of their visits to English clubs. Since they lost 2-0 at Liverpool on 19 April 1966 in the Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals, they are unbeaten in their last five visits, drawing twice and winning three times on English soil. Their last two visits, at Blackburn Rovers in November 2002 and Liverpool in March 2003, were both won 2-0. Overall, Celtic are unbeaten in their last six matches against English clubs. They suffered their last 'English' defeat on 7 December 1983 when Nottingham Forest won 2-1 at Parkhead.

European history

Manchester United have won the Champions Cup/Champions League twice (1968, 1999), the Cup Winners' Cup once (1991) and got hold of both the European Super Cup (1991) and the Intercontinental Club Cup (1999). United are taking part in their 12th Champions League season. Last season, they did not progress beyond the group stages for the first time since 1996-97. Their early exit ended a string of nine successive appearances in the knock-out stages.

Celtic have won the Champions Cup once, in 1967. They were the first British team to win the trophy. Manchester United were the second, just one year later. This is Celtic's fourth Champions League appearance. They have failed to negotiate the group phase in each of their three previous participations.

Current European form

Celtic have never won an away match in the Champions League. Their streak of nine CL away matches without ever winning is no record. Olympiakos from Greece are the record holders as they have not won any of their 28 CL away games.

Manchester United have not won in their last four Champions League matches. Last season, they finished their campaign with two draws and two losses against Lille (twice), Villarreal and Benfica. At home, United are unbeaten in their last three CL matches.

Player and disciplinary info

Cristiano Ronaldo is suspended for this match. Gary Neville (92), Ryan Giggs (87) and Paul Scholes (84) are players from the United squad that rank amongst the 10 players with most CL appearances.

Newly acquired players Jiri Jarosik (32 matches, five goals) and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (29 matches, four goals) are the most seasoned players in the Celtic CL squad.

Other miscellaneous facts

Manchester United have made a 100% start to their League season. Four wins out of four is their best ever opening to a Premiership campaign.

Both United and Celtic top their domestic leagues. Celtic have picked up 13 points from the first available 18.

[backin-strachan]

Hamburg v Arsenal
AOL Arena
Wednesday, 13 September
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live

The absence of Henry is a big blow to Arsenal
Arsenal's Thierry Henry has been ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League game at Hamburg after suffering a foot injury in training on Tuesday morning.

Teenage forward Theo Walcott is back in the squad after being rested and new boy Julio Baptista is also included.

Keeper Jens Lehmann is back from suspension, while William Gallas should continue at left-back, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie up front.

Hamburg welcome back Vincent Kompany and David Jarolim from injury.

But they will have to do without the sidelined Rafael van der Vaart, Timothee Atouba and Juan Pablo Sorin.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Almunia, Gallas, Toure, Djourou, Eboue, Hoyte, Fabregas, Song, Ljungberg, Gilberto, Flamini, Hleb, Baptista, Walcott, Rosicky, Van Persie, Adebayor.




BIG MATCH STATS
Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Head-to-heads

Hamburg and Arsenal have never met before. Hamburg have hosted English opposition on two previous occasions and won both. In total they have a balanced record against English clubs with two wins, one draw and two defeats.

Arsenal have a good record against German clubs (10 wins, three draws, seven defeats). But the Gunners struggle in away matches against German clubs having won just two of 10. Their last win in Germany dates back to 23 March 2000 when they defeated Werder Bremen 4-2 in the Uefa Cup.

European history

Hamburg return to the Champions League for the second time following their debut in the 2000-01 season. That year, they failed to survive the first phase, finishing third in their group. Hamburg's best result in Europe dates back to 1983 when they won the Champions Cup. In 1977 they lifted the Uefa Cup.

Arsenal's best result in the CL is reaching the final of last year's competition. They lost 1-2 to Barcelona. Arsenal have won two European trophies: the 1970 Fairs Cup and the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup. The Londoners are making their ninth appearance in the CL main competition and their seventh in succession.

Current European form

Hamburg are unbeaten in their last seven European Cup home matches. Their last home defeat dates back to 7 December 2000 when they were beaten by AS Roma (0-3). They have failed to win any of their three home matches in the CL so far.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six Champions League away matches and kept a clean sheet in the last five. The record for keeping a clean sheet in consecutive away matches is seven and was set by Ajax between 1995-96. Both these clubs entered the third round qualifying stage to secure a ticket. Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb twice (5-1 agg.) whereas Hamburg progressed on goal difference against Osasuna following two draws.

Player and disciplinary info

No players are suspended nor will any be upon receiving a yellow card. Dutchman Nigel de Jong is the most experienced player and most prolific scorer in the CL in the Hamburg squad. He has so far scored five goals in 26 CL matches, all for Ajax. De Jong scored in the away leg against Osasuna (third round qualifying) to send Hamburg through.

Arsenal's Jens Lehmann will make his 50th appearance in the Champions League if he plays, becoming the fourth player in Arsenal's squad with 50 or more CL appearances.

Other miscellaneous facts

Hamburg are one goal shy of scoring their 300th goal in European Cup football. They have so far netted 299 in 161 matches.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry is fourth on the all-time top scorers list in the Champions League, with 41 goals. He trails Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andriy Shevchenko (both on 43) and Raul (51).

[backin-strachan]

I watched PSV Liv. Not bad but thre were some really cracking shots that could all have went in.

I seen highlights of all the games though.

Anyone see Ronaldihos goal...:D AMAZING

[WACCOE]

COME ON CELTIC!!!


Yes, I want Celtic to win.

:D

[AfroJoe]

So do I.

I may hate them when they play in the SPL, but in Europe I support EVERY Scottish team. :D

[Kalou]

Celtic will get humped, battered and humped again for good measure, they are a crap team and even though I am Scottish, I can't see them doing anything against Man UTD.

Anyone else annoyed with the highlights on ITV at 11 PM? in the first 30 minutes I seen the Chelsea match and two adverts, then Pardew talks for about 2 minutes and they show the Liverpool game, they talk for another 2 minutes and in the last 5 minutes they show all the goals.

The show is a complete farce, 1 hour long and you get highlights of two games and 4 adverts plus 5 minutes of Pardew talking.

MOTD whipes the floor with this crap, MOTD is on for an hour too and can show good highlights of 8 matches plus they talk alot in between.

A tournament as good as this should have the best coverage, MOTD should do a CL special because the one on ITV is a disgrace.

[backin-strachan]

"Humped" you think??? Well you do come from the east. I doubt it will be that. At first Im thinking 3-0 Man Utd would be good but Celtic fans no more than anyone that ANYTHING can happen in a Champs League game.

Tbh Im totally buzzing. I will miss the first 10 minutes as I have been asked to go on trial with a new football team and its contracts tonight so might miss a bit but GS has my full confidence and I know if he can give the players the same motivational skills Martin ONeil can then we can do something.

First goal will be vital and I hope it doesnt come early:)

[Kalou]

Naylor and Wilson will get ripped to pieces by Ronaldo and Giggs, what will big daft McManus do against Rooney? Caldwell will end up gifting them a goal knowing him.

Gravesen will get a red card, I can feel it, McGeady's daft tricks won't work against the Man UTD back four and Nakamura will struggle to do anything which leaves the two strikers, and if they even come close to scoring I will stirp naked and post the picture here :)

I do like Celtic, but they are a pub team when they play someone as good as UTD.

[backin-strachan]

Did you not hear what I said. ANYTHING can happen with Celtic ANYTHING. I am not expecting a win niether am I expecting a defeat in the way you are putting it.

Each back 4 is as bad as each others. Rio doesnt know his arse from his elbow. Brown has scored countless own goals in big games. McGeady can do just as much damage as Ronaldo can do.

And with Hesselink and Zurawski upfront both can find the net. We just need that bit of luck.

On the point of the ITV coverage. Yep appalling!!! I only watched it cos I was doin homework. BBC should get summit sorted

[phatmuther]

come one man utd!!!! :D

the bloke im working with at the moment left at lunch time to get see this, lucky git :@

[backin-strachan]

We let ourselves down. Stupid mistakes and a horrible refereeing descision let us down. I would be suprised if that was Man Utd at best as most pundits seem to be saying this:o

[AfroJoe]

Celtic gave a very good account of themselves, and I was really happy they got two goals, to get it up those zero-knowledge morons at ITV who call themselves football analysts.

[phatmuther]

come on man utd :D

[WACCOE]

Good effort by Celtic.

Was cheering when they scored there 2 goals in the pub, heh.

Only one.

:|

[Jazza Blaze]

wow, what a match, i gota say altho we deserved it ( utd ) celtic did play very well, a lot better then they have been expected to play.


oh well, im just glad we can play exciting, interesting football, unlike boring chelsea who scrape 1 and 2 nil wins .....

[AK.]

i missed it, where can i see highlights on net?

[backin-strachan]

You Tube mate.

I now have the what "if feeling". We sat back immediately as soon as we got the goal and United got to goals from it and we made nothing much but in the second half we pushed out more but didnt really have the clinical finishing I know they are capable of.

Just wait till we get them up at our ground:cool:

[HotFish]

You Tube mate.

I now have the what "if feeling". We sat back immediately as soon as we got the goal and United got to goals from it and we made nothing much but in the second half we pushed out more but didnt really have the clinical finishing I know they are capable of.

Just wait till we get them up at our ground:cool:

I though the game (what i saw of it) desvered to be a draw! A error from Gravasen only separated the sides. I expect a similar game up at the park...but if ManU qualify prior he might put a ''weaker side'' out because of Celtic's good history with British teams. Then again with that performance and 60k + fans...you never no

cya'
:)

[AK.]

cheers loc (Y), just watched the man utd vs celtic game and comin from a utd fan of 15 years.....ive gotta say that was NOT a penalty...

[backin-strachan]

Yeah I would say the same. Uniteds class showed through and they had some superb chances and should have had the game dead and buried with them but you didnt. Our keeper kept us in it and it was STUPID mistakes that gave you this match. 2 Gravesen mistakes (Who we thought would be the player we needed) and a contreversial penalty.

There was Contact. Even though Minimal there was contact. Very minimal actually but it was never near a goal scoring oppurtunity as the ball was spiralling out.

I respected Giggs and seen him as your best player but now??? NAH Diving cnut.

Get it up him hes out of the Arsenal game now. Anyway twas a good game and if we play like that with the mistakes eradicated then we will do just fine.

NAKES FREEKICK EH??? :cool:

[AK.]

nakes freekick was superb tbh, and i atched the replay in slow motion, your right there was minimum contact, but if you look at the keepers feet after they brushed shoulders, he kicks giggs' feet, so im 50/50 on this now

[backin-strachan]

Right sorry about the wait and updating front page (doubt anyone notices anyway)

Some interesting fixtures on Matchday 2 well here they are
Tuesday, 26 September 2006
AEK Athens v Anderlecht, 19:45
Arsenal v FC Porto, 19:45
Benfica v Man Utd, 19:45
CSKA Moscow v Hamburg, 17:30
Celtic v FC Copenhagen, 19:45
Lille v AC Milan, 19:45
Real Madrid v Dynamo Kiev, 19:45
Steaua Bucuresti v Lyon, 19:45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, 27 September 2006
Bordeaux v PSV, 19:45
Inter Milan v Bayern Munich, 19:45
Levski Sofia v Chelsea, 19:45
Liverpool v Galatasaray, 19:45
Shakhtar Donetsk v Olympiacos, 19:45
Spartak Moscow v Sporting, 17:30
Valencia v Roma, 19:45
Werder Bremen v Barcelona, 19:45

I would reccomend Arsenal vs Porto for tonight and for tomorrow Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich :)


PREDICTIONS anyone

AEK Athens - Anderlecht
Arsenal - FC Porto
Benfica - Man Utd
CSKA Moscow - Hamburg
Celtic - FC Copenhagen
Lille - AC Milan
Real Madrid - Dynamo Kiev
Steaua Bucuresti - Lyon
Bordeaux - PSV
Inter Milan - Bayern Munich
Levski Sofia - Chelsea
Liverpool - Galatasaray
Shakhtar Donetsk - Olympiacos
Spartak Moscow - Sporting
Valencia - Roma
Werder Bremen - Barcelona

[WACCOE]

I'll be watching the Man Utd game tonight. They play a lot more entertaining football than Arsenal.

And tomorrow i'll probably have a flick between Liverpool match and Inter match.

[phatmuther]

ill be watching the man utd game on my projector :cool:

[WACCOE]

Can I come?

:(

I want to watch a projector.

[phatmuther]

haha ill take a picture for ya :D

[backin-strachan]

Just away to the game now.

Mon the Hoops I say 3-1 Celtic

£5 on Kenny Miller with a goal:)

[RiLu@]

hope benfica wins, but that will be hard man'united been playing good, Go keltic!!

[Jazza Blaze]

oh my god i was pooing my pants after the first half for united, we were AWFUL!!!!

thank god we turned it around in the seccond, we were so much stronger it was untrue, i just hope we can take that away win, and rack up a nice run in the league, and hopefully chelsea will drop a few points along the way :D

[WACCOE]

Southend??

[leeeee35]

Liverpool 2 Up Only 25 Minutes Gone Yeah Boy.:) Got To Go Now.

[AfroJoe]

Galatasaray were VERY good in the 2nd half.

Had a fair few chances to tie it up.

[WACCOE]

:o Crouch's goal.

[Killer 57]

Nery Castillo was brilliant for Olympiakos, great to see a Mexican doing well in Europe.

[part_troll87]

:o Crouch's goal.

What can you say, he may have looked awkward, But he hit the target and is gonna make it very difficult for Rafa to keep him out of the side. But with Kuyt scoring and playing well too, Rafa has to find a happy medium. Liverpool could well end up being a victim of their own large squad, because people like Bellamy, Sisoko and potentially Garcia, will not be content with places on the bench.

[Killer 57]

I would just like to take this time for a shout out to my homie Carlos Salcido, Who be representing Mexican Soccer in the biggest European Stage. Finally people will began to recognize the amazing defenders that Mexico produces.

[backin-strachan]

Anyone explain to me how I can do a table of each group without only text??? As its really annoying lining it up. Similar to AJs format on the PES league.

[WACCOE]

By doing [*code] [*/code] but without the *'s.

[AfroJoe]

Yep, you use the code.

It takes absolutely ages to do stuff, though.

[Joe]

Come on Arsenal! :D

I reckon we might strugle though, CSKA are a good side and we'll be frezzing!!!

[AfroJoe]

1-0 CSKA at half-time.

My man Daniel Carvalho with the goal. FM legend. :cool:

[RiLu@]

I hope benfica wins celtic today we played good the last 2 liga games scored 8 goals, may the best team anyway.

I was in Lisbon and saw benfica win 4-1 for 2 weeks ago.

[AfroJoe]

I'm sensing a draw in this one.

Wish I'd put some money on.

[Kalou]

I wish the Arsenal game was on tele, would be a good game :(

Wouldn't be surprised if CSKA won, they are a good team and it's Russia :D

[Dcontrol]

:unsure: I don't know what game to watch tonight and tomorrow. Cheers for the fixture lists by the way (Y)

[Kalou]

I only have two options even though I should have more but telewest suck.

Watch the Celtic game, I get the feeling they will lose because I don't think they have big Jan and McGeady.

[Joe]

I wish the Arsenal game was on tele, would be a good game :(

Wouldn't be surprised if CSKA won, they are a good team and it's Russia :D
The Arsenal game was on tele...And we SUPPOSEDLY lost :\

[SonicSix]

The Arsenal game was on tele...And we SUPPOSEDLY lost :\

It was 1-0 to CSKA on 82 minutes. Arsenal were pretty poor.

[Joe]

It was 1-0 to CSKA on 82 minutes. Arsenal were pretty poor.
I know what the Arsenal score was.....But why Henry's quality goal didn't count is beyond me..

[AfroJoe]

Celtic are playing much more attractive football than they have in recent years. I think Strachan plays a much nicer style of football than O'Neill did. Some slick passing rather than just punting it up to Hartson or Sutton like the past few years in the Champions League showed.

[backin-strachan]

Well done the hoops. Fantastic game. Benfica fans gave a good account of themselves. Superb game end to end stuff. Celtic could have been 2 up in 10 minutes but werent. When it was 1-0 and Benfica smacked the crossbar I feared it could go haywire but credit to the lads they stuck at it and played some stunning football and got the rewards. Long may it continue(Y)


Sorry Rilu;)

[RiLu@]

Celtic played better overall, benfica had control of the match for a while but the players didn't believe more after the 2nd goal.

We're missing what we had last year with Koman, never stop running and fight spirit.

[AfroJoe]

Yeah, I was surprised at Benfica. AND Celtic. Kenny Miller wouldn't have finished that 2nd goal a few weeks ago. :D

[SonicSix]

Chelsea were superb tonight. (Y)

[Killer 57]

I wouldn't say Superb, they played well, Essien and Drogba to note. Marquez was great, which brings me to my next point:

Marquez>Puyol

[SonicSix]

Well, I thought they did the job superbly, especially in midfield. Essien did shine. Drogba is certainly benefitting from having another striker alongside him rather than two wingers. Although arguably if you were Chelsea you would of liked to grab at least another goal.

[backin-strachan]

I seen Drogbas goal and it was a stumper. They have wasted so much on Shevchenko:| He is a good player but just doesnt fit in.

Will start doing up the first post(Y)

[Joe]

Drogbas goal was a goodin, anyone see his dive though? Seriously think he should get into acting

[backin-strachan]

Its actually updated. I actually did it. LOL

Barca Chelsea tomorrow, predictions???

[Kalou]

Barca 1-0
Benfica 1-0

[Groove]

I would never have beleived it actually possible to dominate a match so much , have so many shots and yet miss as many open goals.

Arsenal....omfg.........what are you doing to me ?

[AfroJoe]

Rosicky's miss was one of the greatest things I've ever seen.

Van Persie's and Fabregas' were pretty awful as well, but Rosicky's. Oh man. :D

[Groove]

im guessing even i could have scored that...........

[AfroJoe]

Someone with only one leg could have scored it.

[Kalou]

His miss was like PES where the ball just hits your foot and goes straight to the CPU GK.

I thought Arsenal played some of the best football I have seen in years during the first half, the runs they made followed by the immaculate passing was a joy to watch, shame nobody could buy a goal. As the game progressed it got more boring as CSKA continually defended more and more but who would attack against a rampant Arsenal side?

And Celtic, lol, see what I mean without the passion of the 60k Celtic fans they have to rely on skills and, quite frankly, they don't have enough, but apparently they have enough quality players so I must be wrong.

[Joe]

SHOT FOR GOD SAKE!!!

I was so off!

And Rosicky.....it speaks for itself :|

[backin-strachan]

No quality players last night Kalou we didnt have any Sno was our best player and we still beat a team who have spent more on one player than we have spent on our whole squad twice. Was Nakas freekick CL QUALITY or was it not CL QUALITY, was it just SPL QUALITY. So the CL quality players were beaten by players without CL quality. Hmmm Im confused.

Anyway great result last night. Has been the greatest ever match I have attended and I have been at a hell of a lot. Your Barcas' and Juves' but that beats them all...hands down. Still trying to come to terms with the win.

Arsenal played really well last night too. I seen highlights of the game and their third goals was class.

Will do the first page up now!

:D

[Kalou]

Sno was your best player? ROFL are you serious? that would explain why he NEVER got into the game and ended up being taken off at HALF TIME, so basd on that your best player was Kenny Miller!

Great that Celtic get raped by Man UTD who sucked anyway and you seem to think Celtic are something special :)

Are you trying to tell me Man UTD played fantasticly and Celtic only won because they were the better side? is it not funny that the only way you can score is by a completely dodgy freekick? how many great chances did you have to score in open play? how many times did Man UTD bugger up the final product?

It really amazes me how people are so biased, omg I support Celtic therefore they are the best in the world! sad.

[backin-strachan]

OMG you have never heard of sarcasm. I actually cant believe you took that comment. LMAO

"Dodgy free kick"? go and get a grip!

Kalou heres my question please quote me where I said becuase I support Celtic I think we are the best team in the world?

You are seeting and I am so glad. Get it up ye and let us enjoy our moment.

NON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALITY PLAYERS 4TW

[Truplaya83]

It really amazes me how people are so biased, omg I support Celtic therefore they are the best in the world! sad.

All football fans are like this. They know its not true, but we beleive our team is the greatest.

What team do you support Kalou?

[Kalou]

None, hence why I am neutral, even if I did support a team I would be neutral, creaming over a team is just sad.

You act like it Strachan, and how was it not a dodgy fk HAHAHAHAHA oh my god, oh my bloody god.....

Heres a tip, take off your 5 year old Celtic top and watch the match again without your nob in your hand creaming over Gravesen THEN wake up and smell the coffee, it was a dodgy fk, you got raped, you won, end of discussion.

[backin-strachan]

From his attitude and utter downright jealousy hes a "Hertz" fan.


Anyway lol Chelsea and Liverpool tonight. Will Chelsea delibately field a weaked side (which would beat most teams anyway) to weaken Barcas chances.

[Truplaya83]

You take things personally for a neytral, wow!

Im a Villa fan, so you wont get the smile off my face whatever happens from now on this season. The big change we've wanted for years has happened, and our messiah Martin O'Neil has arrived.

[Kalou]

Oooh yeah I forgot, I am a Hearts fan :D

And yeah Chelsea should put out a bad team to lose, aka Scott Sinclair and Ben Sahar up front, I wonder if the Liverpool will be a boring draw because PSV will defend deep and Liverpool can barely score.

[backin-strachan]

Matchday 6 and not too much happening.

Im guessing the most interesting tie is Man Utd Benfica or Arsenal Portos.

I think Arsenal might actually go out. Porto is a very hard place to go. With Henry out too they dont have a player they can look to to get them out of a tough game. Mon the hoops as well.

[Kalou]

Yeah Arsenal will struggle, Porto have a pretty good team and the good news for Arsenal is that Anderson is out, the kid is sublime.

Man UTD will win as it's home, and I bet Celtic lose because they suck away from home and Kopenhagen beat Man UTD at home.

How amazing were Barcelona in the first half and completely the opposite in the second, if they play like they did in the first half nobody can touch them, I think they can easily get to the final 4 though, Celtic will be out in the last 16 and so will Man UTD.

[backin-strachan]

Celtic will be out in the last 16 and so will Man UTD.

Well you are usually wrong so I am not too worried that you have backed the team against Celtic even though you dont know who they are.

[Kalou]

I don't know, correct, yet Celtic are that DIRE away from home it doesn't who they get, they suck and at home they are average and a team only has so much luck and Celtic have already used theirs by getting raped at home and scoring a FK.

It's amazing that a team full of CL quality can suck so much away from home and play average at best at home hahahaha, I hope you get a top team in the next round because you will get slaughtered.

You have let in NINE (9) goals away from home and scored THREE (3) and how you can STILL say Celtic are a side with CL quality is beyond a joke. Being good at home means all, wait, did I just say good, as in GOOD? what I meant to say was, being AVERAGE at home means all.

Seriously BS, get your nose out Strachans hole and admit, Celtic are pish.

[Kubrick]

Matchday 6 and not too much happening.

Im guessing the most interesting tie is Man Utd Benfica or Arsenal Portos.

I think Arsenal might actually go out. Porto is a very hard place to go. With Henry out too they dont have a player they can look to to get them out of a tough game. Mon the hoops as well.


Without Henry, we put away Manchester United; we outplayed them. Quit toeing the hack-journo line by voicing opinions such as 'Henry can only get us out of a tough-game' or 'one-man team'. Henry has been a hindrance to this Arsenal side for months, now. Henry didn't step up to the plate, at first, in the Bernabeu, or in Highbury against Juventus last year: Fabregas stepped up, along with Reyes, Flamini, Senderous, and Eboue.

[Truplaya83]

i think Aresenal rely on Henry too much when he does play, expecting him to do it all, so in that way he is a hindrance to the team. Still one of the best players in the world though, so how do you leave him out?

[Kubrick]

i think Aresenal rely on Henry too much when he does play, expecting him to do it all, so in that way he is a hindrance to the team. Still one of the best players in the world though, so how do you leave him out?
You play football in a team of eleven players. Football isn't as simplistic as putting your best eleven players out onto the pitch.

[backin-strachan]

But still we are in the last 16 of the Champions League. You know what, you say we are playing crap (I cant argue with our away record) but what if we did turn on the style, yeah I know.

Kalou, you will be able to see the draw for Celtic in the last 16 of the Champions League next Friday on Sky Sports, I trust you will be watching.

[Kalou]

There is no denying Celtic are a good team, but how often do they play good? most of the time I see them struggle even against teams like St Mirren, so when I say crap I mean crap as it stands, when they start playing good rather than just winning then they are good, if you know what I mean, and I still don't think they have as much CL quality as you make out but whatever.

And I will watch the draw as I watch them every year.

[backin-strachan]

Porto v CHELSEA
CELTIC v AC Milan
PSV Eindhoven v ARSENAL
Lille v MANCHESTER UNITED
Roma v Lyon
Barcelona v LIVERPOOL
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
Inter Milan v Valencia

Very VERY hard draw but I am not ruling anything out as form could change for anyone come Feburary.

Few great ties though.

[AfroJoe]

Right now, you should be happy with Milan. They're 15th in Serie A, and even without their point deduction they'd be 6th, which is really poor for them.

[Joe]

PSV :unsure: ...........

[Kubrick]

PSV :unsure: ...........
Who else did you want other than Lille?

[AK.]

roma vs lyon will be awesome match

glad manchester got lille couldnt have gone better tbh, i just hope fergie wiil take them as a serious team to play against

[Dcontrol]

Some good looking matches there. I'll be looking forward to the Barcelona Vs Liverpool match :). Real Madrid Vs Bayern Munich looks a good one too. Shame I got rid of bloody Sky now so I'd have to go to the pub to watch it :'( unless if it was on ITV.

[AK.]

liverpool and barca will be on itv i think, im sure they bought the rights to the biggest matches, i may be very wrong though

[Kalou]

Roma v Lyon
Barcelona v LIVERPOOL
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich

Should be 3 cracking games, I also think PSV vs Arsenal will be good to watch IF they both play football instead of defending, Roma vs Lyon is the best match though, it would've been Liverpool and Barcelona but for some reason I expect a boring match because Liverpool are not a good team to watch imo and Barcelona won't push too hard at Anfield and likewise with Liverpool at the Camp Nou, my predictions;

Porto v Chelsea
Celtic v AC Milan - OMFG again? :D
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
Lille v Man UTD
Roma v Lyon
Barcelona v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
Inter Milan v Valencia

[AfroJoe]

Roma-Lyon should be a great game. We'll have Sky in by then, so I'll definitely be choosing that from the multi-screen option. Lyon are just great, and Roma play unlike any other Italian team, so it should be very attacking.

[Kalou]

Just don't get Telewest, I have it and I don't get the multi-screen option on Sky Xtra, bloody ripoff it's the main reason I bought Sky!!!

[AfroJoe]

Haha, way ahead of you, dude. We did exactly the same thing, but with NTL, who were exactly the same as that. It annoyed the hell out of me.

This is proper Sky, though. Not just digital TV as well, but 16mb broadband and phoneline too. Getting all Sky'd up. :cool:

[Kalou]

Yeah I am getting robbed, I pay £60 every 2 weeks and the only extra channels I got are Sky Sports and Setanta :D

That £60 isn't even including the internet which is another £50 plus the extra box downstairs with the TV Drive so they seem to make a few bob giving the customers digital eh..

Best thing is, I get to see 1 English match a week and about 3 Spanish ones, taking the .

[AfroJoe]

Yeah, get yourself on proper Sky. Much cheaper than that, and you get a hell of a lot more from them.

£43.50 a month for the full package (half that for the first 3 months) - so that's Sports, Movies, EVERYTHING!

£10 a month on top of that for 16mb Broadband, and another £5 a month for the phoneline.

All in all, £58.50 a month for absolutely everything they have to offer.

[phatmuther]

WOW, £702 a year! f me.

[Kalou]

I had to pay double the first month or two amazingly, and to make matters worse the picture quality is pretty bad for digital and the box is slow to respond sometimes, and the internet that is apparently 10mbit and costs £50 is as slow as hell :D

I don't think you can change if you're in a contract, can you?

[AfroJoe]

WOW, £702 a year! f me.

(:/) Did you even see how much Kalou said he's paying?


And anyway, for value for money, it's well worth it. No, I ain't paying (:p), but guarenteed when I finally get myself a PROPER job and move out, I'd do that.


And no, Kalou, I don't think you can change. Our contract with BT was meant to be 18 months, but because they screwed us about so much they didn't bother that we've cancelled. You know when yours is meant to finish?

[phatmuther]

holy McPop, i didnt see it was every 2 weeks, thought it was monthly, £1440 is suuuuuuch a bargain compared to yours AJ, IMO

[WACCOE]

Man U are 7/1 to win it. :o

I'm thinking a cheeky tenner. Given they're as good as in the Quarters. Even though they lost to Lille last year, they're on top form atm and there's no way they're going to lose.

On the Sky topic. If you're going for it. Sky+ is the way to go. Couldn't live without it I don't think.

[Kalou]

No wait it is monthly because I pay it every second fortnight so I guess it ain't all that bad.

My contract, well I ain't got a clue but I have had it for about 3 months probably, my memory is poor so I can't say exactly.

I don't know why I can't get multi-choice though, I thought that was an option with Sky Xtra? I can't even get match choice on Sky Sports 1 :(

[AfroJoe]

Nah, unless you have Sky's very own service, you don't get any of the interactive features.

And Phat, whilst we're picking on prices. You could get 16mb BB and an excellent list of TV channels for that price a year, or you could blow it all on a stupid projector which means you get to play games on a viewing space 10 times bigger than is necessary. Hmmm.

[phatmuther]

ooooooooooooooh well me and my projector are very happy thankyou!

[AfroJoe]

As am I going to be when my 16mb connection and Sky Sports/Movies arrives.

[phatmuther]

Well, im happy, you're happy, we alllllllllll freaking happy.

:D

[Killer 57]

I'm not happy, I mean why I'm I not on your sig? I thought I was part of the crew? *sob*

[phatmuther]

I'm not happy, I mean why I'm I not on your sig? I thought I was part of the crew? *sob*

happy now?

[Killer 57]

But Big D, Blaze, Thornbag, Carocat, Tobez, BS, Rilu, MJ, Padds, and Steve are not part of the crew!

[phatmuther]

Gah! No-ones ever happy!

[Killer 57]

Well, actually, I'm the only who's not happy at the moment.

[phatmuther]

Oh, ok. Gah! You're never happy!
Why no happy?

(This is wellll off topic)

[Killer 57]

I'm sorry, phatmuther, I'll be just be on my way.

[AfroJoe]

So, the Champions League, eh?

Nice trophy. :cool:

[phatmuther]

Im not having a go, just mentioning it :D
Why so Glum?

[WACCOE]

Schoolyard Click etc etc.

8-)