Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Big names add weight to Champions League
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-08 08:32

LONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The Champions League begins to look a little more like Europe's premier club competition this week when several big name clubs join the fray at the third qualifying round stage.

Champions Liverpool, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Ajax Amsterdam - with 13 European Cups between them - along with AS Monaco, Panathinaikos and Sporting add some heavyweight class to the competition, with the first legs being played on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Liverpool have been there from the start and need to get past Bulgarian champions CSKA Sofia to reach the group stage having taken advantage so far of UEFA's decision to install them in the competition despite not qualifying by finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

CSKA knocked Liverpool out in 1982 when the English club were the holders but are unlikely to repeat the feat.

Liverpool were edged out of fourth place by city rivals Everton, who consequently return to the European Cup for the first time since 1971 having been denied twice in the 1980s because of the ban on English clubs following the Heysel Stadium disaster.

Everton take on Villarreal, third in the Spanish league last season and also in the Champions League for the first time, in one of the most attractive ties of the round, with the first leg at Goodison Park.

Villarreal will be spearheaded by Uruguay striker Diego Forlan, who struggled to make an impact while at Manchester United but finished as the top scorer in Spain last season with 25 goals.
Page: 123



LeBron James Basketball Park
Real's preseason training camp
China draw nil with Japan in women's soccer
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Coal mine flooding traps 102 in Guangdong

 

   
 

Crew safe after mini-submarine surfaces

 

   
 

Matsa kills seven, causes billions in losses

 

   
 

North Korea talks suspended for three weeks

 

   
 

Officials sacked for deception on pig diseases

 

   
 

FM: G4 plan not to get wide support

 

   
  China wins East Asian soccer championship
   
  Qian crowned at modern pentathlon worlds
   
  Stoudamire signs with Grizzlies
   
  Peng defeats Clijsters to reach semis
   
  Japan, S. Korea draw in women's East Asian clash
   
  Real plan theme parks in Miami and Beijing
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Liverpool cruise, historic win for Anorthosis
   
AC Milan unashamed by Liverpool loss
   
Chelsea, Liverpool play to 0-0 draw
   
Hosts for Champions League finals set
   
Liverpool, Eindhoven advance at Champions League
   
AC Milan keeper injured by thrown flare
   
'Don't kick Chelsea out', pleads Rijkaard
Advertisement