Champions League - first group stage draw

The draw took place this afternoon for the first league stage of the competition with teams divided into eight groups of four, of which the top two go into the second group stage and the third placed team qualifies for the UEFA cup.

Deportivo La Coruña had the hardest draw of the four Spanish teams, paired together in group G with two former champions Bayern Munich and AC Milan as well as French side Lens. Real Madrid will meet Fabio Capello's Roma again just weeks after playing them in a friendly game in New York. However the other two teams in group C, AEK Athens and Belgian side Genk, should be no problem.

League champions Valencia are also favourites to go through in group B together with Liverpool after being drawn with Spartak Moscow and Basel, and Barcelona have perhaps the easiest task of all, with group H matches against Galatasaray, Lokomotiv Moscow and Club Brugge. (29.08.02)