Champions League beckons for Europe's big guns

25/08/2008 21:50

By Trevor Huggins

LONDON (Reuters) - Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal should all stroll into the Champions League group stage this week but there could be a nasty surprise in store for Liverpool.

Barcelona, European champions in 2006 with their victory over Arsenal in the Paris final, were 4-0 winners over Wisla Krakow two weeks ago in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.

Juventus beat Artmedia Bratislava by the same scoreline in Turin and neither of the former European champions are likely to squander those leads in their away legs on Tuesday.

Arsenal got the better of Dutch side Twente Enschede, managed by former England coach Steve McClaren, in a 2-0 away victory that should just need polishing off at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Arsenal, beaten 1-0 at Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, are hoping their influential Spanish playmaker Cesc Fabregas returns from injury for the game.

Liverpool, who won Europe’s most coveted trophy for the fifth time in 2005, were not so fortunate in a 0-0 draw at Standard Liege.

Though European nights at Anfield have a spine-tingling atmosphere of their own and Liverpool will walk out as clear favourites on Wednesday, Rafa Benitez’s players will need no reminding of the threat posed by the away goals rule.

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group stage of 32 teams is there for the taking and Liverpool’s new striker Robbie Keane is well aware of the stakes.

"We know how important it is to make sure we get into the group stages," he told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.tv).

"I’m looking forward to being able to play here on a European night and hopefully we will progress and there will be more of those nights to come."

The Stade Velodrome should be buzzing too on Wednesday, when former winners Olympique Marseille also need to finish the job after a Benoit Cheyrou back-heel gave the Ligue 1 club a 1-0 win at Brann Bergen.

It will be a gripping night for Anorthosis Famagusta as they try to become the first Cypriot club to qualify for the group stage after their shock 3-0 home win over Greek favourites Olympiakos Piraeus.

Though the margin of victory in Larnaca was a convincing one, Olympiakos will look to make home advantage count in Athens on Wednesday and still have the stronger side on paper.

Atletico Madrid are facing an exit after a 1-0 defeat at Schalke 04, while Turkey’s Fenerbahce and Galatasaray need better starts after both had to come from behind to draw 2-2 with Partizan Belgrade and Steaua Bucharest respectively.

(Editing by Rex Gowar)

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