Galaxy of stars gather in Monaco
Thursday, 24 August 2006
For the eleven teams who last night sealed their spot in today's UEFA Champions League group stage draw, there will have been frantic preparations to ensure delegates arrive in Monaco for the start of proceedings at the Grimaldi Forum at 18.00CET.
Chic venue
It is the ninth successive year that the traditional curtain-raiser to the European club season has been held in the principality, and the first time PFC Levski Sofia and FC København have been involved. The dark morning clouds, and the 25km drive from Nice airport which takes in the winding streets of the most chic of Grand Prix venues, will have done nothing to dampen spirits as the champions of Bulgaria and Denmark await their fate.
Madrid on top
København's elimination of AFC Ajax leaves four of the five most successful sides in European Champion Clubs' Cup history in contention. Real Madrid CF on nine victories lead the way from AC Milan on six. Liverpool FC moved into third place on five triumphs in 2005, a tally FC Bayern München aspire to this season. Holders FC Barcelona - who contest the UEFA Super Cup against UEFA Cup winners Sevilla FC tomorrow - are the top seeds.
Wait over
Seventeen of the 32 teams that featured in the draw 12 months ago are present again, while there are notable returns for Valencia CF, twice runners-up this century, and after a ten-year absence, the 1986 European champions FC Steaua Bucuresti. The 1983 winners Hamburger SV are also back following a six-year hiatus along with FC Girondins de Bordeaux who last qualified in 1999/00. For the first time, the former Soviet Union is represented by four clubs.
Award winners
The draw will be conducted by Friedrich Stickler, chairman of UEFA's Club Competitions Committee, and Michele Centenaro, the senior product manager, in tandem with the winners of the UEFA Club Football Awards which kick off proceedings in the Salle des Princes, an auditorium whose 1,900 seats will again be filled by some of European football's most prestigious names. Raymond Kopa, a three-time European Cup winner with Madrid, is one such dignitary.
Exhibition
An accreditation list of around 40 broadcasters and 250 written journalists gives an indication of the interest surrounding a competition in its 52nd year - many of the magic moments from which are being replayed on five giant screens in the UEFA Champions Gallery in the Grimaldi Forum. The highlight of the exhibition features framed programmes from each of the finals, with the exception being 1957, the only showpiece for which one was not produced. A starring role in the 2007 edition is now the goal for 32 teams. Athens awaits.
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), Steaua, Levski. Milan and Steaua go tru.
... Sad that pieces of shit actually lifted the CL cup 
