2008-09 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 17

The 2008-09 UEFA Champions League finally kicks-off on September 17 (Manila time) with an 8-game opening day schedule, which shall be followed by another 8-game roadshow the next day. Defending Champions and reigning Barclay Premier League titlist Manchester United opens up its defense against Villareal of Spain on the second day.

Group draws had already been completed for the 32 top European clubs, vying for the most prestigious continental club championship. The 8 groups are as followed :

GROUP A
CFR
Chelsea
Bordeaux
Roma

GROUP B
Anorthosis
Panathinaikos
Internazionale
Bremen

GROUP C
Sporting
Basel
Shakhtar
Barcelona

GROUP D
Liverpool
PSV
Atletico

Marseille

GROUP E
AaB
Manchester United
Villareal
Celtic

GROUP F
Fiorentina
Steaua
Bayern
Lyon

GROUP G
Arsenal
Porto
Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kyiv

GROUP H
Bate
Juventus
Zenit
Real Madrid

Manchester United won last year's title at the expense of arch rivals Chelsea in an epic all-England finale in Moscow, which fergie's boys won on penalties. England will have 3 squads in the tournament, while other Euro powerhouses like Italy and Spain, will be bannered by 4 clubs each. Curiously, Germany will only have 2 teams entered in the said tourney.

*****

Chelsea, behind new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, is setting the early pace in the Barclay Premier League. So far, the blues are occupying the top spot together with Liverpool at 7 points apiece. Chelsea walloped Portsmouth, 4-0 in its season opener followed by a 1-0 victory over Wigan. The team gave up its first against goal of the season to Tottenham Hotspurs in a 1-all draw.

It seems everything is going on smoothly with the Stamford Bridge outfit and Scolari is making the Chelsea fans forget about erstwhile top honcho Jose Mourinho with his aggressive style of attacking football. Ace star Frank Lampard's contractual problems is likewise a thing of the past as he continue to dish outstanding play, game after game, together with UEFA defensive player of the year John Terry and old reliables Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole.

So to all red devil fanatics, watch out, Chelsea is out to slain the ghost of last season and reclaim the BPL crown from Manchester United!