The Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster is already looking beyond the Champions League group stage in his mission to raise the nine-time champions back to the summit of European football. Six coaches have failed before him and in the past four seasons the Spaniards haven't even progressed beyond the last 16. Madrid's journey to May's final in Rome begins against BATE Borisov, the Belarusians making their Champions League debut.
"If we have just a little more luck we can get past the first knockout round without any problems," Schuster said. Bayern Munich return to the Champions League against Steaua Bucharest in Group F without Franck Ribery. The France midfielder is back in training after ankle surgery following the European Championship, but is not ready for a full match. Despite Ribery's absence, Bayern are eager to get back on the main stage after playing last season in the Uefa Cup, "which none of us liked", according to the chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"Thank God, the Uefa Cup is over," the midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger added. * AP
