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Welcoming new faces Smaller clubs surprise in Champions League
So much for those who argue that the Champions League is all about money and big clubs. Four major European powers fell at the first hurdle. Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv and Bayer Leverkusen all waved good-bye, beaten fair and square by less heralded teams. The group format affords plenty of surprises and it removes the impact of individual incidents which, in the knock-out system, can distort results. What is especially encouraging to the casual fan is that the four big-name victims all made way for new faces. Juventus' spot went to Panathinaikos, whose qualification underscores the development of Balkan soccer. Barcelona made way for Leeds, one of the youngest and, potentially, most exciting side in Europe. Instead of Dyanmo Kiev, we get Anderlecht, a club with a glorious past which is bouncing back after some difficult times. As for Spartak Moscow, its progress proves that despite a severe lack of funds and an unfavorable calendar, teams from Eastern Europe can indeed make their mark in the Champions League.
In addition, little Sturm Graz overcame big spenders Glasgow Rangers and Monaco. All this sets up an interesting second phase. Here's a brief rundown, group by group. Group A: Valencia sailed through the first round, proving that last season's Champions League success was anything but a fluke, despite losing Claudio Lopez, Gerard and Francisco Farinos over the summer. Major Kudos must go to Argentine coach Hector Cuper, one of the finest tactical minds on the continent, whose team hasn't missed a beat despite the loss of three key players. Valencia and Manchester United are heavily favored here, though if anyone slips up, it could well be Sir Alex Ferguson 's team. United will be without Jaap Stam and Andy Cole until January. Stam's absence is especially worrying, as there is no natural replacement in terms of strength and size on United's bench. Sturm Graz may not win any awards for style, but it is a plucky team which is almost impossible to beat on its home ground, the appropriately named Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium. Panathinaikos is also intimidating on its home turf and it boasts one of the most underrated strikers in Europe in Nikos Liberopoulos. Group B: AC Milan is a star-crossed club which still has many unresolved questions, namely at the back, where Billy Costacurta and Jose Chamot aren't getting any younger and on the right side of midfield, where there is a distinct lack of width. Striker Oliver Bierhoff is also showing his age. Still, Andriy Shevchenko can win matches single-handedly and there is enough experience and cohesion in the side to make it through. The other three clubs are fairly evenly matched, at least on paper. Diego Tristan has been on fire for Deportivo La Coruna and the Spanish champions are brimming with confidence. Paris St. Germain hasn't been firing on all cylinders, but Laurent Robert has picked up Nicolas Anelka's slack and PSG will only get stronger as the tournament progresses. As for Galatasaray, much, as ever, will hinge on Gheorghe Hagi and Mario Jardel. Despite their immense talents, both tend to drift in and out of games, when they don't have the ball they contribute very little, which means Galatasaray's other nine starters need to be among the hardest working in Europe. Look for Milan and Deportivo to progress in a very tight group. Group C: Bayern Munich has looked less dominant than in recent seasons, but it is still a notch above the rest in this group. Solid at the back, long on experience, and with the right smattering of flair in Mehmet Scholl, Giovane Elber and Paulo Sergio, there are few chinks in its armor. Problems may arise down the road, but, for now, a spot in the quarterfinals looks like a sure thing. Arsenal topped its group in the first round, after several years of Champions League disappointment. Thierry Henry guarantees plenty of scoring punch, while Patrick Vieira is ready to stake his claim as the best defensive midfielder in Europe. The question marks are at the back, where the central pairing of Martin Keown and Tony Adams are increasingly prone to injuries (both are 34) and where goalkeeper David Seaman has lost a step. Lyon has had its share of problems this season, but if things go south in Le Championnat at least it will be able to concentrate on the Champions League. There is no shortage of talent, just a question of cohesion. Spartak is the kind of team that punishes opponent's mistakes, especially on its own turf. This group could be closer than people think, though Arsenal should shade the second spot by a nose. Group D: This is the tightest group. On paper, Real Madrid and Lazio are way ahead, but that is deceptive. Real has been winning on sheer talent and some tactical wizardry from Vicente Del Bosque, but there are still issues to be resolved, especially in central midfield, where Flavio Conceicao and Claude Makhelele still haven't filled the void left by Fernando Redondo 's departure. Center forward Fernando Morientes is back, but this club is still lightweight up front. Having said that, when you've got Raul and Luis Figo playing on the same side, you can beat anyone. Lazio's performance will be influenced by how well it deals with the Sven Goran Eriksson situation. Knowing that your manager's mind is, at least partly, on another job (he is slated to take over England in July) can be problematic. Losing Claudio Lopez is also a big blow, though the combination of Marcelo Salas and Simone Inzaghi is a more than adequate replacement. Leeds is short on experience but long on talent and enthusiasm. And remember, wonderkid Harry Kewell will soon be back from injury giving manager David O'Leary even more options. Much will depend on whether O'Leary can integrate Kewell with strikers Mark Viduka and Alan Smith. As for Anderlecht, its run may well end here, but this is an underrated bunch, with a fearsome strike force in Jan Koller and Tomas Radzinski. Lazio and Real should make it through, but this one will be close, very close. Based in London, Gabriele Marcotti writes a weekly column on international soccer for CNNSI.com.
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