Moscow, August 28: English clubs were handed the best of the Champions League draw last night when they managed to avoid all of the big guns from Spain and Italy.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid will have to face Milan and defending champions Barcelona play Jose Mourinho’s Internazionale while the Premier League clubs have escaped with ties against Europe’s lesser lights.
Sir Alex Ferguson said that Manchester United’s draw was “far from easy” and of the four English sides they have arguably the hardest draw having been drawn against Wolfsburg, the German champions from the final pot. The fourth pot usually offers up no-hopers from the minor leagues of European club football but included the Bundesliga winners this year because they have no previous history in the competition.
As well as Wolfsburg, United will play the Russian champions CSKA Moscow and Turkey’s Besiktas. The trips to Moscow and Istanbul are among the furthest in the group. The dream draw from Uefa’s point of view would have been Ferguson’s side against Ronaldo (right) and Madrid, who were seeded in the second pot. Instead it will be the Brazilian Kaka of Real’s new signings who faces his former team Milan for his new club.
–Agencies