Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona will be among four La Liga hopefuls counting on their big-money summer transfers to put them back at the heart of Europe after last season's Champions League flop. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla line out in the Group stages of the elite European competition on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
No Spanish club made it to the final four last season with nine-time winners Real Madrid, Valencia and defending champions Barcelona all crashing out. Sevilla had more European success when they won the UEFA Cup for a second straight year. Spanish champions Real and runners-up Barcelona spent more than 100 million euros between them on summer transfers and Valencia were not far behind.
And they will be counting on their investments to pay off. After crashing out last season to Bayern Munich, Real Madrid are riding high in La Liga and open their European Group C campaign at home against another German side Werder Bremen at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday.
The match will be Real's 300th in Europe, and they are favourites against Bremen who have been struggling in the Bundesliga, losing 3-0 at Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.
By contrast Bernd Schuster's side warmed up with a 3-1 home win against Almeria on Saturday which kept their unbeaten league record. Dutch international striker Ruud van Nistelrooy should be fit for the tie, but compatriot Arjen Robben is still waiting anxiously to make his debut. "We have a squad capable of being competitive in every competition," said Schuster.
Brazilian striker Julio Baptista added: "It's important for us to start with victories to show everyone that we are in excellent shape. The team is playing at a very high level.
"The Champions League is a very important competition and in order to do well in it we will have to take points at home. "Werder Bremen don't seem to be the strong side they normally are. "They (Bremen) have lost their most recent games, but they have individual and collective talent. That sometimes decides the outcome of a Champions League fixture.
Liverpool open their bid to reach a third final in four years at FC Porto in Group A tie on Tuesday, as Turkish side Besiktas travel to struggling French outfit Marseille.
Manchester United will be looking for their 100th victory in the competition as they travel to Sporting Lisbon in Group F on Wednesday with two of the Portuguese clubs former players Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.