fc barcelona v pfc levski sofiain which the catalan club eventually emerged as 8-5 victors. barça...

Seventeen weeks after lifting the European Champion Clubs' Cup for the second time, FC Barcelona begin their titledefence with a home game against the first Bulgarian side to qualify for the group stage. It is just about the mostdifficult first hurdle that the draw could have thrown up for PFC Levski Sofia and their confidence will not be helpedby the fact that the reigning champions traditionally make a flying start on Europe's biggest club stage.

• Barcelona have won their opening group game in each of their last five campaigns, scoring 12 goals in the process.That impressive goalscoring record on Matchday 1 is mirrored by the Spanish side's home record against visitorsfrom Bulgaria in European competition; in four home ties they have come out on top each time and totalled 18 goals.

High-scoring affair• Their only previous meeting with Levski came in the quarter-finals of the 1975/76 UEFA Cup, a high-scoring affairin which the Catalan club eventually emerged as 8-5 victors. Barça won the home game 4-0 before going down 5-4in the Bulgarian capital despite two goals from Johan Neeskens - now the assistant coach at Camp Nou.

• Barcelona have always emerged victorious in the two-legged ties against Bulgarian opposition, including the 1959/60preliminary round in the European Champion Clubs' Cup - the only previous time they have faced opposition fromthat country in this competition.

• Barcelona defeated PFC CSKA Sofia 8-4 on aggregate on that occasion and when the teams met again nearly 30years later it was the semi-final stage of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Barcelona again triumphed, this time 6-3.

Spanish setbacks• Levski, who qualified with a 4-2 aggregate victory against AC Chievo Verona, have encountered Spanish oppositionin five two-legged ties and are yet to emerge victorious. In their last three double-headers they have lost each individualmatch, scoring just one goal in the process and conceding 13.

• The Bulgarian champions hold an identical record from their five previous visits to Spain, scoring once and conceding13. They have overcome Spanish opponents twice in five attempts at home - the 1975/76 UEFA Cup quarter-finalagainst Barcelona and the meeting with Club Atlético de Madrid in the last eight of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup thefollowing season - but lost their last three meetings in the Georgi Asparuhov stadium.

• The opening fixture in Group A, which also includes Chelsea FC and Werder Bremen, will stir memories for arguablyBulgaria's greatest-ever player and current national team coach, Hristo Stoitchkov.

• After starting his career with Levski's great rivals CSKA Sofia, Stoitchkov enjoyed two spells at the Camp Nou from1990-1995 and again from 1996-1998, winning the European Cup in 1991/92.

Last Updated 11.9.2006 18:50:46CET uefa.com1

FC Barcelona v PFC Levski SofiaMATCH PRESS KITCamp Nou, BarcelonaTuesday, 12 September 2006 - 20:45CETGroup A - Matchday 1

Team facts

Barcelona

UEFA club competition milestones• In total, Barcelona have appeared in five European Champion Clubs' Cup finals, winning the 1991/92 competitionagainst UC Sampdoria thanks to a 112th-minute Ronald Koeman free-kick before their triumph in the 2005/06 campaign,with a 2-1 final victory against Arsenal FC thanks to Juliano Belletti and Samuel Eto'o. Previously, the Catalan clublost on penalties to FC Steaua Bucuresti in the 1985/86 season, 3-2 to SL Benfica in 1960/61 and 4-0 to AC Milan inthe 1993/94 campaign.

• Since their defeat by AC Milan in the 1993/94 final, Barça's best performance prior to last season had been twodefeats at the semi-final stage, namely during the 1999/00 and 2001/02 seasons, where they lost on both occasionsto Spanish opponents. The first came against Valencia CF who defeated Barça 5-3 on aggregate, while the secondwas against Real Madrid CF who won 2-0 in Barcelona before drawing 1-1 at home to advance to the final.

UEFA club competition honours• European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1991/92, 2005/06• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1978/79, 1981/82, 1988/89, 1996/97• UEFA Super Cup: 1992, 1997

Ten-year record (including current season)• Barcelona are competing in their ninth UEFA Champions League campaign in the past ten seasons.

1997/98: UEFA Champions League - group stage1998/99: UEFA Champions League - group stage1999/00: UEFA Champions League - semi-finals2000/01: UEFA Cup -semi-finals (having transferred from the UEFA Champions League, group stage)2001/02: UEFA Champions League - semi-finals2002/03: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals2003/04: UEFA Cup - fourth round2004/05: UEFA Champions League - first knockout round2005/06: UEFA Champions League - winners2006/07: UEFA Champions League - group stage

2005/06 seasonDomestic record: Barça retained the Spanish Primera División by 12 points from Real Madrid CF. Valencia CF andCA Osasuna followed in third and fourth place, 13 and 14 points behind the champions respectively. It meant automaticqualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage.

European record: Top scorers in the group stage with 16 goals from six outings, Barça finished nine points clear ofWerder Bremen and Udinese Calcio. For the second year in succession, Barça were paired with Chelsea FC in thefirst knockout round, but on this occasion, the Catalan side emerged as victors. They then beat SL Benfica 2-0 andAC Milan 1-0 on aggregate respectively to reach the final at the Stade de France on 17 May, where they defeatedArsenal 2-1.

Key facts• To date, Barça have played 101 matches in the UEFA Champions League. In that time, they have won 55, drawn25 and lost 21 with 192 goals scored and 115 conceded.

• Eto'o's winner against Chelsea on Matchday 7 last season was Barcelona's 300th goal in the European ChampionClubs' Cup. To date, they have played 161 matches with 91 wins, 36 draws and 34 losses with 306 goals scored and171 conceded.


FC Barcelona v PFC Levski SofiaMATCH PRESS KIT

• Of the 32 teams competing in this season's UEFA Champions League, they are second only to Real Madrid CF interms of total matches played in UEFA club competition with 336 games in which they have won 184, drawn 75 andlost 77 with 643 goals scored and 348 goals conceded.

RecordsUEFA club competition• Biggest win8-0: FC Barcelona v ŠKM Púchov15.10.2003, 2003/04 UEFA Cup first round, second leg8-0: FC Barcelona v Apollon Limassol FC15.09.1982, 1982/83 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round, first leg

• Biggest home win8-0: FC Barcelona v ŠKM Púchov (see above for details)8-0: FC Barcelona v Apollon Limassol FC (see above for details)

• Biggest away win0-7: Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC v FC Barcelona12.09.1995, 1995/96 UEFA Cup first round, first leg

• Heaviest defeat0-4: FC Barcelona v FC Dynamo Kyiv05.11.1997, 1997/98 UEFA Champions League group stage4-0: AC Milan v FC Barcelona18.05.1994, 1993/94 European Champion Clubs' Cup final0-4: FC Barcelona v 1. FC Köln05.11.1980, 1980/81 UEFA Cup second round, second leg

• Heaviest home defeat0-4: FC Barcelona v FC Dynamo Kyiv (see above for details)0-4: FC Barcelona v 1. FC Köln (see above for details)



• Heaviest away defeat0-3: FC Barcelona v Sevilla FC25.08.2006, 2006 UEFA Super Cup (played at a neutral venue, included here for information purposes)3-0: AS Roma v FC Barcelona26.02.2002, 2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage3-0: Beşiktaş JK v FC Barcelona19.09.2000, 2000/01 UEFA Champions League group stage4-1: Valencia CF v FC Barcelona02.05.2000, 1999/00 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, first leg3-0: FC Dynamo Kyiv v FC Barcelona22.10.1997, 1997/98 UEFA Champions League group stage3-0: Manchester United FC v FC Barcelona21.03.1984, 1983/84 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, quarter-finals, second leg3-0: Aston Villa FC v FC Barcelona26.01.1983, 1982 UEFA Super Cup final, second leg3-0: RSC Anderlecht v FC Barcelona18.10.1978, 1978/79 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round, first leg3-0: PSV Eindhoven v FC Barcelona29.03.1978, 1977/78 UEFA Cup semi-finals, first leg3-0: Ipswich Town FC v FC Barcelona23.11.1977, 1977/78 UEFA Cup third round, first leg3-0: OGC Nice v FC Barcelona19.09.1973, 1973/74 UEFA Cup first round, first leg

UEFA Champions League (group stage to final only)• Biggest win5-0: FC Barcelona v Panathinaikos FC02.11.2005, 2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage5-0: FC Barcelona v Beşiktaş JK08.11.2000, 2000/01 UEFA Champions League first group stage5-0: FC Barcelona v AC Sparta Praha08.12.1999, 1999/00 UEFA Champions League second group stage5-0: FC Barcelona v AIK Solna27.10.1999, 1999/00 UEFA Champions League first group stage

• Biggest home win5-0: FC Barcelona v Panathinaikos FC (see above for details)5-0: FC Barcelona v Beşiktaş JK (see above for details)5-0: FC Barcelona v AC Sparta Praha (see above for details)5-0: FC Barcelona v AIK Solna (see above for details)

• Biggest away win0-3: Fenerbahçe SK v FC Barcelona18.09.2001, 2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage

• Heaviest defeat0-4: FC Barcelona v FC Dynamo Kyiv (see above for details)4-0: AC Milan v FC Barcelona (see above for details)

• Heaviest home defeat0-4: FC Barcelona v FC Dynamo Kyiv (see above for details)



• Heaviest away defeat3-0: AS Roma v FC Barcelona (see above for details)3-0: Beşiktaş JK v FC Barcelona (see above for details)4-1: Valencia CF v FC Barcelona (see above for details)3-0: FC Dynamo Kyiv v FC Barcelona (see above for details)

Last updated: 27 August 2006

Levski

UEFA club competition milestones• Levski's third qualifying round defeat of AC Chievo Verona meant they became the first Bulgarian club to reach thegroup stage of the UEFA Champions League. Their previous best showings in the European Champion Clubs' Cupsaw them reach the second round on three occasions, most recently in 1993/94 when they were beaten 3-2 onaggregate by Werder Bremen.

• Levski have competed in the quarter-finals of a UEFA club competition five times, including last season's 4-2aggregate UEFA Cup loss to FC Schalke 04. That run ended a 19-year wait to reach the latter stages, having beenbeaten 4-0 (under their previous guise as FK Vitosha) over two legs by Real Zaragoza in the 1986/87 Cup Winners'Cup.

UEFA club competition honours• No participations recorded in a UEFA club competition final.

Ten-year record (including current season)• Levski made three previous unsuccessful attempts to make the group stage of the UEFA Champions League priorto this campaign, their two most recent attempts coming in the 2001/02 and 2002/03 seasons as they exited at thethird qualifying round stage.

1997/98: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup - qualifying round1998/99: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup - first round1999/00: UEFA Cup - second round2000/01: European Champion Clubs' Cup - second qualifying round2001/02: UEFA Cup - first round (having transferred from the European Champion Clubs' Cup third qualifying round)2002/03: UEFA Cup - second round (having transferred from the European Champion Clubs' Cup, third qualifyinground)2003/04: UEFA Cup - third round2004/05: UEFA Cup - first round2005/06: UEFA Cup - quarter-finals2006/07: UEFA Champions League - group stage

2005/06 seasonDomestic record: After trailing PFC CSKA Sofia by seven points during the winter break, Levski recovered to winnine league games on the trot and claim their 24th Bulgarian Premier League title with two games to spare after a2-1 victory at PFC Botev Plovdiv. Stanimir Stoilov's team only reached the third round of the Bulgarian Cup, wherethey were beaten 3-2 after extra time by PFC Cherno More Varna and suffered further disappointment in the SuperCup on 30 July as they fell 3-0 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes to CSKA.

European record: A tremendous away-goals victory against AJ Auxerre of France in the first round proved a sign ofthings to come as Levski enjoyed a fine UEFA Cup campaign to become the first Bulgarian team to play 14 Europeangames in one season. The Sofia club then beat FC Dinamo 1948 Bucuresti and Olympique de Marseille in the groupstage to advance in second place behind the French team in Group F. FC Artmedia and Udinese Calcio, both previousUEFA Champions League challengers, were subsequently dispatched before Schalke triumphed 4-2 in the last eight.



Key facts• To date, Levski have played 42 matches in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, winning 12, drawing 12 and losing18. In that time, they have scored 60 goals and conceded 57. Matchday 1 will see Levski make their debut in theUEFA Champions League proper.

• Overall, Levski have played 152 matches in UEFA club competition with 54 wins, 34 draws and 64 losses. In thosematches, they scored 233 times while conceding 213 goals.

RecordsUEFA club competition• Biggest win12-2: FK Levski-Spartak Sofia v Lahden Reipas16.09.1976, 1976/77 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, first round, first leg

• Biggest home win12-2: FK Levski-Spartak Sofia v Lahden Reipas (see above for details)

• Biggest away win1-7: Lahden Reipas v FK Levski-Spartak Sofia29.09.1976, 1976/77 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, first round, second leg

• Heaviest defeat5-0: AZ 67 Alkmaar v FK Levski-Spartak Sofia04.11.1980, 1980/81 UEFA Cup, second round, second leg

• Heaviest home defeat0-3: FK Levski-Spartak Sofia v Sevilla FC28.09.1982, 1982/83 UEFA Cup, first round, second leg0-3: FK Levski-Spartak Sofia v Újpesti Dózsa SC18.09.1974, 1974/75 European Champion Clubs' Cup, first round, first leg

• Heaviest away defeat5-0: AZ 67 Alkmaar v FK Levski-Spartak Sofia (see above for details)

UEFA Champions League (group stage to final only)• Biggest win (home or away)No results to date in the competition

• Heaviest defeat (home or away)No results to date in the competition

Last updated: 27 August 2006



Match facts

Group A

• Aside from Barcelona and Levski, Chelsea FC and Werder Bremen meet in London on Matchday 1. Levski andBarcelona are scheduled to do battle again in Bulgaria on Matchday 5 (22 November), when Bremen will play hostto Chelsea. On Matchday 2 (27 September), Chelsea travel to Levski while Bremen receive Barcelona, with thosegames being reversed on Matchday 6 (5 December). Chelsea take on Barcelona on Matchdays 3 (18 October) and4 (31 October) in England and Spain respectively, the same nights as Bremen meet Levski at home and then away.

Barcelona

• Lilian Thuram is by far the most experienced player in the squad, having played 103 times in UEFA club competition.In terms of the UEFA Champions League, he has played 57 times, the same mark as Carles Puyol andXavi Hernández.

• Giovanni van Bronckhorst needs two more games to make it a half-century of appearances in the UEFA ChampionsLeague. Gianluca Zambrotta is five matches away from his 50th in European football's premier club competition.

• No player in the squad has scored more goals in the UEFA Champions League than Javier Saviola. He averagesa goal every two appearances with 15 from 30 matches.

• Eidur Gudjohnsen celebrates his 28th birthday on Friday.

• Samuel Eto'o scored twice and set up another goal as Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners on Saturday against CAOsasuna in their first league match this season at Camp Nou. The Cameroon striker opened his account in the firstminute, before laying on the second for Lionel Messi after 26 minutes. The match swayed even further in Barça'sfavour when Eto'o struck again eight minutes before the break.

• Frank Rijkaard explained his decision to rest Puyol against Osasuna, stating: "He played for the national team inmidweek and this game came too soon. We must now prepare for the next game and that is why it is important forall the players to have playing time. We have enough players to do this." He then reflected on the team's secondleague win of the season. "It is a sign of our growing maturity," he said. "We were solid throughout, although at timesthe team seemed too spread out as they did not move out of defence quick enough. We played well and did not givethe other team any hope."

• Thuram made his full debut for Barça against Osasuna as he started in place of Puyol. He had played the secondhalf of the Spanish Super Cup final against RCD Espanyol in August. Ronaldinho returned to action after missingthe opening game of the season against RC Celta de Vigo. Also left out of the squad was Juliano Belletti, who wasalso missing against Celta, Van Bronckhorst, Santiago Ezquerro and Javier Saviola.

• Barcelona and Unicef signed a global partnership agreement last Thursday at the United Nations headquarters inNew York. The five-year deal, signed by re-elected president Joan Laporta, will see the Catalan club donate at least€1.5m a year to the Millennium Development Goals campaign and Aids projects. From the visit of Levski, Barça shirtswill carry the Unicef logo on their team shirts, breaking a 107-year tradition.

• Barcelona have been busy in the transfer market this summer with three new signings. The first to arrive wasGudjohnsen, who signed from Chelsea FC for €12m. Zambrotta and Thuram both followed from Juventus for €14mand €5m respectively. Zambrotta has signed a four-year contract, while Thuram has agreed a two-year deal.

• Another signing was that of assistant coach Johan Neeskens who has replaced Henk Ten Cate. The 54-year-oldsigned a three-year contract and is reunited with Frank Rijkaard after they worked together with the Dutch nationalteam.



• Apart from the three new additions, Barcelona have Argentinian forward Saviola back after his one-year loan atSevilla.

• Seven players have left the Barça ranks during the summer. Sergio Rodríguez 'Rodri' joined RC Deportivo La Coruñaon a four-year deal, while Óscar López made a permanent move to Real Betis Balompié. Ludovic Sylvestre joinedAC Sparta Praha, Mario Álvarez signed for RC Recreativo de Huelva, Maxi López joined RCD Mallorca, HenrikLarsson left for Helsingborgs IF and Gabri García went to AFC Ajax.

• This summer, Oleguer Presas, Rafael Márquez and Ludovic Giuly renewed their contracts with Barcelona. Thefirst two will stay until 2010, while the latter has a deal until 2008.

• Barça had ten players away with their national teams for the recent international games. Puyol, Andrés Iniesta andXavi were called up by Spain, although only Puyol started in the 4-0 defeat of Liechtenstein on 2 September, withIniesta coming on as a second-half substitute. Xavi joined Puyol in the starting lineup against Northern Ireland fourdays later, but neither could stop Spain losing 3-2 in Belfast.

• Also on 6 September, Deco started in Portugal's 1-1 draw in Finland but was substituted in the closing stages.

• Thuram and Zambrotta faced off as France beat Italy 3-1 on the same night, while Zambrotta was an unusedsubstitute in the Azzurri's 1-1 home draw with Lithuania four days before.

• Gudjohnsen equalled Iceland's all-time scoring record of 17 goals when he found the net in the 3-0 win againstNorthern Ireland on 2 September. He was less fortunate in the 2-0 defeat by Denmark four days later. Van Bronckhorstplayed in the Netherlands 3-0 defeat of Belarus, having missed the 1-0 win in Liechtenstein.

• Eto'o helped Cameroon to a 3-0 victory against Rwanda on 3 September and, on the same day, Messi played forArgentina as they lost by the same margin in a friendly match against Brazil in London.

• The club have already played in three cup finals this season. The Blaugrana, as reigning league champions, playedCopa del Rey winners Espanyol in the two-legged Spanish Super Cup last month and defeated them in both gamesto win the trophy for a seventh time. A week later on 25 August Rijkaard's team were beaten 3-0 by UEFA Cup holdersSevilla FC in the UEFA Super Cup played in Monaco.

• While several first-team players were away on international duty, Barça played Espanyol again in the Copa Catalunyafinal and were defeated 1-0 in Girona. They started the league campaign on 28 August with a 3-2 victory away atCelta as Eto'o and Messi both scored before Gudjohnsen struck a late winner.

• In their last friendly of the summer, Barça beat FC Bayern München 4-0 in the Trofeo Joan Gamper game at theCamp Nou.

Levski

• Ten players have featured in all four qualifying round matches prior to the group stage, namely: Georgi Petkov,Elin Topuzakov, Stanislav Angelov, Lucio Wagner, Richard Eromoigbe, Daniel Borimov, Dimitar Telkiyski,Cédric Bardon, Valeri Domuvchiyski and Emil Angelov.

• Only Igor Tomašić has played in the UEFA Champions League before, with KRC Genk in the 2002/03 campaign.

• Topuzakov is the most experienced player in the squad, having played 52 times in UEFA club competition. Borimovcould reach his half-century if he played all six group-stage games. Telkiyski needs just five matches to reach thesame mark.



• Georgi Ivanov has the best scoring record in European football within the squad. He has struck 15 goals in 29UEFA matches, the only player to reach double figures.

• Levski will be without Lucio Wagner for the match against Barcelona after his dismissal during the second leg ofthe third qualifying round against AC Chievo Verona.

• Levski recorded their biggest away victory in their history on Saturday with an 8-0 defeat of PFC Marek Dupnitza,who had begun the day in fourth place. The result also equalled their biggest win, having also beaten PFC LokomotivSofia 8-0 on 20 November 1994. The match was played behind closed doors as Marek had been punished for fandisorder in the previous round.

• Ivanov, who has just returned to the club, and Angelov both scored hat-tricks against Marek, while Milan Koprivarovand Eromoigbe were also on target. Despite the victory, Levski are still third in the table behind PFC CSKA Sofiaand Lokomotiv who have each got a perfect record from their first five fixtures. Levski dropped their only points witha 0-0 draw at PFC Vihren Sandanski on 19 August.

• Stoilov said: "Obviously, Marek are having a lot of off field problems and that's why the number of the clubs in theleague should be reduced. With such games it is very hard for those players who have not played because of theinternational break to find their best rhythm. With the exception of the Super Cup final against CSKA Sofia and thequalifying games of the UEFA Champions League, we have not played a real competitive game against a strong sideand it is difficult to improve against sides like Marek."

• Eromoigbe's goal on Saturday was his first for the club, and it came 12 minutes after he missed from the penaltyspot. It was his first goal in 69 games, including his spell at previous club PFC Cherno More Varna.

• Levski are yet to concede a goal in the 2006/07 Bulgarian A PFG, having scored 18 times. The trip to Marek wastheir first match away from the capital this season. Angelov's hat-trick was the first of his career, while Ivanov hadpreviously scored three in one game in the 2000/01 season.

• Stoilov, who is concerned about a knock picked up by Zhivko Milanov that led to his early substitution, had restedseveral players including Petkov, who suffered a head injury on international duty with Bulgaria, and Domovchiyski,who is recovering from a knee injury sustained during the Under-21s win against Croatia that took them into the2006/07 play-offs next month. The latter will definitely miss the Barcelona trip.

• Stoilov also rested Topuzakov, Yovov and Telkiyski, who all played for Bulgaria in the 3-0 win against Sloveniaon 6 Setptember. Telkiyski scored the third goal in that match after coming on as substitute. Topuzakov had alsofeatured in the 2-2 draw with Romania four days before.

• All of Levski's summer signings featured against Marek. Georgi Sarmov, who has arrived from second-division sidePFC Chernomorets 919, made his debut as a second-half substitute. Atanas Bornosuzov, who came from Russianside FC Tom Tomsk, and Veselin Minev, acquired from PFC Botev Plovdiv, also featured in the game.

• Levski have squandered three penalties this season. Prior to Saturday, Ivanov and Angelov both missed from thespot during the 3-0 win against PFC Spartak Varna on 12 August.



Competition facts

• UEFA Champions League: Did you know?

Domestic champions: This season's competition features 16 domestic league winners from last season, but noneof the eight groups comprising the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League features four champions. Only Group A featuresthree league winners from the last campaign with England, Spain and Bulgaria represented by their champions,namely Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona and PFC Levski Sofia. The fourth club in the group, Werder Bremen, finishedsecond in last season's Bundesliga, five points behind FC Bayern München. All of the remaining groups feature twodomestic league winners with the exception of Group H, where Belgian side RSC Anderlecht are the only champions.Group rivals AEK Athens FC were runners-up in Greece, while LOSC Lille Métropole and AC Milan were classifiedin third place in Ligue 1 and Serie A respectively. Alongside 16 champions, there are nine runners-up and six third-placedfinishers. Arsenal FC are the only club in the group stage to have finished in fourth place in their domestic leaguechampionship last season.

Consecutive participations: This season, Manchester United FC have extended their consecutive participation inthe UEFA Champions League to eleven, a record in the competition. Bayern, PSV Eindhoven, Olympiacos CFP andReal Madrid CF are making their tenth consecutive appearances, one ahead of Arsenal.

Knockout streak: In qualifying for the 2005/06 knockout phase, Real Madrid CF tied Manchester United FC's recordof nine consecutive seasons in advancing past the group stage. While United's streak came to an end last season,Madrid have featured in the knockout phase every time since the 1996/97 campaign. In those nine seasons, Unitedwon the competition once while they also advanced as far as the semi-finals twice, the quarter-finals four times andthe first knockout round twice in the other eight seasons. Madrid, meanwhile, have won the competition three timesin the last nine years while they advanced as far as the semi-finals twice and the quarter-finals twice. However, in thelast two seasons their interest in the competition has ended at the first knockout round.

European return: Of all 32 clubs competing in this season's UEFA Champions League, only FC Spartak Moskvaand FC Girondins de Bordeaux did not participate in a UEFA club competition during the 2005/06 season. Indeed,the two clubs are making their first appearance in UEFA club competition since the 2003/04 season.

Past masters: Four clubs competing in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League were involved in the competition whenit started during the 1992/93 season. AC Milan were beaten finalists (to Olympique de Marseille), while PSV Eindhoven,PFC CSKA Moskva and FC Porto all participated in the group stage. In addition, AEK Athens FC and FC Barcelonawere knocked out in the second round, the last hurdle to enter the group stage.

Long road for debutants: Five clubs have advanced to the group stage from the European Champion Clubs' Cupsecond qualifying round including this season's two debutants, FC København and PFC Levski Sofia. They are joinedby FC Spartak Moskva, FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Steaua Bucuresti as clubs who had to play four matches to claimtheir place in the group stage of the competition. A debutant has not won the competition since Juventus in 1995/96,the Italian side becoming the third club to complete this achievement following namely Olympique de Marseille(1992/93, first UEFA Champions League final) and AFC Ajax (1994/95).

No qualifiers: Of the 32 clubs involved in the group stage, only AS Roma and FC Girondins de Bordeaux have yetto play a qualifying round match in order to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Roma are making their fourthappearance in the competition, while Bordeaux are involved for the second time.



Pedigree: Four of the former winners of the competition since it included a group stage element from the 1992/93season are not participating in this season's UEFA Champions League, namely Olympique de Marseille (1992/93),AFC Ajax (1994/95), Juventus (1995/96) and BV Borussia Dortmund (1996/97). The last ten winners of the competition,Real Madrid CF (three), Manchester United FC, FC Bayern München, AC Milan, FC Porto, Liverpool FC and FCBarcelona are involved in this season's group stage. Only three winners from the last ten UEFA Cup finals are notinvolved in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage, namely Parma FC (1998/99), Feyenoord (2001/02)and Sevilla FC (2005/06). Liverpool and Porto have won both competitions in the past decade, while the remainingUEFA Cup winners in that time are FC Internazionale Milano, Galatasaray SK, Valencia CF and PFC CSKA Moskva.

• UEFA Champions League: All-time recordsBiggest wins8-3: AS Monaco FC v RC Deportivo La Coruña (05.11.2003)7-0: Juventus v Olympiacos CFP (10.12.2003)7-2: Paris Saint-Germain FC v Rosenborg BK (24.10.2000)7-2: Olympique Lyonnais v Werder Bremen (08.03.2005)6-0: Olympique de Marseille v PFC CSKA Moskva (17.03.1993)6-0: Leeds United AFC v Besiktas JK (26.09.2000)6-0: Real Madrid CF v KRC Genk (25.09.2002)Monaco's record victory was achieved in part thanks to the exploits of Dado Pršo, who scored four of his seven2003/04 UEFA Champions League goals that evening against Deportivo. Only one team has scored more than fivegoals in an away game, Manchester United FC winning 6-2 at Brøndby IF in 1998/99.

Most goals in a season12: Ruud van Nistelrooij (Manchester United FC, 2002/03)10: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus, 1997/98)10: Mário Jardel (FC Porto, 1999/00)10: Rivaldo (FC Barcelona, 1999/00)10: Raúl González (Real Madrid CF, 1999/00)10: Ruud van Nistelrooij (Manchester United FC, 2001/02)10: Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan, 2002/03)Andriy Shevchenko top scored with nine goals at the end of the 2005/06 campaign, three behind the record mark setfor one season in the competition.

Four goals in a matchMarco van Basten (AC Milan 4-0 IFK Göteborg, 25.11.1992)Simone Inzaghi (S.S. Lazio 5-1 Olympique de Marseille, 14.03.2000)Dado Pršo (AS Monaco FC 8-3 RC Deportivo La Coruña, 05.11.2003)Ruud van Nistelrooij (Manchester United FC 4-1 AC Sparta Praha, 03.11.2004)Andriy Shevchenko (Fenerbahçe SK 0-4 AC Milan, 23.11.2005)Of these four-goal hauls, Dado Pršo's against Deportivo was the quickest. He scored his first goal 26 minutes intothe game and his fourth just 23 minutes later.

Fastest goal in a match20.07 secs: Gilberto (PSV Eindhoven 0-4 Arsenal FC, 25.09.2002)20.12 secs: Alessandro Del Piero (Manchester United FC 3-2 Juventus, 01.10.1997)21.20 secs: Clarence Seedorf (FC Schalke 04 2-2 AC Milan, 28.09.2005)25.40 secs: Marek Kincl (Club Brugge KV 3-2 SK Rapid Wien, 02.11.2005)28.21 secs: Mariano Bombarda (Willem II 3-4 AC Sparta Praha, 20.10.1999)AC Milan's joy at Clarence Seedorf's first-minute goal against FC Schalke 04 was short-lived - Søren Larsen equalisedfor the home side in the third minute.



Fastest hat-tricks9 mins: Mike Newell (Blackburn Rovers FC 4-1 Rosenborg BK, 06.12.1995)19 mins: Marco Simone (Rosenborg BK 1-4 AC Milan, 25.09.1996)19 mins: Dado Pršo (AS Monaco FC 8-3 RC Deportivo La Coruña, 05.11.2003)21 mins: Sigurd Rushfeldt (Rosenborg BK 3-0 Galatasaray SK, 21.10.1998)21 mins: Simone Inzaghi (S.S. Lazio 5-1 Olympique de Marseille, 14.03.2000)Rosenborg conceded 16 goals the season Mike Newell scored his rapid hat-trick, three fewer than the UEFA ChampionsLeague group stage record set by Hungarian side Ferencvárosi TC the same season.

Youngest players to score17 years, 195 days: Peter Oforiquaye (Rosenborg BK 5-1 Olympiacos CFP, 01.10.1997)17 years, 218 days: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal FC 5-1 Rosenborg BK, 07.12.2004)17 years, 241 days: Martin Klein (Panathinaikos FC 2-1 AC Sparta Praha, 27.02.2002)18 years, 61 days: Sammy Kuffour (FC Bayern München 2-2 FC Spartak Moskva, 02.11.1994)18 years, 70 days: Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv 1-4 FC Bayern München, 07.12.1994)Peter Oforiquaye became the youngest player to score, but Celestine Babayaro is still the youngest player to appear,having begun RSC Anderlecht's game against FC Steaua Bucuresti on 23 November 1994 aged 16 years and 87days.

• UEFA club competition and UEFA Champions League: All-time record appearances and goalscoring

Appearances: UEFA club competitionNote: Players listed in bold are still involved in this season's competitions (UEFA Champions League or UEFA Cup)159 Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)130 Frank de Boer (AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, Galatasaray SK)129 Luís Figo (Sporting Clube de Portugal, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, FC Internazionale Milano)124 Oliver Kahn (Karslruher SC, FC Bayern München)122 Zinédine Zidane (AS Cannes, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid CF)120 Alessandro Costacurta (AC Milan)

117 Giuseppe Bergomi (FC Internazionale Milano)114 Phillip Cocu (BV Vitesse, PSV Eindhoven, FC Barcelona)112 Stefan Reuter (1. FC Nürnberg, FC Bayern München, Juventus, BV Borussia Dortmund)112 Clarence Seedorf (AFC Ajax, Real Madrid CF, FC Internazionale Milano, AC Milan)110 Pavel Nedvěd (AC Sparta Praha, S.S. Lazio, Juventus)



109 Amedeo Carboni (UC Sampdoria, AS Roma, Valencia CF)109 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)109 Roberto Carlos (FC Internazionale Milano, Real Madrid CF)108 Vítor Baía (FC Porto, FC Barcelona)107 David Beckham (Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF)107 Stefan Klos (BV Borussia Dortmund, Rangers FC)107 Roar Strand (Rosenborg BK)106 Filip De Wilde (KSK Beveren, RSC Anderlecht, Sporting Clube de Portugal)106 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)106 Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid CF)105 Michel Preud'homme (R. Standard de Liège, KV Mechelen, SL Benfica)105 Alessio Tacchinardi (Juventus, Villarreal CF)104 Thierry Henry (AS Monaco FC, Juventus, Arsenal FC)104 Claude Makelele (FC Nantes Atlantique, RC Celta de Vigo, Real Madrid CF, Chelsea FC)104 Gert Verheyen (RSC Anderlecht, Club Brugge KV)103 Ciro Ferrara (SSC Napoli, Juventus)103 Lilian Thuram (AS Monaco FC, Parma FC, Juventus, FC Barcelona)102 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United FC)102 Gary Neville (Manchester United FC)101 Bülent Korkmaz (Galatasaray SK)101 Manuel Sanchís (Real Madrid CF)100 Edgar Davids (AFC Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus, FC Internazionale Milano)100 Lothar Matthäus (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Bayern München, FC Internazionale Milano)

99 Bixente Lizarazu (Athletic Club Bilbao, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, FC Bayern München)98 Angelo Peruzzi (AS Roma, Juventus, S.S. Lazio)97 Francisco Gento (Real Madrid CF)97 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (FC Bayern München, FC Internazionale Milano, Servette FC)96 Marc Overmars (AFC Ajax, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona)95 Ray Clemence (Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC)95 Gheorghe Hagi (CF Sportul Studentesc, FC Steaua Bucuresti, Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Galatasaray SK)95 Erik Hoftun (Rosenborg BK)

Appearances: UEFA Champions LeagueNote: This list considers group stage to final only101 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)99 Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid CF)97 David Beckham (Real Madrid CF)96 Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)94 Oliver Kahn (FC Bayern München)92 Gary Neville (Manchester United FC)90 Luís Figo (FC Internazionale Milano)

87 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United FC)84 Paul Scholes (Manchester United FC)82 Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan)80 Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid CF)



79 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)79 Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC)79 Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea FC)78 Alessio Tacchinardi (Villarreal CF)77 Míchel Salgado (Real Madrid CF)76 Iván Helguera (Real Madrid CF)75 Fernando Morientes (Valencia CF)75 Hasan Salihamidžić (FC Bayern München)74 Guti (Real Madrid CF)74 Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC)74 Robert Pirès (Arsenal FC)72 Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven)71 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF)71 Michael Reiziger (PSV Eindhoven)71 Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Manchester United FC)70 Sylvain Wiltord (Olympique Lyonnais)

68 Gianluca Pessotto (Juventus)67 Rivaldo (Olympiacos CFP)66 Roar Strand (Rosenborg BK)

Goals: UEFA club competitionNote: Players listed in bold are still involved in this season's competitions (UEFA Champions League or UEFA Cup)62 Gerd Müller (FC Bayern München)56 Eusébio (SL Benfica)56 Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea FC)54 Filippo Inzaghi (Parma FC, Juventus, AC Milan)53 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)50 Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid CF)

49 Thierry Henry (AS Monaco FC, Juventus, Arsenal FC)47 Carlos Santillana (Real Madrid CF)47 Ruud van Nistelrooij (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF)46 Henrik Larsson (Feyenoord, Celtic FC, FC Barcelona)45 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)45 Jupp Heynckes (Hannover 96, VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Goals: UEFA Champions LeagueNote: This list considers group stage to final only51 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)43 Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea FC)43 Ruud van Nistelrooij (Real Madrid CF)41 Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC)

37 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)34 Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan)

28 David Trezeguet (Juventus)27 Fernando Morientes (Valencia CF)27 Roy Makaay (FC Bayern München)27 Rivaldo (Olympiacos CFP)24 Luís Figo (FC Internazionale Milano)23 Hernán Crespo (FC Internazionale Milano)21 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United FC)



Goals: UEFA Champions League/European Champion Clubs' CupNote: This list considers the all-time goalscorers list in both competitions including all qualifying round matches;Players listed in bold are still involved in this season's competitions (UEFA Champions League or UEFA Cup)52 Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea FC)51 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF)

49 Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid CF)47 Eusébio (SL Benfica)47 Ruud van Nistelrooij (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF)41 Thierry Henry (AS Monaco FC, Juventus, Arsenal FC)

38 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)36 Filippo Inzaghi (Parma FC, Juventus, AC Milan)

Last updated: 1 September 2006



UEFA information

UEFA has announced a series of significant milestones with respect to the marketing of the UEFA Champions League.Among the main features of the new three-year cycle for marketing partners in the period 2006-09 are the best-evertelevision coverage of the event with TV rights sold to more than 230 countries, live internet streaming for the firsttime, the highest-ever marketing revenue, a new six-sponsor marketing concept and the introduction of a new officialadidas match ball to be used in all matches. In terms of television coverage, there are 90 broadcast partners worldwidewith the leading broadcasters in Europe on board, including new partners RAI (Italy) and Antena 3 (Spain). Amongthe many new broadcast coverage initiatives will be a ball tracking system and enhanced graphics. Broadband internetusers will also be able to watch live streaming of UEFA Champions League matches for the first time.

UEFA and Europe's major clubs ended two days of European Club Forum discussions last Wednesday, with thepledge to seek common ground and unity. The talks focused among other things, on the future structure of UEFA'sclub competitions, the relationship between UEFA and the clubs, stadium matters and commercial matters related tothe European club competitions. UEFA's professional football director Giorgio Marchetti said: "I would welcome thismeeting as the dawning of a new period of positive relations with the clubs."

Crucial advice to help clubs tackle racism on and off the pitch is the focal point of a new publication produced onUEFA's behalf by its partner, the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network. Tackling Racism in Club Football- A Guide For Clubs has been issued initially in English to herald the start of the new UEFA club competition seasonand is the latest step in the concerted campaign being waged to rid the game of racism and discrimination.

UEFA has asked referees to clamp down on dissent after the UEFA Referees' Committee, together with top officials,discussed various refereeing issues at their fourth annual gathering. Following the outcome of the discussions in Nyona fortnight ago, UEFA wants to emphasise that it has asked match officials to take immediate action by cautioningplayers in the case of the following offences: waving of an imaginary card to have an opponent booked; crowdingaround the referee, when at least one player should be cautioned and not only the initiator; and dissent by gestureor running towards to referee.

UEFA has completed three new media rights agreements covering China guaranteeing what the European body sayswill be "an unprecedented breadth and quality of coverage" of European football's major club competition. CCTV,China's free to air national broadcaster which is present in 350 million television homes, will show extensive highlightsof each match night for the next three seasons. UEFA's long-term partner across Asia, ESPN Star, will show morethan 45 matches live in China per season as well as delayed matches, highlights and magazine programmes, whileSina.com, China's leading internet portal with 60 million page views per day, will show delayed match coverage andestablish its own UEFA Champions League mobile service.

UEFA has paid tribute to the late Giacinto Facchetti, the FC Internazionale Milano president who died aged 64 lastMonday after a battle with cancer. Facchetti, who as a player with Inter twice won the European Champion Clubs'Cup. He was a valued part of the UEFA family, having served the UEFA Fair Play Committee and UEFA's TechnicalDevelopment Committee. Back in March, UEFA presented Facchetti with a Champions of Europe award amidcelebrations to mark 50 years of European Cup finals. Andy Roxburgh, the UEFA technical director. "He was a fantasticperson – he was an absolute gentleman." As a mark of respect, Inter have retired Facchetti's No3 shirt, with currentplayer Nicolás Burdisso switching to No16.



Head coach profiles

Frank RijkaardDate of birth: 30 September 1962Nationality: DutchPlaying career: AFC Ajax (twice), Sporting Clube de Portugal, Real Zaragoza, AC MilanCoaching career: Netherlands, Sparta Rotterdam, FC Barcelona

At the end of his third season at FC Barcelona, Frank Rijkaard became only the fifth man – the others being MiguelMuñoz, Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff and Carlo Ancelotti – to have lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cupas both a player and coach.

Cruyff was his mentor as a youngster. The Dutch legend groomed Rijkaard at AFC Ajax in 1979 where the defenderprogressed so quickly that he was pulling on the Netherlands shirt aged just 19. In 1987, Rijkaard left Amsterdamand had brief spells in Portugal and Spain before committing the key years of his career to AC Milan with whom hetwice won the European Cup. Rijkaard played in midfield for Milan but in central defence for his country as they liftedthe 1988 UEFA European Championship.

He returned to Ajax in 1993 and helped them defeat Milan in the 1995 UEFA Champions League final in Vienna.When he retired, heads turned as Rijkaard was appointed Netherlands coach before UEFA EURO 2000™. A semi-finalplace followed but Rijkaard left to pursue a club management career. His first stint ended poorly, as he resigned fromSparta Rotterdam in May 2002 when they were relegated from the Dutch Eredivisie for the first time, although Barçawere not put off and have since seen their faith repaid handsomely with league titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06 beforeUEFA Champions League glory was achieved with a 2-1 win against Arsenal FC in Paris last May.

Stanimir StoilovDate of birth: 13 February 1967Nationality: BulgarianPlaying career: FC Haskovo, PFC Levski Sofia (three times), Fenerbahçe SK, PFC CSKA Sofia, SC Campomaiorense,PFC Slavia SofiaCoaching career: PFC Levski Sofia

A relative novice in the world of football coaching, former Bulgarian international Stanimir Stoilov has an in-depthknowledge of the game having excelled in midfield, defence and attack during his playing days. Since replacing GeorgiVassilev as coach of PFC Levski Sofia, he has swept the board in domestic competition and is now looking for successon the European stage having guided the side to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2005/06.

Stoilov's playing career was similarly gilded. After starting out at hometown club FC Haskovo, he rose to prominenceafter a switch to Levski in 1990, winning the Bulgarian cup in 1991 and 1992 before joining Turkish side FenerbahçeSK. A serious knee injury put the brakes on the young forward's progress and following a short spell at PFC CSKASofia he returned to Levski in summer 1994. Twelve months later, with a Bulgarian league winners' medal added tohis collection, he moved on to Portuguese outfit SC Campomaiorense. Again it proved a fleeting association and hereturned for a third spell with Levski in July 1998 after a stint with city rivals PFC Slavia Sofia.

By now a composed central defender, Stoilov was handed the captain's armband and led the team through a halcyonperiod in which the Sofia side dominated Bulgarian football, winning three league titles to add to their trio of cuptriumphs. In 2003 he hung up his boots and, having acted as assistant coach since 2000, he took over from Vassilevin 2004. He won the cup and Super Cup in his first year and the league in his second before helping Levski becomethe first Bulgarian club to reach the UEFA Champions league group stages at the start of 2006/07.



Squad list

BarcelonaAll-timeCurrent Season

UEFAUCLLeagueUCLUCLQGlsPldGlsPldGlsPldGlsPldGlsPldDoBNat.PlayerNo

Goalkeepers-32-24-2----14.01.82ESPVictor Valdés1-1-1------03.03.79ESPAlbert Jorquera25----------22.06.84ESPRuben28

Defenders140118------20.06.76BRAJuliano Belletti2-28-18-2----13.02.79MEXRafael Márquez4-70-57-1----13.04.78ESPCarles Puyol5259-45-2----10.02.77ITAGianluca Zambrotta11786448-1----05.02.75NEDGiovanni van Bronckhorst12146141-2----10.07.76BRAEdmílson15235219-1----12.04.74BRASylvinho161103157-1----01.01.72FRALilian Thuram21-24-20-1----02.02.80ESPOleguer Presas23----------24.01.85ESPJesus Olmo Lozano26----------29.03.87ESPMarc Valiente29

Midfielders333226-1----28.08.82BRAThiago Motta3375257-1----25.01.80ESPXavi Hernández6

16801153-2----27.08.77PORDeco20126122-2----11.05.84ESPAndrés Iniesta24----------24.05.85ESPJordi Gómez27----------26.03.86ESPSastre Lluis30----------09.01.88ESPMarc32

Forwards83742511----15.09.78ISLEidur Gudjohnsen7

1761630-2----10.07.76FRALudovic Giuly81738112632----10.03.81CMRSamuel Eto'o918371119-1----21.03.80BRARonaldinho10620110------14.12.76ESPSantiago Ezquerro18181722----24.06.87ARGLionel Messi19

24521530------11.12.81ARGJavier Saviola22----------11.05.89MEXGiovani31

Coach-29-20------30.09.62NEDFrank Rijkaard



Squad list

LevskiAll-timeCurrent Season

UEFAUCLLeagueUCLUCLQGlsPldGlsPldGlsPldGlsPldGlsPldDoBNat.PlayerNo

Goalkeepers-27---1---414.03.76BULGeorgi Petkov1----------31.03.87BULBozhidar Mitrev12----------26.01.88BULIvaylo Dragiev40----------11.05.89BULLazar Ivanov47-1---3----28.06.88BULNikolay Mihaylov88

Defenders-17---3---315.07.84BULZhivko Milanov3127-6-3---314.12.76BULIgor Tomašić4-3--------26.11.86BULBorislav Hristov5-52---2---405.02.77BULElin Topuzakov11-----3----14.10.80BULVeselin Minev14141---3---412.04.78BULStanislav Angelov20224---1---415.06.76BULLucio Wagner25----------18.02.88BULBorislav Iliev36----------11.08.88BULTodor Stoev44

Midfielders-22--13---420.06.84NGARichard Eromoigbe6744--13--1415.01.70BULDaniel Borimirov7-----1----07.09.85BULGeorgi Sarmov1517-------309.11.81BULMiroslav Ivanov18114---3---105.10.79BULAtanas Bornosuzov19645--12--1405.05.77BULDimitar Telkiyski21431--13--2415.10.76FRACédric Bardon27----------03.03.88BULDimitar Dimitrov39----------11.11.88BULKristiyan Tasev41----------07.05.88BULSpas Bayraktarov43----------22.04.88BULHristo Lemperov45----------03.07.88BULShenol Galip46114--12---220.07.83BULMilan Koprivarov77

Forwards1529--64---102.07.76BULGeorgi Ivanov9536--12---304.11.77BULHristo Yovov10-----1----30.07.88BULMaryan Ognyanov16417--12--2405.10.86BULValeri Domuvchiyski17-1--------15.10.87BULNikolay Dimitrov24819--33--2417.07.80BULEmil Angelov28-----2----11.07.88BULLachezar Baltanov30----------28.09.88BULAtanas Kurdov35----------22.03.88BULGeorgi Vrabski37

Coach-22-------413.02.67BULStanimir Stoilov



Domestic information

FC Barcelona (Primera División)

LineupsResOpponentDateValdés, Márquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst,Motta (Edmílson 57), Zambrotta, Deco,Iniesta, Giuly (E. Gudjohnsen 74), Eto'o,Messi

3-2v RC Celta de Vigo (A)28.08.2006League

Valdés, Thuram, Márquez, Edmílson,Sylvinho, Xavi, Zambrotta (Oleguer 80),Messi, Deco (Iniesta 62), Ronaldinho (Giuly72), Eto'o

3-0v CA Osasuna (H)09.09.2006League

GoalscorersResOpponentDateMessi, Eto'o, E. Gudjohnsen3-2v RC Celta de Vigo (A)28.08.2006LeagueEto'o (2), Messi3-0v CA Osasuna (H)09.09.2006League

v Real Racing Club Santander (A)17.09.2006Leaguev Valencia CF (H)24.09.2006Leaguev Athletic Club Bilbao (A)01.10.2006Leaguev Sevilla FC (H)15.10.2006Leaguev Real Madrid CF (A)22.10.2006Leaguev RC Recreativo de Huelva (H)29.10.2006Leaguev RC Deportivo La Coruña (A)05.11.2006Leaguev Real Zaragoza (H)12.11.2006Leaguev RCD Mallorca (A)19.11.2006Leaguev Villarreal CF (H)26.11.2006Leaguev Levante UD (A)03.12.2006Leaguev Real Sociedad de Fútbol (H)10.12.2006Leaguev Real Betis Balompié (A)17.12.2006Leaguev Club Atlético de Madrid (H)20.12.2006Leaguev Getafe CF (A)07.01.2007Leaguev RCD Espanyol (A)14.01.2007Leaguev CG Tarragona (H)21.01.2007Leaguev RC Celta de Vigo (H)28.01.2007Leaguev CA Osasuna (A)04.02.2007Leaguev Real Racing Club Santander (H)11.02.2007League



PtsGAGFLDWPldClubsRank6170022Sevilla FC16260022FC Barcelona26030022Getafe CF36130022Valencia CF44140112Real Madrid CF54230112RC Deportivo La Coruña64120112RC Recreativo de Huelva73351012Real Zaragoza83241012Real Betis Balompié93441012RC Celta de Vigo103221012CG Tarragona113111012Club Atlético de Madrid122110202RCD Mallorca131101102Villarreal CF141421102Real Sociedad de Fútbol151411102Athletic Club Bilbao160202002Real Racing Club Santander170402002RCD Espanyol180502002CA Osasuna190812002Levante UD20



Domestic information

PFC Levski Sofia (Premier League)

LineupsResOpponentDateG. Petkov, Milanov (S. Angelov 46),Tomašić, Eromoigbe (Yovov 51), Borimirov,G. Ivanov (Domovchiyski 65), M. Ivanov,Telkiyski, Lucio, E. Angelov, Topuzakov

0-0v PFC Vihren Sandanski (A)19.08.2006League

Mihaylov, Stojchev, Borimirov (Baltanov56), G. Ivanov, Minev, M. Ivanov,Bornosuzov, S. Angelov, Telkiyski(Domovchiyski 62), Bardon (Ognyanov 55),Topuzakov

5-0v PFC Rilski Sportist Samokov (H)27.08.2006League

Mihaylov, Milanov (M. Ivanov 19), Stojchev,Tomašić, Minev, Borimirov (Bornosuzov46), Eromoigbe, Koprivarov, Bardon(Sarmov 46), E. Angelov, G. Ivanov

8-0v PFC Marek Dupnitza (A)09.09.2006League

GoalscorersResOpponentDate3-0v PFC Conegliano Sofia (A)05.08.2006League

G. Ivanov (2), Yovov3-0v PFC Spartak Varna (H)12.08.2006League0-0v PFC Vihren Sandanski (A)19.08.2006League

Domovchiyski, Telkiyski (pen), Borimirov,Bardon, G. Ivanov

5-0v PFC Rilski Sportist Samokov (H)27.08.2006League

Koprivarov, G. Ivanov (3), E. Angelov (3),Eromoigbe (pen)

8-0v PFC Marek Dupnitza (A)09.09.2006League

v PFC CSKA Sofia (H)17.09.2006Leaguev PFC Rodopa Smolian (A)23.09.2006Leaguev PFC Slavia Sofia (H)01.10.2006Leaguev PFC Belasitsa Petrich (A)14.10.2006Leaguev PFC Botev Plovdiv (H)23.10.2006Leaguev PFC Cherno More Varna (A)28.10.2006Leaguev PFC Beroe Stara Zagora (H)04.11.2006Leaguev PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1936 (A)11.11.2006Leaguev PFC Lokomotiv Sofia (H)18.11.2006Leaguev PFC Litex Lovech (A)26.11.2006League

PtsGAGFLDWPldClubsRank15290055PFC Lokomotiv Sofia1151130055PFC CSKA Sofia2130190145PFC Levski Sofia310481135PFC Litex Lovech471272125PFC Marek Dupnitza571072125PFC Botev Plovdiv67552125PFC Beroe Stara Zagora77642125PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 193687452125PFC Vihren Sandanski96943025PFC Spartak Varna106451315PFC Slavia Sofia116753025PFC Belasitsa Petrich124743115PFC Rodopa Smolian134773115PFC Cherno More Varna1401535005PFC Rilski Sportist Samokov15-31425005PFC Conegliano Sofia16



Match officials

Konrad Plautz (AUT)RefereeMarkus Mayr (AUT), Egon Bereuter (AUT)Assistant refereesThomas Einwaller (AUT)Fourth officialTheodore Theodoridis (GRE)UEFA Delegate

Referee

UEFAUCLDoBNat.Name421816.10.1964AUTKonrad Plautz

Austrian referee Konrad Plautz, a regular on the UEFA Champions League scene as a member of UEFA's élite groupof match officials, is an enthusiastic director and actor with a local theatre group - the perfect antidote to his hecticschedule. A toolmaker from the small Alpine town of Navis, Plautz began taking charge of matches as a teenager in1984.

Starting with the youth sector, he began his rise through the ranks at regional level before heading into the Austriannational leagues - fulfilling an objective he had set himself at the outset of his career. Plautz reached Austrian Bundesligastandard after six years, before getting his FIFA international badge in 1996. That same year he was chosen to refereethe UEFA European Under-16 Championship final in Vienna in which Portugal beat France.

In 2005/06, he took charge of Real Betis Balompié's first game in the UEFA Champions League, a 2-1 home defeatby Liverpool FC and was given another five appointments. The most important of these was Arsenal FC's 1-0 first-legvictory against Villarreal CF in the semi-finals. A veteran of two FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns, Plautz hasexperience of UEFA European Championship qualifiers back to March 1999 and took charge of the September 2006meeting of Finland and Portugal. He is naturally established as one of his country's most respected officials, refereeingone of the top fixtures in the Austrian Bundesliga almost every weekend.

UEFA Champions League matches involving teams from the two countries involved in this matchVenueResMatchStageComp.DateAthens2-0Panathinaikos FC-RCD MallorcaGS1UCL19.09.2001Sevilla1-2Real Betis Balompié-Liverpool FCGSUCL13.09.2005London1-0Arsenal FC-Villarreal CFSFUCL19.04.2006

UEFA Champions League Other matchesVenueResMatchStageComp.DateGanca1-3FK Gança-LKS LódzQR1UCL29.07.1998Prague3-2AC Sparta Praha-FC Shakhtar DonetskGS1UCL27.09.2000Kiev0-1FC Dynamo Kyiv-PSV EindhovenGS1UCL24.10.2000Leeds3-3Leeds United AFC-S.S. LazioGS2UCL14.03.2001Bucharest2-4FC Steaua Bucuresti-FC Dynamo KyivQR3UCL08.08.2001Lyon3-1Olympique Lyonnais-Fenerbahçe SKGS1UCL17.10.2001Porto0-3Boavista FC-Manchester United FCGS2UCL19.03.2002Milan1-0AC Milan-FC Slovan LiberecQR3UCL14.08.2002Genk0-0KRC Genk-AEK Athens FCGS1UCL17.09.2002Moscow1-3FC Spartak Moskva-Liverpool FCGS1UCL22.10.2002Krakow0-1Wisla Kraków-RSC AnderlechtQR3UCL26.08.2003Kiev2-1FC Dynamo Kyiv-Arsenal FCGS1UCL21.10.2003Eindhoven2-0PSV Eindhoven-AEK Athens FCGS1UCL05.11.2003Turin7-0Juventus-Olympiacos CFPGS1UCL10.12.2003Trondheim2-1Rosenborg BK-Maccabi Haifa FCQR3UCL11.08.2004Eindhoven1-0PSV Eindhoven-Panathinaikos FCGSUCL29.09.2004



VenueResMatchStageComp.DateTurin1-0Juventus-AFC AjaxGSUCL23.11.2004Lyon5-0Olympique Lyonnais-AC Sparta PrahaGSUCL08.12.2004Bruges1-0*(4-3)Club Brugge KV-Vålerenga IFQR3UCL24.08.2005Lisbon1-0SL Benfica-Liverpool FC1/8UCL21.02.2006Lyon0-0Olympique Lyonnais-AC MilanQFUCL29.03.2006

Other matchesVenueResMatchStageComp.Date

0-1Romania-UkraineGS - FTU1629.04.1996Vienna1-0Portugal-FranceFU1611.05.1996

2-1Ukraine-BulgariaQRWCHAMP19.05.1996Trnava3-0FC Spartak Trnava-FK CukarickiGSUIC23.06.1996Kosice0-0MFK Košice-Celtic FCQRUCUP06.08.1996

1-2Romania-IsraelPRU1822.10.19961-2Ukraine-RomaniaPRU1826.10.19961-1Panahaiki FC-Stabæk IFGSUIC21.06.1997

Nicosia6-0APOEL FC-HB TórshavnQRUCWC28.08.1997Copenhagen3-0FC København-FC Ararat YerevanR1UCWC18.09.1997

2-0Spain-BelgiumPRU1802.10.19971-0Greece-RomaniaPRU1805.11.1997

Malmo1-2Malmö FF-HNK Hajduk SplitQR2UCUP25.08.1998Valkeakoski1-3FC Haka-Panionios NFCR1UCWC01.10.1998Athens3-2Greece-GeorgiaQRU2113.10.1998Brussels1-1KRC Genk-RCD MallorcaR2UCWC22.10.1998Istanbul2-0Turkey-MoldovaPREURO27.03.1999Budapest1-1Újpest FC-FK VojvodinaQRUCUP26.08.1999Krivoy Rog0-3FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih-Parma FCR1UCUP30.09.1999Madrid1-0Club Atlético de Madrid-KKS Lech PoznanR2UCUP21.10.1999Moscow0-1Russia-SlovakiaP-OU2113.11.1999Vigo1-0RC Celta de Vigo-Aston Villa FCSFUIC26.07.2000Bruges0-2Club Brugge KV-FC BarcelonaR3UCUP23.11.2000Porto3-1FC Porto-FC Nantes AtlantiqueR4UCUP15.02.2001Belgrade0-1Serbia-RussiaQRWC25.04.2001Minsk4-1Belarus-PolandQRWC05.09.2001Parma1-1Parma FC-Brøndby IFR3UCUP22.11.2001Valencia3-0Valencia CF-Servette FCR4UCUP19.02.2002Helsinki0-2Finland-WalesQREURO07.09.2002Bordeaux0-2FC Girondins de Bordeaux-RSC AnderlechtR3UCUP28.11.2002Rome3-3S.S. Lazio-Wisla KrakówR4UCUP20.02.2003Tallinn0-0Estonia-BulgariaQREURO02.04.2003Ankara2-0Turkey-MoldovaR1FRIE.20.08.2003Moscow3-1Russia-GeorgiaQREURO11.10.2003Glasgow3-0Celtic FC-FK TepliceR3UCUP26.02.2004Palma de Mallorca0-3RCD Mallorca-Newcastle United FCR4UCUP25.03.2004Craiova2-1Romania-F.Y.R. MacedoniaQRWC04.09.2004Newcastle4-0Newcastle United FC-Olympiacos CFP1/8UCUP16.03.2005Istanbul2-0Turkey-AlbaniaQRWC26.03.2005Villarreal1-2Villarreal CF-AZ AlkmaarQFUCUP07.04.2005Monchengladbach2-2Germany-RussiaR1FRIE.08.06.2005Riga1-1Latvia-SlovakiaQRWC07.09.2005Minsk0-1Belarus-NorwayQRWC12.10.2005

6-0England-JamaicaR1FRIE.03.06.2006Helsinki1-1Finland-PortugalQREURO06.09.2006



Competition information

UEFA's most prestigious club competition was originally created as the European Champion Clubs' Cup for the1955/56 season, before its revamping as the UEFA Champions League in 1992.

• Locally-trained players rule: In February 2005, UEFA announced that the 'A' list that teams submit for UEFA clubcompetitions will continue to be limited to 25 players, and from season 2006/07, at least four places on this list willbe reserved for players trained by the club's own football academy of which half can be players trained by other clubsfrom within the same association of the said club.

The 'B' list will also continue to exist - involving an unlimited number of Under-21 players who have been at the clubfor two seasons. In 2007/08, the number of locally-trained players in a squad will increase to six before rising to eightin 2008/09, with up to half of each figure allowed to be association trained.

A club-trained player is defined as a player who has been registered for a minimum of three seasons with the clubbetween the age of 15 and 21, whereas an association-trained player is one who has been registered for at leastthree seasons by the club or by other clubs affiliated to the same association between the age of 15 and 21.

UEFA is concerned some clubs are not training enough of their own players, but simply taking them from elsewhere.The proposed measures have the objective of creating a better balance in domestic competitions, preventing clubsfrom simply 'hoarding' players in squads and creating a system whereby locally-trained players would be given agreater opportunity to play regularly in club sides - ensuring a large reservoir of talent for national teams as aconsequence.

• Financial information: UEFA says the estimated budgeted income for the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League is€750m – higher than the 2005/06 campaign revenue which amounted to CHF943m (approx. €610m).

Under the competition regulations, 75 per cent of the total revenue received from television and commercial contractsconcluded by UEFA, up to a maximum of €530m will go to the 32 clubs taking part in the group stage of Europe'spremier club competition. The remaining 25 per cent is earmarked for European football and remains with UEFA tocover organisational and administrative costs, as well as for solidarity payments to associations, clubs and leagues.

It is also stipulated that participating clubs will receive 82 per cent of any revenue received from the same stream inexcess of € 530m, with the remaining 18 per cent allocated to UEFA for European football. In addition, 50 per centof the revenue received from new media contracts concluded by UEFA will also be available for distribution to theclubs, and the remaining 50 per cent will be allocated to the above-mentioned European football portion/quota.

The gross income for 2006/07 is estimated at €750m, and according to projections, will be made up of € 743.3m fromTV and commercial contracts and €6.7m from new media contracts.

The fixed amount to the clubs is €276.6m. Each of the 32 clubs in the group stage will receive a starting bonus of€2m. In addition, they will receive a match bonus of €400,000 per match. Performance bonuses will amount to €600,000for a win and €300,000 for a draw in the group stage. The 16 teams playing in the first knockout round will receive€2.2m, the eight quarter-finalists €2.5m each and the four semi-finalists €3m each. The UEFA Champions Leaguewinners will receive €7m, and the runners-up €4m.

This means that a total minimum amount of €4.4m per club is guaranteed for the group stage. A club could receive,at best, up to €22.7m, not counting the market pool share and gate receipts.

The remaining €270.4m will be distributed according to the proportional value of each TV market represented by theclubs taking part in the UEFA Champions League, and to be split among the number of teams – four, three, two orone – participating from a given association.



• Format: The UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on 24 August saw the 32 teams divided intoeight groups of four. Clubs from the same association could not be drawn into the same group. Each club plays onehome and one away match against each other club in its group. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for adraw and no points for a defeat. If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, thefollowing criteria are applied to determine the rankings.

a) higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;b) superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;c) higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question;d) superior goal difference from all group matches played;e) higher number of goals scored;f) higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question as well as its association, over the previousfive seasons.

The eight group-winners and eight runners-up of the group stage qualify for the first knockout round, to be playedover two legs on 20 February and 7 March 2007. The clubs that finish this stage in third position in their group moveinto the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. The clubs that finish this stage in fourth position in their group are eliminatedfrom UEFA club competition for the season.

• Deadlines: UEFA Champions League matchday stats packs and match-by-match press kits are provided to mediaby uefa.com. For every matchday, a global stats pack is created and issued once matches from the previous matchdayhave been completed and the data verified. For every UEFA Champions League match, two press kits are issued inEnglish: Sunday at 22:00CET with a match preview update on Monday at 22:00CET for Tuesday's matches. ForWednesday's matches, the press kit is issued on Monday at 22:00CET with the match preview update version publishedon Tuesday at 22:00CET. Multilingual versions of press kits, determined on a match-by-match basis, are also issuedwith similar deadlines.

• Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document isaccurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressedor implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the useor interpretation of information contained herein.



Legend

:: All-time statisticsThe all-time record of the competing clubs in UEFA club competition.

UEFA club competitions: These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records in UEFAclub competitions defined as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA CupWinners' Cup, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup (from the 1973 competition), the UEFA Intertoto Cup and theEuropean/South American Cup. Matches in the Inter-Cities’ Fairs Cup and the 1972 Super Cup are included only forinformation purposes as these competitions were not held under UEFA auspices.

Goals for/against: Goals totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (eg. match forfeits when a 3-0 result isdetermined). Goals totals do not include goals scored from the penalty mark during a penalty shoot-out after a tieended in a draw.

:: Squad listThe eligible list of players ordered first by playing position and then numeric order.

Current season - UCLQ: Total UEFA Champions League appearances in qualifying rounds only.Current season - UCL: Total UEFA Champions League appearances from the group stage onwards prior to thecurrent matchday.All-time - UCL: Total appearances in the UEFA Champions League from the 1992/93 season, group stage to finalonly. These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records in the competition.All-time - UEFA: Total appearances in UEFA club competitions (as defined above) including all qualifying roundmatches. These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records in the competition.

:: Bookings listThe current disciplinary situation in the competition.*: Misses next match if booked#: Suspended for at least one match+: Provisionally suspendedR: Sent off (red card)S: SuspendedY: Booked (yellow card)Y/R: Sent off (yellow card then direct red)R*: Sent off (red card) in the UEFA CupS*: Suspended following cautions received in the UEFA CupY*: Booked (yellow card) in the UEFA CupY/R*: Sent off (yellow card then direct red) in the UEFA Cup

Note: The bookings list is destined for the press. It is given to the competing clubs for information purposes only andtherefore has no legal value. In the event of any discrepancy, only the correspondence addressed directly to the clubswill be considered as the authoritative version.

:: Match officialsThe match officials appointed to officiate the fixture.

UCL: Total matches officiated in the UEFA Champions League from 1992/93 season, group stage to final only.Matches where the official has acted as the fourth official are not included in these statistics. These are the officialstatistics considered valid for communicating official records in the competition.



UEFA: Total matches officiated in UEFA club competitions including all qualifying round matches. Matches wherethe official has acted as the fourth official are not included in these statistics. These are the official statistics consideredvalid for communicating official records in the competition.

:: CompetitionsECCC: European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions LeagueUCUP: UEFA CupUCWC: UEFA Cup Winners' CupSCUP: UEFA Super CupUIC: UEFA Intertoto CupEURO: UEFA European Football ChampionshipU21: UEFA European Under-21 ChampionshipWC: FIFA World CupCONFCUP: FIFA Confederations CupFRIE: A International friendly matchesU21 FRIE: Under-21 international friendly matches

:: Competition stagesF: FinalGS: Group stageGS1: First group stageGS2: Second group stageKO1: First knockout roundPR: Preliminary roundQF: Quarter-finalsQR: Qualifying roundQR1: First qualifying roundQR2: Second qualifying roundQR3: Third qualifying roundR1: First roundR2: Second roundR3: Third roundR4: Fourth roundSF: Semi-finals1/8: Eighth-finals1/16: Sixteenth-finals1st: First leg2nd: Second leg



:: Other abbreviationsAP: AppearancesComp: CompetitionD: DrawnDoB: Date of birthGA: Goals againstGF: Goals forL: LostNat: NationalityN/a: Not applicableNo: NumberPld: Matches playedPos: PositionPts: PointsR: Sent off (red card)Res: ResultW: WonY: Booked (yellow card)Y/R: Sent off (yellow card then direct red)

:: Statistics(-): Denotes player substituted(+): Denotes player introduced(*): Denotes player dismissed/sent off(+/-): Denotes player introduced and substituted



fc barcelona v pfc levski sofiain which the catalan club eventually emerged as 8-5 victors. barça...

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