Milan aim for Athens rehearsal

AC Milan, six-times European Champion Clubs' Cup winners, will make it to Athens this season. The Italian giants will face AEK Athens FC in what they hope will not be their only visit to the Greek capital, venue for May's UEFA Champions League final.

History
When the sides met in this competition at the same stage in 1994/95, Milan recorded a 2-1 victory in a home match that took place in Trieste, but were held 0-0 in the return. They are joined in Group H by French team LOSC Lille Metropole - in this phase for a second successive campaign - and RSC Anderlecht. The Belgian champions have a good record against Milan, having limited the Rossoneri to two stalemates in 1993/94. Lille, meanwhile, should be glad to renew acquaintances with AEK following their 2-1 away success over the Greek side in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup.

Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, AEK coach
It is a reasonable draw. It could have been worse, but it could also have been better. The most important thing is that we are among the 32 teams in the hat. We will have to set realistic targets. Milan are the absolute favourites in the group - I think Lille, Anderlecht and us will have to fight for second place. We will see on the pitch if we have any chance. However, our opponents will have to try very hard to get any points off us. Our fans will be crucial in our home matches.

Frank Vercauteren, Anderlecht coach
We have to be ambitious but also realistic. In recent years we have been unlucky with the draw and maybe that's also the case here. This group is negotiable, but we have to be careful. We will set our goal higher than in previous years, but we are not going to underestimate our opponents. Milan are Milan, a team you expect to get through every year. But behind them the situation is open. The disappointment will be much bigger than in the past if we do not progress this time.

Peter Odemwingie, Lille striker
It is a very good draw. To play Milan is a dream I have had since childhood, so I'm delighted. We know AEK from our UEFA Cup encounter two seasons ago. I also know Anderlecht as I played against them with RAA Louviéroise. I'm very happy to be going back to Belgium.

Umberto Gandini, Milan director
I admit we are satisfied with today's draw. We know these teams very well as we have faced them quite recently. I'm sure they are more worried about playing us than we are about playing them. We will go to Athens and we hope we can return there later in the season.