Former finalists out to progress

Valencia CF and AS Roma have both come agonisingly close to lifting the European Champion Clubs' Cup and will hope for better this time around after being drawn in Group D of the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League - the only section without a former winner.

Honours even
Valencia, runners-up in 2000 and 2001, and Roma, who lost the 1984 final, return to the competition after a season's absence. They have twice been paired in UEFA tournaments, most recently in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League second group stage, with each team winning their away match - although only Valencia reached the last eight. With Olympiacos CFP and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, the champions of Greece and Ukraine, completing the lineup, a tight contest looks likely.

Trond Sollied, Olympiacos coach
We have to perform well and get lucky at the same time. Valencia are the favourites, they are always at the top of the Spanish league, but they can be beaten. Shakhtar are much improved, they have many Brazilian players and can be dangerous – I consider them the outsiders. Roma are very experienced and have Francesco Totti in their ranks. Our target is to advance to the knockout stages, and if not, to make it to the UEFA Cup.

Juan Galiano, Valencia director
It is a normal group, neither easy nor difficult. We know about Roma because they have a good tradition in European competition and we played them recently. As for Olympiacos, you have to respect the atmosphere they can create in Greece, and finally we face Shakhtar whom we know little about, although they are sure to be strong opponents.

Luciano Spalletti, Roma coach
Every seeded team in the draw is very strong and used to playing at this level, and Valencia certainly fit into that category. The other sides are all extremely motivated and have everything needed to be dangerous, even against stronger opponents. This is my first experience of this competition but I think our group is particularly balanced. I would have preferred to face Shakhtar a bit later as they are in much better physical shape than us at this stage of the season. Serie A has not started yet while they have already played several competitive games.