Hopefuls target group stage prize

Schalke mission
The action begins on Tuesday when ACF Fiorentina are aiming to return to Europe's top table for the first time since 1999/00, though visitors SK Slavia Praha will want a second successive taste of group-stage action after whetting their appetite last year. The 15 remaining ties then get started the following day, and few can be as eagerly awaited as the meeting between FC Schalke 04, quarter-finalists last term, and a Club Atlético de Madrid side hopeful of gracing the competition they last contested in 1996/97. New Schalke coach Fred Rutten will be anxious to travel to Spain with a healthy advantage when the two sides conclude matters on 27 August.

Former winners
Rutten's old team FC Twente are targeting a strong start on home soil as they entertain Arsenal FC. The London side have not lifted a trophy since before losing the 2005/06 final to FC Barcelona, who will themselves be keen to lay a claim on a group-stage berth when they host Wisla Kraków. The Catalans are one of five previous winners in action this week, with Liverpool FC travelling to Belgian champions R. Standard de Liège, Juventus at home against FC Artmedia Petržalka, Olympique de Marseille away against SK Brann and FC Steaua Bucureşti journeying to face former UEFA Cup winners Galatasaray AS.

Old rivalry
FC Spartak Moskva and FC Dynamo Kyiv have also enjoyed some memorable nights in Europe, but thoughts will turn to their old Supreme Soviet League tussles when they lock horns in the Russian capital. The two clubs dominated football in the former USSR and Spartak CEO Sergei Shavlo began enthusing about their "unforgettable derby" before Dynamo had even seen off second qualifying round opponents Drogheda United FC.

Cypriot hopes
The teams triumphant in the previous round will not want to stumble now, least of all Anorthosis Famagusta FC, who can become the first team from Cyprus to reach the group stage if they progress past Olympiacos CFP. Another Greek outfit, Panathinaikos FC, visit AC Sparta Praha, while FBK Kaunas take on Aalborg BK in Denmark, still buzzing after beating Rangers FC. FC BATE Borisov also sprung a surprise by overcoming RSC Anderlecht and they meet PFC Levski Sofia in Bulgaria while free-scoring Fenerbahçe SK are up against FK Partizan. Elsewhere, NK Dinamo Zagreb will want to shine away to FC Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Basel 1893 visit Vitória SC.