Manchester United's Robin van Persie, foreground and Paul Scholes during a training session at Carrington Training Ground in Manchester Tuesday. — APMANCHESTER — Surprisingly eliminated from last season's group stage, Manchester United won't be underestimating its seemingly easy start to the Champions League this time around. United opens its campaign at home to Galatarsaray Wednesday and also has Braga and Cluj in what should be a comfortable group for the three-time champion. But last year, FC Basel and Benfica finished ahead of United in one of the biggest shocks in the Champions League. “If we don't go through, we will be criticized and pilloried for it and quite rightly," United manager Alex Ferguson said. “We've had our warning and I don't anticipate going out this time. Certainly, we'll do better than last year — no question about that." United has a memorable history with Galatasaray, with fans of the Turkish club greeting their English counterparts with the banner “Welcome to Hell" when Ferguson's side visited Istanbul for a European match in 1993. “I remember it vividly. It's one of those memories that will always stick with you," United midfielder Ryan Giggs said. “There were things thrown at us when we were driving away on the coach, fans outside the hotel chanting all night making sure we didn't get any sleep and people phoning the hotel rooms. It had everything." Chelsea begins its quest to become the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles when it entertains a Juventus side still getting used to matchdays without its coach. The Londoners ended a long wait to become kings of Europe for the first time by beating Bayern Munich on penalties on a memorable night in the German club's Allianz Arena in May but manager Roberto Di Matteo said their thirst for trophies remained unquenched. Twice European champion in the last four seasons, Barcelona start its mission to reclaim the trophy when it hosts Spartak Moscow at the Camp Nou. After a summer of change at the Camp Nou, with the departure of coach Pep Guardiola and the promotion of his assistant Tito Vilanova, there was plenty of debate about whether it could rise to the challenge set by league champion Real Madrid, as well as on the European stage. However, apart from the disappointment of losing the domestic Super Cup to Jose Mourinho's men, Barca has made a blistering start in La Liga, with Saturday's 4-1 victory away to Getafe its fourth win in four league games. As a result, it finds itself eight points clear of Madrid already, a margin that was previously unthinkable this early in a season. In another encounter, Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes faces an anxious wait to see if either star wings Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben are fit for their match against Spanish outfit Valencia. — Agencies
