Football: Real Madrid, AEK Athens of Greece Face Off Wednesday

02 October 2002

Reigning champion Real Madrid is on the road against AEK Athens of Greece Wednesday as first-round action continues in European Football's (soccer's) Champions League.

The Spanish squad will be without Brazilian World Cup hero Ronaldo, who is still not fit to play. However, Madrid should have little trouble securing a berth in the next round after scoring nine goals in two games so far.

Meanwhile, the Belgian club Genk, which lost to Real Madrid 6-0 last week, takes on another strong club AS Roma of Italy in Group-C.

In Group-D, Inter Milan of Italy faces Olympique Lyon of France. Star striker Christian Vieri will miss the game after injuring his ankle in a Serie-A match last week. However, Hernan Crespo will replace him and Inter has never lost a European Cup or Champions League match at home.

Also in Group-D Rosenborg of Norway takes on Ajax Amsterdam of the Netherlands. Rosenborg lost last week to Lyon of France, 5-0.

In Group-A, the English club Arsenal is on the road against Auxerre of France. Arsenal has two wins so far in group play while Auxerre has only one point from its first two games.

Also in Group-A, PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands takes on Borussia Dortmund of Germany. The Dutch club is still looking for its first win in Champions League play this year after a scoreless draw with Auxerre and a 4-0 loss to Arsenal.

Meanwhile the English club Liverpool welcomes Spartak Moscow of Russia. The English club needs a win after taking only one point from its first two matches. Spartak is in an even worse situation, with no points from two matches after last week's 3-0 loss to Valencia of Spain. Valencia has a group-B home match against Basel of Switzerland Wednesday.