Champions League, Chelsea, Global, Ligue 1, Serie A

Chelsea ought to encounter few problems as they aim to go one better than last season’s silver medal under the tutelage of Luiz Felipe Scolari. While AS Roma and Bordeaux offer quality opposition, Chelsea are superior opponents - as their Champions League record dictates.

Scolari’s Chelsea are second seeds despite never having lifted the famous cup with big ears yet the club’s record under Jose Mourinho elevated them up the list, while Avram Grant brought the west Londoners closest to realising Roman Abramovich’s dream last season. Scolari already has Chelsea playing a superior brand of football this season; the arrival of Deco certainly assisting in this aspect. Michael Essien’s injury is a blow, yet he should return for the knockout phases and Chelsea’s squad is one of the strongest, with the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Mikel John Obi in midfield and Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba up front. This campaign, Chelsea look stronger and better equipped in their ongoing quest for European success - and the smart money is on them to triumph in Rome next year.

First, however, they must win in Rome this year. AS Roma are the most serious threats to Chelsea, having reached the quarter-finals the last two years running and booming under their exceptional coach, Luciano Spalletti. Francesco Totti continues to lead Roma as captain and playmaker, Julio Baptista has joined the club from Real Madrid to add strength to their forward line while the likes of Daniele De Rossi, the no-nonsense midfielder who has proved as valuable as Totti, and the supremely talented Alberto Aquilani ensure Spalletti’s side will be a tough proposition. The exit of Amantino Mancini to Inter Milan, though, might prove crucial for Roma’s illustrious ambitions.

Bordeaux are back in the Champions League, hoping to make a far better impression under Laurent Blanc than they managed two years ago with Ricardo as coach. In 2006/7, Boardeaux finished third in the group stage but scarcely impressed. Under Blanc, however, the club have been revitalised and challenged Lyons to the death in last season’s Ligue 1 title race. The former Manchester United defender has plenty of work to do if Bordeaux are to upset the form guide but they should at least replicate their performance of two years ago, though they will look to the fixtures against Roma as practical play-offs for qualification for the knockout phase. Their main threat comes in the form of explosive Argentine striker Fernando Cavenaghi while the likes of Wendel and loan capture Yoann Gourcuff mean Bordeaux are not just here for the ride.

Hands up if you’ve heard of CFR Cluj. Romanian champions and their first time in the Champions League, Cluj are considered vast outsiders. They already have a new coach this season - Italian Maurizio Trombetta - and although are a hard-working outfit that boast an array of South American talent, Cluj will be looking at attaining a few points rather than eying a top two finish. An inaugural victory in the competition would go down like winning the final for the first non-Bucharest side to win Liga I in 17 years. Few Romanians actually play for Cluj and they instead offer a herd of unknown, washed-up journeyman as their Champions Leagye squad. They have dished out £2m for Uruguayan winger Alvaro Pereira while Brazilian Didi is one of the more highly-rated team members. Enjoy the outing, lads.

Prediction - Chelsea and Roma to take first and second, with Bordeaux a close third.

Tags: AS Roma, Bordeaux, CFR Cluj, Champions League, Chelsea, Laurent Blanc, Luciano Spalletti, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Maurizio Trombetta

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