Real looking to celebrate 50th anniversay with victory
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-08-26 09:22

MONACO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Real Madrid, who won the first European Cup final in Paris 50 seasons ago, are eager to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of that success by winning this season's final back in Paris next May.

Real Madrid's players Raul and David Beckham pose for photographers after arriving at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium for the premiere of Real Madrid's film "Real: The Movie" in Madrid August 25, 2005. [Reuters]

Real, seeking their 10th European Cup success, were drawn on Thursday with Olympique Lyon and old rivals Olympiakos Piraeus and Rosenborg Trondheim in Group F.

Vice-president Emilio Butragueno said: "The tournament celebrates 50 years this year and it would be great for us to reach the final in Paris, bearing in mind our honorary president Alfredo di Stefano was in that original final in Paris in 1956.

"We are going to do all we can to win it and are optimistic.

"Lyon are a great side with a powerful midfield even though they have lost Michael Essien.

"We have played Rosenborg before and know their physical power. We will have to see when we play there as the climate is an important factor. Olympiakos will be very difficult especially in Greece."

If Real believe in omens then they should be optimistic. They faced both Rosenborg and Olympiakos on their way to winning the competition for the seventh time in 1997-98.

FAMILIAR FOES

The draw brought together many familiar foes including Manchester United and Benfica who famously met in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley when Sir Matt Busby's team won the trophy for the first time, 10 years after the Munich Air Disaster.

Real Madrid player David Beckham is interviewed by a reporter (R) after arriving at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium for the premiere of "Real: The Movie" in Madrid August 25, 2005. [Reuters]

United won 4-1 after extra time to become the first English side to be crowned European champions.

"History is one thing and it will be a pleasure to see Manchester United back in Lisbon," said Jose Veiga, Benfica's director of football, "but what matters now is that we face a very tough side and are in a very tough group."

Villarreal and Lille complete their Group D quartet.

Four other teams will be renewing rivalries just months after key European games.

AC Milan face PSV Eindhoven in Group E after the Italian team went through on the away goals rule when they met in last season's semi-final.

Old English rivals Liverpool and Chelsea will meet in European competition for the fourth time this calendar year following their semi-final clashes last season.

Liverpool, the European champions, edged Chelsea 1-0 to qualify for the final against Milan which they won on penalties in Istanbul.

They will play Chelsea at home on September 28 in Group G and the two clash again back at Anfield on October 2 in the Premier League. They meet at Stamford Bridge in the last group match on December 6.

Two former European champions will also be renewing old rivalries just a year after their last meetings. Juventus beat Bayern Munich 1-0 both at home and away in the group stage last year and have been re-united again in Group A this season.

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