Champions league: Milan begin title defence

The Italian giant will bank midfield Rino ‘General’ Gatusso to hold the Benfica side in today’s group-D pairing.

Milan coached by Carlo Ancelotti will also bank on goalkeepers Dida and Kalac; the champions defence will an anchored by Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Nesta, Oddo and Simic; the Italian side will parades the likes of Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Emerson, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo and Seedorf in the middle while Gilardino and Inzaghi will spare-head the attack.

Other matches lined-up in the money spinning champions league include the second group-D pairing between Shakhtar at home to Celtic, in group-A Marseille will be at home to Besiktas while Porto host last year runners-up Liverpool.

Chelsea will host Rosenborg in a group-B encounter while Schalke 04 will be home to Valencia in another group-B battle. Real Madrid will stage another attempt at the Champions league with a home game against Werder Bremen in a group-C pairing while Lazio play host to Olimpiako in the second group-C encounter