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Rangers face Inter, Porto & Artmedia Bratislava...
By Me (who else?!) August 28 2005
The Scottish Premier League title holders Ranger are in group H of the Champions League draw...
They will face Italian Giants, Inter Milan; 2004 winners of Champions League, Porto; and a once unknown Slovakian side, Artmedia Bratislava, who knocked their rivals Celtic out of Europe. Martin Bain, Rangers' director of football say that they're happy with their Champions League draw... Rangers claim to "respect" Artmedia Bratislava. They hope not to suffer a heavy defeat by Artmedia Bratislava...by not underestimating the Slovakian Champions, like Celtic did. And Celtic paid the price. Artmedia knocked Celtic out of Europe, by thrashing them 5-0 in the first leg. Celtic had then won the second leg 4-0 but it wasn't good enough for the Bhoys to progress into the third round of the Champions League. Artmedia Bratislava then progressed to group stages of the Champions League-for the first time. Whilst Celtic had lost out on the £10 million teams receive when qualifying to the group stages-money they really need. And suffered humiliated. Not to mention the immense amount of pressure. And their exit out of Europe at such early stage. Rangers' Chairman Murray had predicted that Artmedia Bratislava would be in the same group. Whilst Rangers' manager, Alex McLeish believed it was fate. "I don't expect a very entertaining game against the Italians" Bain sighed. He was especially disappointed with that because as the game was played behind closed doors, travelling Rangers' fans could not be there to support them. The Italian club, who finished third in Series A last season, were punished because last season, their fans had thrown missiles aimed at Dida, in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final with their city rivals, AC Milan. But perhaps playing behind closed doors may advantage Rangers... However, the Ibrox side are optimistic at beating Portuguese Giants, Porto, who were disappointing last season in their domestic league, finishing second behind Benfica. Bain claims that they "are not the team they were two years ago". Full Champions League Draw: GROUP A Bayern Munich Juventus Club Brugge Rapid Vienna GROUP B Arsenal Ajax Sparta Prague Thun GROUP C Barcelona Panathinaikos Werder Bremen Udinese GROUP D Manchester United Villarreal Lille Benfica GROUP E AC Milan PSV Eindhoven Schalke Fenerbahce GROUP F Real Madrid Lyon Olympiakos Rosenborg GROUP G Liverpool Chelsea Anderlecht Real Betis GROUP H Inter Milan Porto Rangers Artmedia Bratislava

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