(Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
With new rules in place for qualification this year, UEFA is hopeful that the 2009-10 Champions League will see a host of new teams compete in the tournament, from a greater variety of countries than seen in previous years.
Ironically, with many previously unheralded teams already having earned automatic qualification for the group stages of the competition by triumphing in their respective leagues, UEFA—and, more accurately, Michel Platini—already seem to have got their wish, before the revamped qualification stages have even begun.
Here is the lowdown on a few of the teams set to take their bow (or, at least, their first appearance in a while) on Europe’s grandest stage.
Wolfsburg (Germany)
Led by the goal-laden duo of Bosnian Edin Dzeko and Brazilian Grafite (54 goals between them—the most prolific partnership in Bundesliga history), Wolfsburg marched to a shock league title last season, beating out perennial challengers Bayern Munich on the last day of the season.
It was a surprise triumph for the Wolves (once managed, in a beautiful twist of fate, by Wolfgang Wolf) earning themselves a first appearance in Europe’s showpiece competition.
The club were steered to triumph by former Bayern coach Felix Magath, who subsequently left the club to join German underachievers Schalke 04 (he had agreed to join the Ruhr Valley side before the title was won).
Without Magath at the helm, the club’s expectations for the upcoming campaign should be tempered somewhat, with new manager Armin Veh given the unenviable task of replicating Magath’s success. Unsurprisingly, Veh has already moved to play down hopes.
"Nobody can seriously demand that we defend our title,” he said. “A title defence would be a Utopian and over-confident aim."
Nevertheless, the club has so far resisted overtures from the likes of AC Milan for 23-year-old Dzeko—and tied Grafite to a new long-term contract—to give themselves the best squad possible for their first tilt at the Champions League. With the club membership having been boosted by 5,000 (from 9,000) in the wake of their triumph, the atmosphere has never been more buoyant.
With the new qualification rules surrounding the Champions League, Wolfsburg will be hoping their automatic entry into the Champions League, and the strength of squad at their disposal, will see them through to the knockout stages of the competition.
But, like a title defence, progressing further than that might be a Utopian aim.
Standard Liege (Belgium)
Unlucky to be drawn against Liverpool in the final round of Champions League qualifying last season (they eventually lost 1-0 on aggregate), a second consecutive Belgian league triumph and a change in qualification rules means Les Rouches will be in the group stages this time when the tournament kicks off in September.
Liege’s strength comes from their disciplined yet creative midfield, which boasts a bit of flair in the forms of Axel Witsel and Steven Defour—both rumoured to be targets of various Premier League sides—and Brazilian-born forward Igor de Camargo.
At the heart of the defence, American Onguchi Onyewu keeps things tight and makes it hard for the opposition. As their performance against Liverpool last year showed (indeed, they went on to beat Everton over two legs in the UEFA Cup just weeks later), Liege will prove a handful against any team they face.
A lot will depend on whether they can keep all their star players (striker Dieumerci Mbokani has already been heavily linked with German side Vfl Stuttgart, and their midfield stars are coveted by Europe’s big sides), but even if they keep their squad intact it would be a surprise to many if they made it any further than the group stages.
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