Tough Draws for Germans

The teams on the long road to Moscow and the 2007/08 Champions League Final took another small step Thursday when the draw for the group stages of Europe's premier club competition were made in Monaco.

UEFA President Michel Platini oversaw the placing of 32 teams into eight groups during the spectacular event in the principality. Each group was headed by one of the eight seeded teams from around Europe, including holders AC Milan, last year's beaten finalists Liverpool and 2006 winners Barcelona.

Germany was fielding three teams in the draw: champions VfB Stuttgart, runners-up Schalke 04 and third-placed Werder Bremen, who qualified on Wednesday night after a tough night in Zagreb.

Bundesliga champions Stuttgart, who qualified automatically, will have to be well-prepared to progress from Group E after being drawn against 2006 winners Barcelona, perennial French champions Olympique Lyon and Glasgow Rangers.

Schalke 04, who spectacularly blew the chance to win the German title in the final stages of last season, will be hoping to keep their nerve in Group B, despite the presence of Chelsea, Valencia and Norwegian champions Rosenberg.

Both Chelsea and Valencia reached the knock-out stages last year with Chelsea reaching the semi-finals after beating Bremen in the group stages.

Werder Bremen, who reached the group stage for a fourth consecutive season following a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Dynamo Zagreb, with Brazilian midfielder Diego scoring a brace of penalties, were rewarded with a tough Group C placing.

Thomas Schaaf's team will face Spanish champions Real Madrid, Italian team Lazio and Greece's Olympiakos.