The group stage draws for the Champions League are in, and barring a few exceptions, the Premiership clubs again look like the favorites to make deep runs. In case you don’t feel like doing anything strenuous (like clicking a link), here’s some of the more interesting opening round pairings:

Inter and Barcelona in in Group F
Real Madrid and AC Milan in Group C
Unirea Urziceni and VfB Stuttgart in Group G

Wait a minute…

Tags: AC Milan, Barcelona, Champions League, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, UEFA

Watchin’ the game … enjoying it thoroughly. And it just occurred to me that Barcelona vs. Manchester Utd. really is a battle of Good vs. Evil, or at least Rich vs. Poor — something that couldn’t be more clear in the two opposing sponsors, Unicef and AIG.

Here we’ve got Unicef, a major international organization that looks out for the poorest children in the world … vs. AIG, the disgraced American banking behemoth with a corporate mission to repay taxpayers all the money their leaders stole/squandered by making as much money as possible off (the fear of) disaster and catastrophe.

Tags: Barcelona, Manchester United, sponsorship deals, uefa champions league

Or they’re in talks with Barcelona about a 40 million GBP transfer for star striker Samuel Eto’o. Or not. Wait, now I’m confused.  Man City - are you trying to buy this guy or not?

Tags: Barcelona, manchester city, Samuel Eto'o

Which means Bayern Munich v Barcelona will be on ESPN360.  Plan accordingly.

Tags: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea FC, ESPN, Soccer on TV, uefa champions league

Another great soccer video — this one of Ronaldinho, starting as a child, and moving up from there. OK, I think I am gaining a little respect for the Barcelona Brazilian.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c95fYtAMyc]

(My favorite scene is where he heads the ball out of the goalie’s hands.)

Tags: Barcelona, Ronaldinho, soccer videos