Carlo Ancelotti and his players could face a marathon season in the Champions League this season. The Bianconeri, who are due to kick-off their European campaign on the 12th or 13th of Sept, will play 15 games in the competition if they go all the way to the Final.

The draw for the Champion's League groups was held on Friday, August 25, 2000. Juventus is in Group E along with:

• Deportivo La Coruna (Spain)
• Hamburg SV (Germany)
• Panathinaikos (Greece)

Previous encounters:

Deportivo La Coruna
The only side in Group E whom the Bianconeri have never previously met.

Hamburg
Juventus will be looking to exact revenge for their European Cup Final defeat in Athens in 1983, which the Germans won 1-0, thanks to Felix Magath. Roberto Bettega, current Bianconero vice-president played in that match, under then manager and current Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni. Previously, however, the Bianconeri had twice knocked Hamburg out of the UEFA Cup (in the 1974/75 and 1989/90 seasons).

Panathinaikos
There's no escaping the unpleasant memories of Athens as the Bianconeri take on the Hellenic might of Panathinaikos. But history favours Juventus; they have never lost to the Greek side in a European tie.

Comments about the draw from the Juve camp:

Roberto Bettega
"It's a pretty evenly-matched group and I predict low points scores. As for Hamburg, the hardest thing will be to find the right level of concentration against opponents who have already played in qualifying matches as well as having 10 League matches under their belts.

"Our defeat to Hamburg in the 1983 European Cup Final has gone down in the club's history; we have to look to the future and delete that memory by winning another Final."

Carlo Ancelotti
"It could have been worse, could have been better. Deportivo are the team to fear most because they won the Spanish title. Let's not forget that a Spanish side [Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup] knocked us out last year and gave us a torrid time.

"Panathinaikos also fought to the wire in their League, they are a good side and we all know about their hostile fans. In all honesty I don't know too much about Hamburg."

Filippo Inzaghi
"It's a pretty tough group but that's to be expected. Let's say it's a halfway house between Milan and Lazio's groups. We want to get through the group and will give it our all. Deportivo are the strongest on paper and we all know the pitfalls of playing in Greece while Hamburg did well last season."

Antonio Conte
"I'd say it's a middle-of-the-road draw. Juventus and Deportivo start as favourites but you can't rule the other two out. Nasty surprises are always round the corner."

The road to Milan:

DATE	ROUND/PHASE
13 September	1st Group Phase, Matchday 1 Hamburg 4 - 4 Juventus Tudor 6' (J), Yeboah 17' (H), Inzaghi 36' (J), Inzaghi 52' (J), Mahdavikia 65' (H), Butt 72' (pen) (H), Kovac 82' (H), Inzaghi 88' (pen) (J)
19 September	1st Group Phase, Matchday 2 Juventus 2 - 1 Panathinaikos Tacchinardi 35' (J), Goumas 47' (P), Trezeguet 83' (J)
26 September	1st Group Phase, Matchday 3 Juventus 0 - 0 Deportivo La Coruna
18 October	1st Group Phase, Matchday 4 Deportivo La Coruna 1 - 1 Juventus Inzaghi 10' (J), Victor 12' (D)
24 October	1st Group Phase, Matchday 5 Juventus 1 - 3 Hamburg Pr�ger 24' (H), Yeboah 48' (H), Kovacevic 56' (J), Panadic 62' (H)
8 November	1st Group Phase, Matchday 6 Panathinaikos 3 - 1 Juventus Sousa 6' (P), Inzaghi 23' (J), Basinas 58' (penalty) (P), Warzych 66' (P)
21/22 November	2nd Group Phase, Matchday 1
5/6 December	2nd Group Phase, Matchday 2
13/14 February	2nd Group Phase, Matchday 3
20/21 February	2nd Group Phase, Matchday 4
6/7 March	2nd Group Phase, Matchday 5
13/14 March	2nd Group Phase, Matchday 6
3/4 and 17/18 April	Quarter-finals
1/2 and 8/9 May	Semi-finals
23 May	Final (San Siro, Milan)