London trio lead British charge in Europe

Three clubs from London – Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – are among the five representing Britain in this season’s UEFA Champions League, the other two being Manchester United and Rangers.

Tottenham will be making their debut in this tournament.

They reached the group phase after eliminating Switzerland’s Young Boys in the play-offs − away 2-3 (Bassong, Pavyluchenko); home 4-0 (Crouch 3, Defoe).

Peter Crouch became only the second Tottenham player to score a hat-trick in the European Cup. The other, Cliff Jones, scored three times in Spurs’ debut on the continent in 1961-62 against Gornik Zagreb, of Poland. After the away 2-4 upset, the Londoners thrashed the Poles 8-1.

After last month’s draw, Tottenham’s group was dubbed as the hardest of the lot (Spurs will also have to play holders Inter, Dutch champions FC Twente and Bundesliga team Werder Bremen).

Tottenham figured only once in the European Cup, the 1961-62 competition, after they had claimed the Double. Their record reads:

Preliminary round: Gornik Zagreb − away 2-4 (Jones, Dyson); home 8-1 (Blanchflower pen, Jones 3, Smith 2, Dyson, White).

First round: Feyenoord − away ­3-1 (Dyson, Saul 2); home 1-1 (Dyson).

Quarter-final: Dukla Prague (Czechoslovakia) − away 0-1; home 4-1 (Smith 2, Mackay 2).

Semi-final: Benfica − away 1-3 (Smith); home 2-1 (Smith, Blanchflower pen).

In their opening match, Tottenham play away at Werder Bremen.

This will be the first meeting between the duo. In their last excursion in Germany, the Spurs won 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Cup.

Battle of Britain

Manchester United will play at home to Rangers in the first tie.

In their last 29 matches at Old Trafford in the Champions League, the Red Devils lost only once to Besiktas 0-1, last season.

Rangers boss Walter Smith will return to Old Trafford, having briefly worked as Alex Ferguson’s assistant prior to his stint in charge of Scotland.

This will be the 31st clash between clubs from England and Scotland in European competition.

Last year, Arsenal met Celtic in the Champions League play-off and the Gunners won both legs − away 2-0, home 3-1.

United have come across Scottish opposition on four occasions:

2008-09 (Champions League group) Celtic − home 3-0; away 1-1.

2006-07 (Champions League group) Celtic − home 3-2; away 0-1.

2003-04 (Champions League group) Rangers − away 1-0, home 3-0.

1984-85 (UEFA Cup, third round) Dundee United − home 2-2; away 3-2 (agg: 5-4).

England champions Chelsea will launch yet another attempt to win the Champions League. This will be the second Euro campaign under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who won the tournament on four occasions − twice as a player and twice as coach with Milan.

After emerging undefeated from their group matches last season, up came Jose Mourinho for his first visit to Stamford Bridge since leaving London.

Mourinho’s Inter won the first leg at the San Siro 2-1 and the Blues fans had high hopes of progressing. But Inter had other ideas and won the return 1-0.

Chelsea kick off at Slovak side MSK Zilina. The Blues have already beat Zilina in the same competition in 2003-04: (qualifying third round) away 2-0, home 3-0 (5-0).

Arsenal will be competing in their 140th match in the European Cup and the statistics read: Won 67, Drawn 35, Lost 37, Goals For 219, Against 135.

Last season, the Gunners were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Barcelona who beat Arsenal 4-1 at the Nou Camp in Spain after a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

This year, Arsenal open their commitments against Portugal’s Braga. In their past five matches against Portuguese sides, Arsenal only lost once at home:

2009-10 (Champions League, second round) Porto 5-0.

2008-09 (Champions League group) Porto 4-0.

2006-07 (Champions League group) Porto 2-0.

1991-92 (Champions League, second round) Benfica 1-3.

1969-70 (Fairs Cup, second round) Sporting Lisbon 3-0.

The last time Braga reached English shores was in 2007-08, drawing 1-1 with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium in a group match of the UEFA Cup.

To reach the group phase, Braga stunned Seville in the third qualifying round. After the Portuguese side won the home leg 1-0, they were not given too much chance by the critics. But Braga won a thrilling return game in Spain 4-3.