Battle of the Giants

The world's two most-famous soccer teams meet in Munich Tuesday evening for the Champions League second group stage opening match.

Both the players and the fans will certainly have May 26, 1999 in the back of their heads during the game. On that date, Manchester snatched the European Cup away from Bayern at the last minute by winning 2-1 in the final.

But Bayern avenged the devastating defeat by knocking Manchester United out of the competition with home and away wins last season before going on to win the Champions League.

Effenberg will play

Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said captain Stefan Effenberg will be in the starting lineup. Effenberg made a disappointing comeback in the Bundesliga this past weekend after more than three months on the sidelines with a foot injury.

"We can only continue the success of the past years with Stefan Effenberg," Hitzfeld said. "I can't very well tell him: Stefan, wait until Christmas, then have a seat under the tree and then we'll go from there."

Hitzfeld still has a midfield problem with Jens Jeremies and Mehmet Scholl out injured. He's expected to field England under-21 midfielder Owen Hargreaves from the start.

The English champions view their opponent with respect. "Bayern Munich in one of the strongest teams in Europe," said Manchester trainer Alex Ferguson.

Hitzfeld sticks to Bayern Munich

Hitzfeld quashed rumors that he might succeed Ferguson when he retires at the end of the season. "It's an honor to be linked with United, but I will not be joining them," Hitzfeld was quoted as saying in The Sun newspaper. "I have a contract with Bayern until 2004 and expect to see that out."

Hitzfeld has won the European Cup with both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.