Group D pours salt on fresh wounds

Some bitter recent memories will have been aroused by the Group D draw, with FC Porto having been knocked out the competition by Chelsea FC and themselves ousted Club Atlético de Madrid in recent editions.

Recent meetings
Chelsea and Porto will meet for the fifth and sixth times in UEFA club competition, and plenty of players on both sides will remember their 2006/07 encounter when the Blues – led by former Porto boss José Mourinho – drew 1-1 in Portugal and triumphed 2-1 at home thanks to a 79th-minute Michael Ballack effort to knock their opponents out of the first knockout round. Porto prevailed in the same stage of last season's competition, however, eliminating Atlético on away goals, drawing 0-0 at home and 2-2 in the Spanish capital. Group-stage debutants APOEL FC make up the section, meaning a return to Stamford Bridge for the Cypriot side's Portuguese midfielder, Nuno Morais.

Peter Kenyon, Chelsea chief executive
We start again and are always looking to get one step further. There are no easy games or groups but overall not too much travel and we have managed to avoid one of the big ones.

Jesualdo Ferreira, Porto coach
It's a difficult group – there were easier teams than Atlético in the pot. We are going to work hard and fight and it's good to remember that, in the past three seasons we have topped our section ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal. In my opinion, and from what we've seen so far, Chelsea are the strongest team in English football at the moment, and will never be easy. They have plenty of experience and have kept all of their players so they are stronger. The arrival of a new coach didn't change things. We eliminated Atlético last term. They have the same structure and the same coach so they will also be stronger. Playing our last match in Madrid might be decisive regarding the struggle for the two top places. Theoretically, APOEL are the weakest team in the group but they are an unknown quantity. They have a lot of foreign players so we cannot talk just about a team from Cyprus; we have to be careful.

Enrique Cerezo, Atlético president
I'm always optimistic and because of that I have total confidence in my team and believe we'll have our chances to advance to the knockout rounds. You have to take into account that all the sides at this level are the best in Europe so whoever you come up against will represent a tough task. Chelsea look to be the most difficult for us but we'll fight with them and the rest of the teams to book our place in the last 16. I am convinced our squad is going to continue the great work they have done until now and that will see us through as one of the top two teams.

Nuno Morais, APOEL midfielder
For us, it didn't really matter who we drew. All the teams are really good at this stage so it was difficult to have a preference at the draw. This whole competition is new for us so every game will be a learning experience for everyone. We are really looking forward to the games. Chelsea are my old club so it will be really nice to return to Stamford Bridge. I was pleasantly surprised to see us go into the group with Chelsea. I have friends there who I shared some happy times with. It will be nice to catch up with them.