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Juventus, Olympiacos, Malmö, Atlético ready

Last season's runners-up Club Atlético de Madrid are in Group A with fellow national champions Juventus, Olympiacos FC and Malmö FF. UEFA.com studies the form.

Juventus, like the other three teams, are national champions
Juventus, like the other three teams, are national champions ©Getty Images

Group A: Club Atlético de Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos FC, Malmö FF

• Group A is the only one of the eight sections to contain four domestic champions.

• Malmö are one of two sides making their group stage debut – Bulgarian title holders PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (Group B) are the other.

• The Swedish team were beaten home (0-2) and away (1-3) by Atlético in the 1966/67 European Champion Clubs' Cup first round.

• Atlético – who became only the third team to lose two European Cup finals without getting their hands on the trophy last season – also got the better of Olympiacos in the 1992/93 European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals, winning 4-2 on aggregate.

• Juventus thrashed Olympiacos 7-0 in the 2003/04 group stage, equalling the Italian club's record victory in UEFA competition.

Reaction
Åge Hareide, Malmö coach
There are two very strong sides and one that I think we can compete against, and that's Olympiacos. [Our objective is] to get to the Europa League knockout stage by finishing third. That way we'd get two matches next year too.

Míchel, Olympiacos coach
Both Atlético de Madrid and Juventus are very strong opponents. There were easier options for us, but one always has to fight. These two teams are the favourites to go through, but I feel that we will put on a great fight. My hope is that my players will be consistent and produce high-level performances in all matches.

Raúl García, Atlético midfielder
We are looking forward to the Champions League just as much as last year. We know that it's a top-level competition, so we have to be prepared for any type of game, because all our opponents will be strong. I hope we are able to play the same role as we did last year.