Glasgow, Sept 16: Rangers and Manchester United look forward to their opening games in Group E of the Champions League. Rangers manager Alex McLeish says failing to beat VfB Stuttgart in Tuesday's Champions League opener would not unduly harm the Scottish champions' bid to qualify for the last 16. English champions Manchester United are favourites to win Group E but McLeish feels the Glasgow side, Stuttgart and Panathinaikos of Greece, the fourth club in contention, are evenly matched in the hunt for second place. "If we lose or draw the game, it doesn't mean you won't progress," McLeish told reporters on Monday. "It would be a setback, but it's a section and we would have to see how it works out over all the games.

"I think every team outside of Manchester United will feel they have a chance to finish second and there's no reason why we can't qualify if we play to our best and have a bit of luck.


"We'll be trying to win, but I don't think anybody should be too disappointed if we don't get three points tomorrow."


Rangers' last home defeat to a German side was a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich in 1990 and they have lost only twice in 20 matches against Bundesliga opposition at Ibrox.


They also know Glasgow rivals Celtic beat Stuttgart 3-1 at home during their run to last season's UEFA Cup final. But former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern midfielder Christian Nerlinger says Rangers can't focus too much on that result.


"Stuttgart lost a key player in Marcelo Jose Bordon after 20 minutes to a red card," he said. "He is a key player and the whole Celtic game changed after that."


Stuggart travel to Scotland with confidence and have yet to concede a goal after five league matches of their domestic season.


"European football is all about learning and Manchester United had to win three premier league titles before making an impression on the European Cup," added McLeish, whose side are making their first Champions League appearance in three years.


"Stuttgart have a young team and young confident players, but we would like to score against them and end such an impressive record."


The streamlining of the Champions League will make it a more exciting competition for players and supporters alike, according to the manager and captain of 1999 winners Manchester United.


Clubs now need to negotiate one group stage, rather than two, to reach the knockout rounds of the competition with the English champions starting their campaign against Panathinaikos at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

"It should add a bit of spice in terms of the realisation that you're (straight) into the last 16," United manager Alex Ferguson told a news conference on Monday. "There are four less games and group-one stage takes on far greater significance," he said. The top two teams in each of the eight groups go through.

"Obviously, we want to be in that last 16 and my philosophy has always been that 10 points get you there.


"We realise that a good start is going to be very important in this section. It's a section which I don't think you can take any chances with in trying to avoid as much as you possibly can any shock, because it's that type of group."


The removal of the second group stage was also welcomed by United captain Roy Keane, who looks set to miss tomorrow night's game with an ankle injury.


"There have been a lot of complaints over the last few years, from a lot of fans, especially about the second group," Keane said.

"There were a lot of matches where teams have already qualified and were nothing games.


"It's going to bring excitement back with the first stage going straight into the knockout stage. I think the players probably prefer that as well," the Irishman said. "There are a lot of games in a season and there are going to be three or four less now.


"I think the players prefer going straight into the knockout stage and I think most fans will hopefully enjoy that."


Probable teams: Rangers: 1-Stefan Klos; 2-Fernando Ricksen, 25-Henning Berg, 15-Zurab Khizanishvili, 18-Michael Ball; 8-Christian Nerlinger, 4-Emerson, 23-Mikel Arteta; 10-Michael Mols, 7-Shota Arveladze, 26-Peter Lovenkrands



VfB Stuttgart: 1-Timo Hildebrand; 2-Andreas Hinkel, 6-Fernando Meira, 5-Marcelo Bordon, 12-Heiko Gerber; 15-Alexander Gleb, 20-Zvonimir Soldo, 8-Jurica Vranjes, 16-Horst Heldt; 22-Kevin Kuranyi, 18-Cacau Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France)


Manchester United: 14-Tim Howard; 2-Gary Neville, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 27-Mikael Silvestre, 22-John O'Shea; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 8-Nicky Butt, 19-Eric Djemba-Djemba, 20-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer; 10-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 11-Ryan Giggs


Panathinaikos: 1-Antonis Nikopolidis, 30-Takis Fyssas, 5-Yourkas Seitaridis, 18-Sotirios Kyrgiakos, 2-Rene Henriksen, 6-Markus Munch, 10-Joel Epalle, 4-Silvio Maric, 27-Pantelis Konstantinidis, 19-Michalis Konstantinou, 23-Emmanuel Olisadebe Referee: Alain Sars (France)


Bureau Report