Milan's shaky start to the season is now forgotten and the seven-time European champions are showing why they are a hot favourite to win the title they have never won before - the UEFA Cup.

The Rossoneri are buoyed by a return to form - Ronaldinho is back to full fitness and scoring goals, Filippo Inzaghi and Andriy Shevchenko are available and a repaired defence has allowing only two goals in five games despite the absence of Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze and Philippe Senderos.

"That's a positive," captain Paolo Maldini said. "Especially after all the pre-season friendlies when we allowed a lot of goals."

This round kicks off today with the 40 survivors split into eight groups, with Milan beginning at Dutch club Heerenveen.

With Shevchenko likely to start, coach Carlo Ancelotti might even give Ronaldinho a rest although he has been impressed by the Brazilian's return to form after his move from Barcelona.

"Ronaldinho is working to improve his form and is again becoming a very important player," Ancelotti said after the Brazilian star scored twice in Sunday's 3-0 victory over Sampdoria. Inzaghi scored the other goal and may also face Heerenveen, which is in fourth place in the Dutch league with 11 points from six games.

"I understand it's a very quick team that plays especially well at home, so we're going to have to be attentive and make sure we get our energy back," Maldini said.

Portugal's Braga host English FA Cup winners Portsmouth in the other Group E game while Wolfsburg, one of five German clubs still in the competition, sits out the first round.

FC Twente, guided by former England coach Steve McClaren, is one of five Dutch clubs playing in the group stage and hosts Racing Santander, one of four Spanish teams.

Manchester City are idle but Schalke face Paris Saint-Germain in the other Group A game at their Aufschalke Arena, venue for the 2004 Champions League final.

Schalke have four players doubtful for the game at home to PSG - defenders Mladen Krstajic and Christian Pander and Georgian midfielder Levan Kobiashvili and Levan Kenia.

Schalke coach Fred Rutten has said each one is touch and go to play. "Krstajic picked up a knock on his left knee during the match against Hamburg SV on Sunday," Rutten said. "Levan (Kobiashvili) is not at full strength after having suffered from flu."

Hertha Berlin host Benfica in an eye-catching game in Group B which also has Galatasaray at home to Olympiakos, a potentially volatile Turkey vs. Greece confrontation because of the two nations' past political hostilities.

Olympiakos announced that it will not provide any tickets for its fans for the match in Istanbul but it is unclear if its supporters will travel to Turkey to seek tickets there.

Sevilla-VfB Stuttgart in the highlight game of today's Group C games and Tottenham, last in the Premier League with only two points, have a tough Group D match at Italy's Udinese.

Aston Villa host Ajax in Group F while Bundesliga leaders SV Hamburg go to Slovakia to face MSK Zilina.

Valencia sit out the first round of games in Group G but Deportivo de La Coruna go to CSKA Moscow in Group H and Feyenoord visit French club AS Nancy.