Barca given easy ride

Barcelona are 5/1 favourites with William Hill to win the UEFA Champions League this season after having been drawn in a favourable group. Despite having won nothing last season the bookmakers feel that Frank Rijkaard's side - with Ronaldinho now joined in a devastating strike force by Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry - have the best chance of clinching their second European title. Barça have been drawn in Group E with Lyon, Stuttgart and Rangers and should have no problem at all in reaching the knockout stages as the German and French champions have looked unconvincing already this season and Rangers are also-rans. Chelsea are second favourites to win Europe's glittering prize for the first time at 13/2 although their group is not an easy one. Valencia took them all the way in the quarter-finals of the competition last season when only Michael Essien's last-gasp goal rescued José Mourinho's side. A defensively solid FC Schalke 04 will be no walkover either and will prove a difficult side to roll over. It is perplexing that Hills should make Manchester United United 7/1 third favourites. They meet a Roma side they routed 8-3 in the quarter-finals last year but will not find the Giallorossi so easy-going this time around. Coach Luciano Spalletti is a wily customer and has already shown signs that his team will pose a strong Serie A threat this term by beating Inter in the Italian Supercup and a strong Palermo side in the first match of the season. That United are so short-priced is incongruous with the faithless 1/5 on them qualifying from a group including Sporting Lisbon and Dynamo Kiev. 10/3 on them failing makes for far greater appeal here. Liverpool and Arsenal are 10/1 and 16/1 shots respectively which are generous odds considering both should breeze through their groups. Rafa Benitez has got this competition cracked and neither FC Porto, Besiktas or Marseilles should pose any problems for them, which is why they are 1/14 to go through and 13/2 to slip up. The Gunners will have their work cut out against ever-improving Seville (assuming they qualify ahead of AEK Athens, whom they lead 2-0 in the third qualifying round), but Steaua Bucharest and Slavia Prague should be comfortably swept aside and 1/4 to go through is a safe bet. Chelsea are favourites to progress the furthest of the British sides, which is no great surprise considering they have reached the last four three times in the last four attempts. Hills make Chelsea 9/4, Liverpool and Manchester United 5/2; Arsenal 19/5; Celtic 16/1 and Rangers 40/1. A strengthened Liverpool looks the best deal in this market.#1 Betfair Bonus £25 Free Bet.#2 Ladbrokes £25 Free Bet.#3 Paddypower Bonus £20 Free Bet.