Kovac and Lopetegui kick off Champions League quests

Coaches with something to prove will kick off their Champions League seasons today.

Bayern Munich's Niko Kovac will be coaching in Europe's top competition for the first time, while Real Madrid's Julen Lopetegui makes his return three months after being fired as coach of Spain on the eve of the World Cup.

Pep Guardiola is aiming to lift Manchester City to a higher level in Europe, while across town Manchester United's Jose Mourinho will try yet again to become the first coach to win the European Cup/Champions League with three different clubs.

Massimilliano Allegri, meanwhile, is hoping to get a first title with serial winner Cristiano Ronaldo now in his Juventus team. since 2009 there is no Cristiano Ronaldo, the competition's record scorer.

Europe's most successful club also lost Zinedine Zidane, who resigned as coach, and hired Lopetegui just before the World Cup started. The move led to Lopetegui being fired immediately from the national team job.

Madrid added Thibaut Courtois in goal, but made no major signings to replace Ronaldo. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have played well in the team's good start in the Spanish league.

Madrid starts at home against Roma, a semifinalist last season after eliminating Barcelona in the quarterfinals. Expectations are high for the Italian club.