All aboard the Champions League gravy train. Tomorrow night, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Parma, Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven, Paris St Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona et al set out on the longest, probably the toughest and definitely the most lucrative Champions League yet.

Not only glory and European club soccer's most prestigious prize, but also an estimated £9-10 million could await this season's winner. Even though UEFA's premier competition has expanded from 16 to 24 teams - divided into six groups of four - the cash incentives for participation, wins along the way and eventual overall victory have all increased.

Participation alone is now worth approximately £950,000, while victories in the Group games are worth £475,000 each with a draw leading to another £235,000. A further bonus of £1.4 million (quarter finals) or £1.5 million (semi-finals) will also be paid out, while the prize for winning next May's final is £2.4 million.

When club's percentage on television rights and box-office takings are added to the above prize money it becomes clear that victory in the Champions League, even if the eventual winner does not win all its games, represents a handy little pot of gold.

Europe's premier clubs have good reason to put the Champions League at the top of their priority list. Of no side is this truer than last season's beaten finalists Juventus. The current Italian champions have been kicking themselves since losing to Borussia Dortmund in Munich last May, they believe that nine times out of 10 they could beat Dortmund without as much as breaking sweat.

Having cruised to the final and made easy work of allegedly class sides such as Ajax and Manchester United along the way, Juventus were probably a little too confident against Dortmund. Whether it was this over confidence or simply an off night at the end of an exhausting Serie A championship-winning season matters little now. This was underlined by Juventus captain Antonio Conte, back in the side after a near season-long injury: "Having watched that game (Champions Cup final) as a spectator, the only feeling I have about it is anger because the weaker side won and because there's nothing you can do to set it right." One of the key factors in the final was the uncertain form of Alessandro Del Piero who, brought on as a halftime substitute, scored a remarkably delicate back-heeled goal.

Del Piero is again at the centre of the pre-match hype as Juventus prepare to open their campaign against Dutch side Feyenoord at the Stadio Delle Alpi in Turin tomorrow night.

Del Piero should be back in the side after missing Sunday night's 0-0 league draw away to AS Roma apparently because of confusion about Italian Federation rules. Called up for Italy's World Cup qualifier against Georgia last week, Del Piero withdrew from the squad and did not travel to team training in Florence because of a badly bruised eye.

Under Federation rules, a player who declines an international callup because of injury is obliged to miss his club's first official game after the call-up period. Had Del Piero travelled to Florence, complete with his black eye, and be sent home by the Italian World Cup team doctor, Juventus could have played him.

Uncertain about the precise interpretation of the rules, Juventus opted not to play Del Piero and Michele Padovano took his place alongside $13 million buy Filippo Inzaghi (last season's leading Serie A marksman with 24 goals for Atalanta). Against Feyenoord, Del Piero's enforced rest could prove a an advantage.

Del Piero aside, Juventus are unlikely to make many changes, with their line-up having an awesomely familiar look about it. Angelo Di Livio, Antonio Conte and Frenchmen Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane form the midfield with Uruguyan Paolo Montero and Ciro Ferrara holding the central defensive fort.

Feyenoord reflect the harsh realities of these post-Bosman times. There was a time when the vast majority of the Rotterdam club's senior squad were home grown players, developed and nurtured through their youth team. Nowadays, however, 13 of the 22 strong senior squad are "foreigners" - four Argentines, one Uruguyan, one Austrian, one Pole, one Hungarian, one Belgian, one Russian, one Czech, one Brazilian and one Irishman (David Connolly).

Coached by former Dutch international Arie Haan, Feyenoord will look to at least one of those foreigners, Argentine Julio Ricardo Cruz, to spring a surprise. Bought for $10 million this summer from Argentine club River Plate, Cruz comes with a tall reputation.

Perhaps, too, Feyenoord reckon that if they go all the way in the tournament, they will more than recoup their initial outlay on Cruz. Before Feyenoord do that, however, obstacles such as Juventus, Manchester United et al must first be overcome. Bring up the Champions League curtain.