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The closest Leicester got to a European trip in recent years was crossing the Welsh border to play Swansea in the Premier League.Now, as the unlikely English champions, theyll be visiting Belgium, Portugal and Denmark -- and if all goes well, even more countries -- for matches in their first-ever campaign in the Champions League.Leicester is one of two newcomers in Europes elite club competition this season, along with Rostov following its second-place finish in the Russian league.Both teams were fighting relegation in their respective domestic leagues just two seasons ago, yet now they are mixing it with the cream of the continent.---LEICESTERIn its 132-year history, Leicester has only had four seasons of European competition -- the last coming in 2000 in the now-defunct UEFA Cup after winning the English League Cup. That was Leicesters last piece of major silverware before shocking the sporting world by winning the Premier League last season.The intervening 16-year period was a bumpy ride for the central English club, which bobbed up and down between Englands top two divisions -- and even spent a season in the third tier in 2008-09 -- and also drifted close to financial ruin before being taken over by a Thai consortium in 2010.The team, known as the Foxes, returned to the Premier League in 2014 and two years later they are the champions, completing the ultimate fairytale journey.Theres been something of a championship-winning hangover at Leicester, though, and the Champions League campaign, which starts at Club Brugge on Wednesday, will offer some respite after a sobering start to the Premier League title defense.Having lost just three league games last season, Claudio Ranieris team has lost two of its opening four matches this season and the manner of the defeats will be a concern.An opening-day 2-1 loss at promoted Hull and Saturdays 4-1 loss at Liverpool highlighted how much the team is missing NGolo Kante, the France midfielder sold to Chelsea in the offseason. Often it felt like Kante covered the ground of two players last season, offering excellent protection to a defense containing journeymen and even cast-offs.With Kante gone, Leicesters solidity has disappeared and the side looks open. Liverpool could easily have scored more than four goals at Anfield.We have to clear our minds, Ranieri said, and understand that in football we have to be strong, determined, aggressive and reactive.Its not all doom and gloom for Leicester, however.The club ended up being one of English footballs biggest spenders in the summer transfer window, breaking its transfer record twice to sign strikers Ahmed Musa, then Islam Slimani. The squad is now much deeper and stronger, while Ranieri managed to limit the major outgoings to just Kante, meaning key players Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are still on board.In a sense, the pressure is off Leicester this season and it should just enjoy the Champions League campaign, especially considering its benign draw that will see the team also play FC Copenhagen and FC Porto. A couple of wins at its King Power stadium fortress and a place in the knockout stage could beckon.Once again, I say we are underdogs, said Ranieri, who is embarking on a sixth Champions League campaign with a sixth different club.And thats just how they like it in Leicester.---ROSTOVRostov almost did a Leicester last season in Russia, falling just short in its title challenge a year after narrowly escaping relegation.Rostov finished second, two points behind CSKA Moscow, to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League and then beat famous European clubs Anderlecht and Ajax to make the group stage.The unheralded provincial side is breaking new ground, with its only previous experience of European competition being a brief one -- a loss in the Europa League playoffs in 2014. On that occasion, Rostov was excluded, then reinstated, from competition following a legal battle over financial issues, one of many episodes in a turbulent last few years.It was close to financial abyss in 2015 as the countrys recession hit Rostovs owners, the regional government.One coach, Igor Gamula, was suspended after saying the club had enough dark-skinned players and would not sign another. Then his successor, Kurban Berdyev, led Rostov on its unlikely title challenge only to quit for a better-paid job at Spartak Moscow.Spartak promptly changed its mind on hiring Berdyev and he is back at Rostov, listed as a vice-president/coach. One of his former assistants is the head coach, on paper at least, but Berdyev is likely to call the shots when it comes to Champions League tactics. He has experience of upsetting European giants, having beaten Barcelona away while Rubin Kazan coach.Meanwhile, a section of Rostovs Olimp 2 Stadium will be closed for its first home game in the Champions League because of racist behavior by fans during the playoff win over Ajax.The draw hasnt been kind to Rostov, which will face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and PSV Eindhoven in Group D. Romelu Lukaku Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Youri Tielemans Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.belgiumsoccerpro.com/Dedryck-Boyata-Belgium-Jersey/ . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Thibaut Courtois Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Nacer Chadli Jersey .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin could have a better team than it did in 2015. And a worse record.The schedule is that brutal for the Badgers.LSU. Michigan State. Michigan. Ohio State. And thats just within the seasons first six games.The Badgers, who finished 10-3 last season have heard the whispers, and theyre embracing the challenge.A lot of people are counting us out. Theyre saying our schedule is pretty tough, said running back Dare Ogunbowale. We look on it as an opportunity to do some special things.The talent is certainly there at Camp Randall Stadium in Paul Chyrsts second year as head coach.The backfield is loaded with the senior duo of Ogunbowale and Corey Clement leading the way. The offensive line figures to take a step up after injuries plagued the unit last season, forcing Wisconsin to rely heavily on younger players.Wisconsin is looking for a new starting quarterback with Joel Stave gone, but either Bart Houston or Alex Hornibrook should benefit from having a year to study the system run by the offensive-minded Chryst.On defense, the linebacking corps could be one of the Big Tens best, led by outside `backer Vince Biegel.Hes got great pass rush, hes got great strike. He is instinctive, defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said. Hes got a lot of ability as a football player.Biegel and his teammates will have to withstand the rigors of Wisconsins toughest schedule in years.The final six games begin with a trip to Iowa and a night home game against Nebraska. November starts with a trip to Northwestern, which is always a tough place for the Badgers.Six wins in the opening nine-game gauntlet of 2016 could be considered a smashing success for Wisconsin.Were not looking at it like, `Damn, this is going to be a hard year, offensive lineman Dan Voltz said. Were looking at it as we have a lot of opportunities to beat a lot of good teams and set ourselves up to have a fantastic season.Some other nuggets and notes on the Badgers:GETTING DEFENSIVEWilcox, the former Southern California defensive coordinator, has promised not to make major changes to the 3-4 scheme, though the Badgers do have to replace three starters in the secondary, including both safeties.ddddddddddddCLEMENT TIMEClement is looking to rebound from a tough 2015 season, when he was limited by a sports hernia and the aftereffects of surgery, as well as an off-field issue in November. The spotlight isnt as bright on Clement this preseason, and he wont be needed to handle a big workload with Ogunbowale and Taiwan Deal also likely to get snaps. But Clement, by far, is Wisconsins most explosive runner. A healthy, productive Clement will help an offense that will get a new starting quarterback.QB COMPETITIONHouston and the left-handed Hornibrook were competing to take over as the next signal-caller for the steady Stave, a four-year starter. Houston, a senior, as more experience than Hornibrook, a redshirt freshman.But the bottom line is that we have to get both Bart and Alex ready to play because one will be the starter and one will be one play away from being that guy, Chryst said.KEY GAMESThe season starts with LSU at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Badgers also get the Buckeyes at night on Oct. 15 at what should be an especially raucous Camp Randall Stadium.SEASON OPENERSept. 3 at Lambeau against the Tigers is a marquee showdown on the first weekend of the season. Former Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda makes his debut in the same job with LSU after leaving for Baton Rouge in the offseason.PREDICTION: 8-4.---AP freelance writer Dennis Semrau contributed to this story.---Online:AP College Football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org/---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP ' ' '