English sides avoided a potential ‘group of death’ with PSG, Bourssia Dortmund and Napoli for the first round of the Champions League, although Arsenal face a tough test in Group F, while David Moyes has been eased into the competition.
Arsenal, the first ball to be drawn, were placed into Group F alongside last season’s French runners-up, Marseille; this year’s Champions League finalists, Borussia Dortmund; and Rafael Benitez’s Napoli in one of the toughest groups in the tournament.
Chelsea, the 2012 champions, were drawn into Group E with German qualifiers, Schalke, as well as two sides the Blues beat en route to last season’s Europa League triumph, FC Basel and Steaua Bucharest.
Manchester United will face Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad in Group A in David Moyes’ maiden Champions League campaign.
Manchester City will have the tough test of facing reigning champions, Bayern Munich, in Group D, as well as CSKA Moscow and Czech champions Viktoria Plzen, but boss Manuel Pellegrini will be confident of seeing his side progress beyond the group stages for the first time.
Meanwhile, Celtic were handed a difficult draw in Group H where they face Barcelona for a second successive season, AC Milan and Ajax – all former winners of the European Cup.
Full draw :
Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad
Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, Copenhagen
Group C: Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht
Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, MANCHESTER CITY, Viktoria Plzen
Group E: CHELSEA, Schalke, Basel, Steaua Bucharest
Group F: ARSENAL, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli
Group G: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St. Petersburg, Austria Vienna
Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax, Celtic.
Trending
- OSUN: NANS seeks intervention from Governor Adeleke, threatens protest over fee hike, palliative
- Easter Celebration: IGP orders round-the-clock water-tight security at all public spaces
- Kogi poll: SDP witness contradicts self on alleged ‘affidavit forgery’ against Governor Ododo
- No BoT in Labour Party, spokesman dismisses takeover claims
- Nigerian writer urges preservation of literary heritage amid writer shortage
- Health professionals brainstorm in Abuja, seek drug free society
- CAF announce dates for Champions League, Confederation Cup Finals
- Tayo Ayinde withdraws suit against Gani Adams, restates commitment to peace