The draw for the group stage of the Champions League threw up some big matches that will excite lovers of all types of football; from a Real Madrid-Liverpool to a Bayern Munich-Manchester City, with a Barcelona-Paris Saint-Germain along the way.
Real Madrid will begin their title defence in Group B, alongside Liverpool, Basil and Ludogorets, whilst last time’s runners-up, Atlético Madrid will come up against Juventus, Olympiakos and Malmo. Barcelona will be tested in their high-level match against the powerful Paris Saint-Germain in Group F, as well as Ajax and APOEL Nicosia.
Group E looks like the group of death, despite only containing one former European Champion in the shape of Bayern Munich.
Josep Guardiola’s team will play Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Roma. Other stand-out matches include Arsenal-Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea-Schalke and Porto against Athletic Bilbao, in Group H which also has Shaktar Donetsk and BATE Borisov.
Group phase
Group A: Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Olympiakos, Malmo
Group B: Real Madrid, Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets Razgrad.
Group C: Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco.
Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Anderlecht
Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma.
Group F: Barcelona, PSG, Ajax, APOEL Nicosia.
Group G: Chelsea, Schalke 04, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor
Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao, BATE Borisov.
