adminMONTE CARLO – Reigning European champions Bayern Munich were paired with Manchester City for this season’s Champions League group stage, while the draw was particularly unkind for Arsenal and Celtic.
The draw, made in Monaco on Thursday evening, threw up several mouthwatering ties as well as bringing together plenty familiar foes.
Under Pep Guardiola, Bayern are looking to become the first club to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era.
The Draw
Group A: Manchester United (ENG), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Real Sociedad (ESP)
Group B: Real Madrid (ESP), Juventus (ITA), Galatasaray (TUR), FC Copenhagen (DEN)
Group C: Benfica (POR), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Olympiakos (GRE), Anderlecht (BEL)
Group D: Bayern Munich (GER), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Manchester City (ENG), Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Group E: Chelsea (ENG), Schalke 04 (GER), FC Basel (SUI), Steaua Bucharest (ROM)
Group F: Arsenal (ENG), Marseille (FRA), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Napoli (ITA)
Group G: FC Porto (POR), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Zenit St Petersburg (RUS), Austria Vienna (AUT)
Group H: Barcelona (ESP), AC Milan (ITA), Ajax (NED), Celtic (SCO) – Supersport.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo