Manchester
City will face three national champions in the ‘Group of Death,’ in this season’s
UEFA Champions’ League group phase.
City were
drawn into Group D, alongside Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, Dutch league
champions Ajax and dangerous German side Borussia Dortmund, who won this
competition in 1997.
Although not
impossible, it means Roberto Mancini has to deal with some testing ties from
the off.
The draw,
which took place in Monaco, involved the 2013 Wembley Final ambassador Steve
McManaman.
McManaman represented
both Real Madrid and Manchester City in his playing career.
Former
European player of the year winners, George Weah, Denis Law, Fabio Cannavaro
and Ruud Gullit, also helped out with the draw.
Chelsea meet Juve
European
champions Chelsea were drawn into Group E alongside Serie A champions Juventus,
Shakhtar Donetsk and Champions League novices, FC Nordsjaelland.
Despite a mouth-watering
meeting with Juve, Roberto di Matteo must be modestly satisfied, to have
avoided some other difficult teams, ranked in pots two and four.
Following
their progression in the playoffs against Helsinborgs, Celtic have been handed
a tough looking group.
Neil Lennon’s
Scots will play Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow in Group G.
For the
Celtic followers and Scottish football in general, just being in the draw has
to be considered as a result.
After their
shock early exit last season in the group stages, Manchester United will not be
taking anything for granted this time around.
Nightmare trip to Istanbul for Red
Devils
Nevertheless,
they must be happy with their opponents in Group H, although there is the
nightmare trip to Istanbul, thrown into the mix.
The Red
Devils will meet Galatasaray, 2010 Europa League finalists Sporting Braga and
CFR Cluj from Romania, who eliminated United’s conquerors from last season, FC
Basle in the playoffs.
As with
recent seasons, Arsenal avoided all the heavyweights. It is Group B for the Gunners, alongside
French champions Montpellier, meaning Olivier Giroud will get an early return
to his former side.
Schalke 04
and Olympiakos will be the other teams that Arsene Wenger has to get scouting
reports ready for.
Other
interesting groups, see financially troubled Malaga, paired with AC Milan in
Group C and a repeat of the 2001 Champions League final in Group F, as Bayern
Munich tackle Valencia.
As ever, the
group stage draw for the UEFA Champions League has thrown up some intriguing
ties and for Roberto Mancini, another ‘Group of Death.’
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE DRAW
Group A: FC
Porto, Dynamo Kiev, Paris St. Germain, Dinamo Zagreb
Group B:
Arsenal, Schalke 04, Olympiakos, Montpellier
Group C: AC
Milan, Zenit St. Petersburg, Anderlecht, Malaga
Group D: Real
Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund
Group E:
Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, FC Nordsjaelland
Group F:
Bayern Munich, Valencia, Lille, BATE Borisov
Group G:
Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moscow, Celtic
Group H:
Manchester United, Sporting Braga, Galatasaray, CFR Cluj
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