The group stage draw of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League has thrown up some intriguing groups and mouth-watering matches.
Group A
Teams involved: FC Porto, PSG, Dynamo Kiev and Dinamo Zagreb
2004 UEFA Champions League winners FC Porto were the seeded team in what looks to be a very competitive and tight group.
PSG have spent plenty of money in the summer but haven’t made a great start to the domestic season.
Dynamo Kiev has always been a tough side to overcome in Ukraine, even if their away record isn’t one to be proud of.
Dinamo Zagreb will bring some Croatian style to the group but will do well to escape Group A.
Tuesday 18 September - Dinamo Zagreb v FC Porto
Tuesday 18 September - PSG v Dynamo Kiev
Wednesday 3 October - FC Porto v PSG
Wednesday 3 October - Dynamo Kiev v Dinamo Zagreb
Wednesday 24 October - FC Porto v Dynamo Kiev
Wednesday 24 October - Dinamo Zagreb v PSG
Tuesday 6 November - Dynamo Kiev v FC Porto
Tuesday 6 November - PSG v Dinamo Zagreb
Wednesday 21 November - FC Porto v Dinamo Zagreb
Wednesday 21 November - Dynamo Kiev v PSG
Tuesday 4 December - PSG v FC Porto
Tuesday 4 December - Dinamo Zagreb v Dynamo Kiev
Group B
Teams involved: Arsenal, Schalke 04, Olympiakos and Montpellier
Will this finally be the season when Arsenal get it right and beat all challengers in Europe?
The Gunners have to be considered as favourites to progress from Group B.
Arsene Wenger’s side will face Olympiakos again in the group stages, having lost in Athens last season.
Schalke 04 reached the Champions League semi-finals two years ago and the dangerous Dutchman, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is amongst their squad roster.
French champions Montpellier complete the group and could spring a surprise.
Tuesday 18 September - Montpellier v Arsenal
Tuesday 18 September - Olympiakos v Schalke 04
Wednesday 3 October - Arsenal v Olympiakos
Wednesday 3 October - Schalke 04 v Montpellier
Wednesday 24 October - Arsenal v Schalke 04
Wednesday 24 October - Montpellier v Olympiakos
Tuesday 6 November - Schalke 04 v Arsenal
Tuesday 6 November - Olympiakos v Montpellier
Wednesday 21 November - Arsenal v Montpellier
Wednesday 21 November - Schalke 04 v Olympiakos
Tuesday 4 December - Olympiakos v Arsenal
Tuesday 4 December - Montpellier v Schalke
Group C
Teams involved: AC Milan, Zenit St. Petersburg, Anderlecht and Malaga
AC Milan might be Italy’s best shot for European glory this season but Group C has thrown up some tricky trips.
Zenit St. Petersburg have just signed Brazilian striker Hulk from FC Porto and will aim to improve on their best showing in this
competition, which was reaching the last 16 last season.
Anderlecht and Malaga complete Group C. Malaga have severe financial difficulties but have done well to reach this far and will be hoping that team spirit can make them progress.
Tuesday 18 September - AC Milan v Anderlecht
Tuesday 18 September - Malaga v Zenit St. Petersburg
Wednesday 3 October - Zenit St. Petersburg v AC Milan
Wednesday 3 October - Anderlecht v Malaga
Wednesday 24 October - Zenit St. Petersburg v Anderlecht
Wednesday 24 October - Malaga v AC Milan
Tuesday 6 November - AC Milan v Malaga
Tuesday 6 November - Anderlecht v Zenit St. Petersburg
Wednesday 21 November - Zenit St. Petersburg v Malaga
Wednesday 21 November - Anderlecht v AC Milan
Tuesday 4 December - AC Milan v Zenit St. Petersburg
Tuesday 4 December - Malaga v Anderlecht
Group D
Teams involved: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund
Group D is the ‘Group of Death’ this season, with four domestic champions paired together.
Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho will be aiming to go one step better, after penalty heartache in the semi-finals last season.
English champions Manchester City need to establish themselves in European competition, while Ajax’s youngsters might not be world class but as a team unit, can still cause problems for the very best.
Lastly, German champions Borussia Dortmund, who like Madrid and Ajax, have won this competition in the Champions League era back in 1997. Picking two from four here is going to be very tough to call.
Tuesday 18 September - Real Madrid v Manchester City
Tuesday 18 September - Borussia Dortmund v Ajax
Wednesday 3 October - Ajax v Real Madrid
Wednesday 3 October - Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund
Wednesday 24 October - Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday 24 October - Ajax v Manchester City
Tuesday 6 November - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
Tuesday 6 November - Manchester City v Ajax
Wednesday 21 November - Manchester City v Real Madrid
Wednesday 21 November - Ajax v Borussia Dortmund
Tuesday 4 December - Real Madrid v Ajax
Tuesday 4 December - Borussia Dortmund v Manchester City
Group E
Teams involved: Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and FC Nordsjaelland
The reigning holders Chelsea have been drawn into Group E and realistically, it is a group they should advance from with few problems.
Serie A champions Juventus will pose a stiff test, although with manager Antonio Conte banned for his role in the Italian match-fixing scandal, it remains to be seen how much this affects Juve.
Shakhtar Donetsk will be dangerous but have a similar away record to fellow Ukrainians Dynamo Kiev at the top level.
Champions League debutants FC Nordsjaelland complete the group.
Wednesday 19 September - Chelsea v Juventus
Wednesday 19 September - Shakhtar Donetsk v FC Nordsjaelland
Tuesday 2 October - FC Nordsjaelland v Chelsea
Tuesday 2 October - Juventus v Shakhtar Donetsk
Tuesday 23 October - Shakhtar Donetsk v Chelsea
Tuesday 23 October - FC Nordsjaelland v Juventus
Wednesday 7 November - Chelsea v Shakhtar Donetsk
Wednesday 7 November - Juventus v FC Nordsjaelland
Tuesday 20 November - Juventus v Chelsea
Tuesday 20 November - FC Nordsjaelland v Shakhtar Donetsk
Wednesday 5 December - Chelsea v FC Nordsjaelland
Wednesday 5 December - Shakhtar Donetsk v Juventus
Group F
Teams involved: Bayern Munich, Valencia, Lille and BATE Borisov
There is a repeat of the 2001 Champions League final in Group F, as Bayern Munich will lock horns with Valencia.
These two sides have solid records in Europe and shouldn’t have too many problems in progression, although Lille will have something to say about that.
BATE Borisov will look forward to welcoming the bigger sides to Belarus again this season.
Wednesday 19 September - Bayern Munich v Valencia
Wednesday 19 September - Lille v BATE Borisov
Tuesday 2 October - BATE Borisov v Bayern Munich
Tuesday 2 October - Valencia v Lille
Tuesday 23 October - Lille v Bayern Munich
Tuesday 23 October - BATE Borisov v Valencia
Wednesday 7 November - Bayern Munich v Lille
Wednesday 7 November - Valencia v BATE Borisov
Tuesday 20 November - Valencia v Bayern Munich
Tuesday 20 November - BATE Borisov v Lille
Wednesday 5 December - Bayern Munich v BATE Borisov
Wednesday 5 December - Lille v Valencia
Group G
Teams involved: Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moscow and Celtic
The mighty Barcelona must start as favourites to regain the Champions League and they have been handed an interesting group but one that the Catalans should cruise through.
The main danger is likely to come from Benfica, who were quarter-finalists last season.
Spartak Moscow did well to reach this stage, although they aren’t the Russian powerhouse they used to be and Celtic have made the group stages and there is no doubt that their fans will provide some of the most fanatical support before Christmas.
Wednesday 19 September - Barcelona v Spartak Moscow
Wednesday 19 September - Celtic v Benfica
Tuesday 2 October - Spartak Moscow v Celtic
Tuesday 2 October - Benfica v Barcelona
Tuesday 23 October - Spartak Moscow v Benfica
Tuesday 23 October - Barcelona v Celtic
Wednesday 7 November - Celtic v Barcelona
Wednesday 7 November - Benfica v Spartak Moscow
Tuesday 20 November - Spartak Moscow v Barcelona
Tuesday 20 November - Benfica v Celtic
Wednesday 5 December - Barcelona v Benfica
Wednesday 5 December - Celtic v Spartak Moscow
Group H
Teams involved: Manchester United, Sporting Braga, Galatasaray and CFR Cluj
Last season, Manchester United were handed on paper a very easy group but they failed to progress.
The Red Devils can’t make the same mistake twice but the draw was very favourable to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Whilst CFR Cluj defeated United’s conquerors from last season, FC Basle to reach the group stage, they will struggle to reach the top two.
Galatasaray have been in the doldrums for several years now but never trust a Turkish side, while 2011 UEFA Europa League finalists Sporting Braga have beaten Arsenal and Liverpool in European competition in recent seasons.
Wednesday 19 September - Manchester United v Galatasaray
Wednesday 19 September - Sporting Braga v CFR Cluj
Tuesday 2 October - CFR Cluj v Manchester United
Tuesday 2 October - Galatasaray v Sporting Braga
Tuesday 23 October - Manchester United v Sporting Braga
Tuesday 23 October - Galatasaray v CFR Cluj
Wednesday 7 November - Sporting Braga v Manchester United
Wednesday 7 November - CFR Cluj v Galatasaray
Tuesday 20 November - Galatasaray v Manchester United
Tuesday 20 November - CFR Cluj v Sporting Braga
Wednesday 5 December - Manchester United v CFR Cluj
Wednesday 5 December - Sporting Braga v Galatasaray
(All kick-off times are 7.45pm UK time, except home matches in Russia, which will start at 5pm)
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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