Favourable draw for English clubs
It was always going to spring up a few surprises, but while it has been kind to the English clubs, this year's Champions League group stage draw has thrown up some intriguing match-ups as the best sides in Europe look to book their place at final in Rome.
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United celebrate after picking up last year's trophy.
The pick of the bunch is patently Group F where Bayern Munich, who missed out on the Champions League last year, are joined by French champions Lyon. The likes of Luca Toni and Franck Ribery will have to be on top form if Bayern are to progress as Steaua Bucharest and Fiorentina will not prove to be easy propositions.
Group H is also one to watch with Real Madrid, fresh from their fruitless pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo, looking to add to their impressive haul of European Cups. Juventus, back in the Champions League after an absence of two years stand in their way alongside Zenit St Petersburg, UEFA Cup and Russian League winners. The Russians have suffered due to a congested fixture list and the transfer saga surrounding star player Andrei Arshavin, but won't be the whipping boys. Belarus' Bate Borisov will take that role.
The English sides look to have escaped the worst of the draw though Liverpool are in the company of PSV Eindhoven and Marseille once again. They had little trouble with the French side away from home last season, winning 4-0, but suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Anfield. Having despatched PSV easily enough the year before, the Reds may not be too worried, although the prospect of Sergio Aguero's Atletico Madrid may prove tougher for Rafa's men to overcome.
Arsenal fans may be slightly worried to face Turkish side Fenerbahce, who made the quarter-finals last year before being beaten by Chelsea. The Gunners beat Portuguese champions FC Porto in 2006 and also face another trip east to Dynamo Kiev, where they have struggled in the harsh winter before.
For double winners Manchester United, Scottish champions Celtic wait again. The 'Battle of Britain' as it was dubbed in 2006/07 could hold some problems, especially as they lost at Parkhead last time around. Aalborg should pose little trouble. It will mean a return to England for former Arsenal coach Bruce Rioch who is boss of the Danish side, and Celtic will fancy their chances of overturning Villarreal for second place behind United, who drew 0-0 both times they faced the Yellow Submarines in 2005/6.
Chelsea have perhaps the easiest task with AS Roma providing their toughest test. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side also have Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux and Romanian champions CFR Cluj to contend with and should have far too much quality for the rest of Group A. Especially with new signings Deco and Robinho in their side.
Of the rest, Group B holds the intrigue of a fiery Greek derby, with Panathinaikos and Anorthosis Famagusta paired together, but Inter Milan's Jose Mourinho will not be sweating too much over having to face Werder Bremen for top spot.
Barcelona, too, have been let off easily with routine trips to Basel and Shakhtar Donetsk, while a fiery atmosphere at the Sporting Lisbon's Estádio José Alvalade will not deter them too much. Mourinho may find the reception he is given by the Sporting fans harder to deal with than the team they support.
