Champions Lge group-stage draw

Published Aug. 25, 2011 7:16 p.m. ET

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City will come up against three tough opponents in Group A in Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli. Manchester United were given a much easier draw, in Group C alongside Benfica, the club they beat to secure their first European Cup in 1968, as well as Swiss champions Basle and unknowns Otelul Galati from Romania, making their bow in the competition. Arsenal have to overcome Marseille, Greek champions Olympiakos and a potentially tricky test against Borussia Dortmund - the club among the pot of fourth seeds to avoid - in Group F. Chelsea will face Valencia, the former club of latest new signing Juan Mata, plus Bayer Leverkusen - where Michael Ballack is now playing - and Genk from Belgium in Group E. Barcelona will launch the defence of their Champions League title in a group which contains Italian giants AC Milan. Milan, who beat the Spanish side in the 1994 European final, finished runners-up in Serie A last season and were in pot two for today's draw in Monaco. That was always going to leave them with a difficult tie against one of the top seeds from pot one, and they landed the biggest in the three-time defending Primera Division champions. BATE Borisov and Plzen complete Group H, with the first round of Champions League fixtures due to be played on September 13 and 14. Barcelona's bitter rivals Real Madrid were drawn in Group D alongside Lyon in a rematch of last season's last-16 fixture, which the Spanish club won over two legs. Ajax, the 1995 champions, and Dinamo Zagreb also feature in the group. Serie A champions Inter Milan face a tricky trip to CSKA Moscow in Group B, as well as fixtures against Lille and Trabzonspor. Last season's beaten finalists Manchester United were given an apparently kind draw, with Benfica, Basle and Otelul Galati their opponents in Group C. Four-time winners Bayern Munich will take on Villarreal, big-spenders Manchester City and Napoli in Group A, while Group E pits Chelsea against Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Genk. Europa League holders Porto face two long trips east to take on Shakhtar Donetsk and Zenit St Petersburg, as well as Cypriot champions APOEL in Group G. Group F sees Bundesliga title holders Borussia Dortmund go up against Arsenal, Marseille and Olympiacos. Meanwhile, the winner of inaugural UEFA best player in Europe award for 2010/2011 was unveiled as Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo were the other nominees. Champions League group-stage, full draw: Group A: Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Manchester City, Napoli. Group B: Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Lille, Trabzonspor. Group C: Manchester United, Benfica, Basle, Otelul. Group D: Real Madrid, Lyon, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb. Group E: Chelsea, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, Genk. Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund. Group G: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, Apoel Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, BATE Borisov, Plzen. The first round of fixtures will be played on September 13/14.