CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW ARANGED IN SENSATIONAL STYLE

UEFA Champions League holders FC Barcelona will begin their trophy defence in Group F with games against FC Internazionale Milano, FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Rubin Kazan while some long away trips are looming for Manchester United FC. Madrid targetThe 32 teams were split into eight sections of four with last season's runners-up United drawn in Group B alongside PFC CSKA Moskva, Beşiktaş JK and VfL Wolfsburg, one of eight newcomers to this stage along with Rubin, AZ Alkmaar, R. Standard de Liège, AFC Unirea Urziceni, Debreceni VSC, FC Zürich and APOEL FC. Real Madrid CF, who are hoping to reach the final at their home stadium, were second out of the hat in Group C, and will take on AC Milan, Olympique de Marseille and Zürich.

Fixture scheduleThe group-stage fixtures will be played on 15/16 September, 29/30 September, 20/21 October, 3/4 November, 24/25 November and 8/9 December – The group winners and runners-up will progress to the first knockout round in the spring, with the final to be staged at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on Saturday 22 May 2010. Teams finishing third in each section will transfer to the UEFA Europa League Round of 32.

Group A FC Bayern München (GER) Juventus (ITA) FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA) Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)

Group B

Manchester United FC (ENG) PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) Beşiktaş JK (TUR) VfL Wolfsburg (GER)

Group C AC Milan (ITA) Real Madrid CF (ESP) Olympique de Marseille (FRA) FC Zürich (SUI) Group D Chelsea FC (ENG) FC Porto (POR) Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) APOEL FC (CYP)

Group E Liverpool FC (ENG) Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) ACF Fiorentina (ITA) Debreceni VSC (HUN)

Group F FC Barcelona (ESP) FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) FC Rubin Kazan (RUS)

Group G Sevilla FC (ESP) Rangers FC (SCO) VfB Stuttgart (GER) AFC Unirea Urziceni (ROU)

Group H Arsenal FC (ENG) AZ Alkmaar (NED) Olympiacos FC (GRE) R. Standard de Liège (BEL)