UEFA Champions League draw: final groups announced

Champions League groups after the group-stage draw held here on Thursday:

Three-time champions Manchester United were drawn in Group H alongside Portugal's SC Braga, Galatasaray of Turkey and Romanians CFR-Cluj in Thursday's Champions League group stage draw in Monaco.

The English giants are appearing in the competition's group phase for a record 18th time but they will hope to avoid the fate that befell them last season, when they went out in the pool stage after losing at FC Basel.

Defending champions Chelsea were drawn in Group E alongside Italian champions Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk and Danish debutants Nordsjaelland in Thursday's Champions League group stage draw in Monaco.

Chelsea, who overcame Bayern Munich on penalties in last season's final, are bidding to become the first team to successfully defend Europe's top club honour in the Champions League era.

Group A

FC Porto (POR), Dynamo Kiev (UKR), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)

Group B

Arsenal (ENG), Schalke 04 (GER), Olympiacos (GRE), Montpellier (FRA)

Group C

AC Milan (ITA), Zenit Saint Petersburg (RUS), Anderlecht (BEL), Malaga (ESP)

Group D

Real Madrid (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), Ajax (NED), Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Group E

Chelsea (ENG), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Juventus (ITA), Nordsjaelland (DEN)

Group F

Bayern Munich (GER), Valencia (ESP), Lille (FRA), BATE Borisov (BLR)

Group G

Barcelona (ESP), Benfica (POR), Spartak Moscow (RUS), Celtic (SCO)

Group H

Manchester United (ENG), SC Braga (POR), Galatasaray (TUR), CFR-Cluj (ROM)

Opening round of matches to be played on September 18/19.