Champions League draw outcome

By David Lee Wheatley

Arsenal and Celtic really lucked-out at the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday evening when handed the toughest-looking opponents of the round.

Under-fire Gunners boss Arsene Wenger could have done with a much easier task than facing Group F foes Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli. Dortmund, of course, present the most stern test having reached the final of last season's competition and strengthening their side substantially during the summer. Napoli have also been very busy in the transfer market under new head coach Rafa Benitez and appear at their strongest for years. Benitez is a former Champions League winner as manager of Liverpool and beat his north London rivals to the signature of Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain recently. Meanwhile, Marseille are probably the only side Arsenal would expect to defeat home and away, but they're no mugs and will take some beating on their own patch.

Scottish champions Celtic scraped by Kazakh side Shakhtar Karagandy to qualify for the tournament proper and were given the 'Group of Death' as a reward! Firm favourites Barcelona, Italian giants Milan and Dutch legends Ajax make up a pool that Celtic will have been having nightmares about ever since the balls were drawn. The positive side for the Glasgow club must be that they'll have an opportunity to experience three wonderful European nights at Celtic Park during the first stage of the Champions League, but they face an extremely difficult uphill battle to get into the top two. However, Neil Lennon's men will take heart from last year when they beat off Benfica and Spartak Moscow to qualify along with Barcelona for the last-16 before falling to Juventus.

Group A looks reasonably straightforward for Manchester United, having been drawn alongside Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad. Leverkusen aren't the force they once were towards the beginning of the new Millennium, while Sociedad are good but complete novices at this level of competition. Donetsk will be a tough away trip for anybody, but shouldn't trouble United at Old Trafford. David Moyes' side possess plenty of experience within the squad on the highest European stage and they shouldn't fall at the first hurdle.

Clear favourites to progress from Group B are glittering European clubs Real Madrid and Juventus, with Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen looking decidedly ordinary in comparison. It would be a major surprise if either of those top teams lose out on qualification.

Laurent Blanc leads Paris Saint-Germain into a reasonable standard group consisting of Benfica, Olympiakos and outsiders Anderlecht. PSG, while viewing the Champions League as the next huge leap in their project to reach the pinnacle of world football, will expect to get beyond the first round and perhaps as far as the semi-finals. Benfica should be strong enough to secure second, but don't rule out Greeks Olympiakos.

Manchester City were teamed with reigning European champions Bayern Munich, fresh from winning the UEFA Super Cup yesterday against a defensively determined Chelsea side. City failed miserably at Europe's top table so far under Roberto Mancini and will hope for much greater success in the competition under new hot-seat incumbent Manuel Pellegrini. Bayern should top the group, while CSKA Moscow present a potentially tricky tie for Manchester City to negotiate. Minnows Viktoria Plzen make up the four, but are expected to falter in last place.

Group E was reasonably kind to Europa League holders Chelsea, who got Schalke, Basel and Steaua Bucharest in their pool. Schalke undoubtedly represent their strongest opposition and especially now following their capture of Kevin-Prince Boateng from Milan and the potential loan signing of Spurs striker Manu Adebayor. Huntelaar is also a massive threat up-front and the Germans could create a few shocks along the way this season. Basel over-achieved in Europe during the last two campaigns, but always lose a couple of their best players each summer and it'll be interesting to see how this year's version cope. Steaua won their first domestic championship for seven years to get into the tournament and don't carry enough threat to trouble Chelsea or Schalke.

FC Porto and Atletico Madrid appear strong contenders in Group G and shouldn't hit too much trouble when faced with Austria Vienna and Zenit. The Russians of St. Petersburg will be tougher to dismiss than the Austrians, but still won't pose enough questions for the group favourites to answer. Atletico look especially nifty this season, despite the loss of superstar Radamel Falcao to Monaco. The experience of David Villa is adequately off-setting the Falcao sale and Diego Simeone has an attacking team fully capable of conquering any rival.

Of the British sides involved, Arsenal, Manchester City and Celtic look most vulnerable to elimination, while Chelsea and Manchester United should go through comfortably. In the longer run, Chelsea look most likely to challenge for the title outright along with outstanding holders Bayern, plus fellow giants Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG and Dortmund. Also, on the periphery stand Italian sides Milan and Juventus, both of whom could well be counted as 'Dark Horses' for glory come May 2014 in Lisbon.

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