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All you need to know about the draw for the Champions League
By John Edwards, Adam Shergold and Phil Leake
PUBLISHED:01:13, 30 August 2012| UPDATED:13:05, 30 August 2012
LIVE: Champions League draw
Follow the draw live by clicking here
When: Thursday, 4.45pm Where: The Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
How it works...
The draw for the Champions League group stage will divide the 32 teams into 8 groups of 4. The groups will be lettered A to H and the rules are as follows:
Can they do it again? Fernando Torres and Chelsea won the Champions League last season
Winning formula? Can Robin van Persie help Manchester United win the trophy again
Group of death!
The nature of the seeding system has opened up the possibility of a titanic ‘group of death' featuring the domestic champions in Spain, England, Italy and Germany:
Real Madrid
Manchester City
Juventus
Borussia Dortmund
But you'd fancy your chances in this possible group...
Manchester United / Chelsea / Arsenal
Braga
Anderlecht
Nordsjaelland
The pots...
There are four pots of eight teams. Pots three and four were decided after Wednesday night's play-off ties. One club from each pot makes up a group.
POT ONE CHELSEA, Barcelona, MANCHESTER UNITED, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, ARSENAL, Porto, AC Milan.
POT TWO Valencia, Benfica, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, Schalke, MANCHESTER CITY, Braga, Dynamo Kiev.
POT THREE Olympiakos, Ajax, Anderlecht, Juventus, Spartak Moscow, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, Galatasaray.
POT FOUR Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, BATE Borisov, Dinamo Zagreb, Cluj, Malaga, Montpellier, Nordsjaelland.
Real challenge: Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid will hope to go one step further this season
Key dates...
Group stages (Sept 18-19 to Dec 4-5).
Round of 16, 1st leg (Feb 12-13 and 19-20; 2nd leg (Mar 5-6 and 12-13).
Quarter-finals, 1st leg (Apr 2-3; 2nd leg Apr 9-10).
Semi-finals, 1st leg (Apr 23-24; 2nd leg Apr 30-May 1).
Final (May 25, Wembley).
The teams...
Chelsea
Manager: Roberto Di Matteo.
Last season: 6th, Premier League; Winners, Champions League.
Competition Best: Winners 2012.
Summer Signings: Eden Hazard (Lille, £32m), Oscar (Internacional, £25m), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen, £7m), Victor Moses (Wigan, £9m), Cesar Azpilicueta (Marseille, £6.5m).
Key Player: Eden Hazard - the Belgian playmaker has wreaked havoc in every Premier League game he has played and, perhaps most importantly, is helping to get the best out of Fernando Torres.
Danger Rating: 4/5- In theory, Chelsea look better equipped to win the Champions League this season than last. However they are likely to be much more competitive domestically this season which, as shown by the Manchester clubs last year, can be detrimental to European ambitions.
Barcelona
Manager: Tito Vilanova.
Last season: 2nd, La Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (4): 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011.
2011-2012: Champions League semi-finals, lost 2-3 on aggregate to Chelsea.
Summer Signings: Jordi Alba (Valencia, £11m), Alex Song (Arsenal, £15m).
Key Player: Andres Iniesta - Spanish playmaker who treats the ball like a friend. His understanding with Xavi and Messi is telepathic.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - The most talented club side in world football will once again be favourites but, as Chelsea showed last season, their threats can be nullified.
A lot will depend on how they adapt under a new manager.
Key man: Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic
Manchester United
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson.
Last season: 2nd, Premier League.
Competition Best: Winners (3): 1968, 1999, 2008.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League Last 16, lost 3-5 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao.
Summer Signings: Robin van Persie (Arsenal, £24m), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, £17m), Nick Powell (Crewe Alexandra, £4m), Alexander Buttner (Vitesse Arnhem, £4m).
Key Player: Nemanja Vidic - United missed the Serbian centre half immeasurably last season and his presence at the centre of defence will reassure Sir Alex Ferguson.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - The manager suggested in pre-season that regaining the Premier League title is United’s priority.
But the Red Devils will be determined to do well in Europe after last season’s debacle, and Sir Alex has long stated his desire to win a third Champions League title.
Bayern Munich
Manager: Uli Hoeness.
Last season: 2nd, Bundesliga.
Competition Best: Winners (4): 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001.
2011-2012: Champions League final, lost 3-4 on penalties to Chelsea after a 1-1 draw.
Summer Signings: Mario Mandzukic (VfL Wolfsburg, £10.3m), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel, £7.1m), Dante (Borussia Monchengladbach, £3.5m), Mitchell Weiser (1. FC Koln, £395,000), Tom Starke (1899 Hoffenheim, undisclosed), Lukas Raeder (Schalke 04, undisclosed), Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen, Free).
Key Player: Bastian Schweinsteiger - Described by Germany manager Joachim Loew as ‘the brain’, Schweinsteiger is the man that makes Bayern tick.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Bayern Munich’s European record speaks for itself and, much like Germany in international tournaments, are always there or thereabouts. However, while they offer much going forward, defensively they remain suspect.
Pass master: Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (right)
Real Madrid
Manager: Jose Mourinho.
Last Season: 1st, La Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (9): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2003.
2011-2012: Champions League semi-final, lost 1-3 on penalties to Bayern Munich after 3-3 aggregate tie.
Summer Signings: Luka Modric (Tottenham, £33m).
Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo - A man for the big occasion and a constant threat, Ronaldo could be the star of the tournament.
Danger Rating: 5/5 -Nine-times winners Real Madrid have something of an obsession with winning the Champions League. The Spanish champions possess world-class players in almost every position. They were agonisingly close to the final last season and Jose Mourinho seems to have a knack for success in this competition.
Arsenal
Manager: Arsene Wenger.
Last season: 3rd, Premier League.
Competition Best: Runners-up: 2005-2006.
2011-2012: Champions League Round of 16, lost 3-4 on aggregate to AC Milan.
Summer Signings: Santi Cazorla (Malaga, £16.5m), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier, £12.8m), Lukas Podolski (Cologne, £10.9m).
Key Player: Santi Cazorla - Arsenal already seem to be reliant on the diminutive Spaniard for creativity and he also provides a goal threat.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Arsenal, despite several summer acquisitions, are struggling for goals at the beginning of this season and that trend is understandable. They no longer have an attacking player of the class of Robin van Persie and that is a major concern.
Pulls the strings: Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla has made a big impression in north London
Porto
Manager: Vitor Pereira.
Last season: 1st, Primeira Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (2): 1987, 2004.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League Round of 32, lost 1-6 on aggregate to Manchester City.
Summer Signings: Jackson Martinez (Jaguares, £7.7m), Fabiano (Sporting Olhanense, £1.05m).
Key Player: Joao Moutinho - the midfield maestro shone at Euro 2012 and provides an effective link between midfield and attack.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Porto have been a regular fixture in the knockout stages of the Champions League in recent times, with the exception of last season. The Estadio Dragao is something of a fortress but their away form could put them in danger in the group stage once again.
AC Milan
Manager: Massimiliano Allegri.
Last season: 2nd, Serie A.
Competition Best: Winners (7): 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007.
2011-2012: Champions League Quarter-finals, lost 1-3 on aggregate to FC Barcelona.
Summer Signings: Francesco Acerbi (Genoa, £3.2m), Gabriel Vasconcellos Ferreira (Cruzeiro, £395,000), Bakaye Traore (Nancy, Free), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina, Free), Kevin Constant (Genoa, Loan), Edoardo Pazzagli (Fiorentina, Free), Cristián Zapata (Villarreal, Loan), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan, £5.6m+Antonio Cassano).
Key Player: Riccardo Montolivo - The energetic midfielder impressed at Euro 2012 and is Milan’s most significant summer signing.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Milan still have the look of a side in transition, and appear to lack the firepower to realistically challenge the best sides in Europe. However, their European record shows that they can never be discounted.
New boy: Riccardo Montolivo (right) signed for Italian giants AC Milan this summer
Valencia
Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino.
Last season: 3rd, La Liga.
Competition Best: Runners-up (2): 2000, 2001.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League semi-finals, lost 2-5 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid.
Summer Signings: Sergio Canales (Real Madrid, £6.3m), Joao Pereira (Sporting Lisbon, £2.9m), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, £2.7m), Jonathan Viera (Las Palmas, £1.9m), Anthony Lozano (Olimpia, £0.8m), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna, Free), Felipe Ramos (Deportivo La Coruna, Loan), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Rubin Kazan, Loan).
Key Player: Soldado - A consistent goalscorer who will be vital if Valencia are to progress.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Valencia have taken on the mantle of ‘best of the rest’ in La Liga behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the gap of 30 points to second placed Barcelona last season suggests they are a long way short of being capable to reach the latter stages.
Benfica
Manager: Jorge Jesus.
Last season: 2nd, Primeira Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (2): 1961, 1962
2011-2012: Champions League quarter-finals, lost 1-3 on aggregate to Chelsea.
Summer Signings: Paulo Lopes (Feirense, Free), Luisinho (Pacos Ferreira, Undisclosed), Ola John (FC Twente, Undisclosed), Eduardo Salvio (Atletico Madrid, Undisclosed), Michel (Pacos Ferreira, Undisclosed), Hugo Vieira (Gil Vicente, Undisclosed).
Key Player: Axel Witsel - A box-to-box midfielder with a major physical presence, in the mould of Everton’s Marouane Fellaini.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Benfica look better equipped than Portuguese champions Porto to progress in the competition. Plenty of attacking menace makes them a potential dark horse.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Manager: Mircea Lucescu.
Last season: 1st, Ukrainian Premier League.
Competition Best: Quarter-finals: 2011.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage.
Summer Signings: Marko Devic (Metalist Kharkiv, £3.5m).
Key Player: Darijo Srna - charismatic captain who inspired his team to win the UEFA Cup, the equivalent of the Europa League, in 2009.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - A well-drilled outfit who will be difficult to beat, even if they end up losing playmaker Willian. Donetsk will not be a popular place to visit for Europe’s top clubs.
Zenit St Petersburg
Manager: Luciano Spalletti.
Last season: 1st, Russian Premier League.
Competition Best: Round of 16: 2012.
Key Player: Vyacheslav Malafeev - A very highly regarded goalkeeper who will need to be at his best if Zenit are to trouble the best sides.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - The Russian teams are constantly improving and Zenit are the current champions, making them a potentially intimidating team to draw. Many of the national team ply their trade in St Petersburg.
Flying the flag: Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is one of the most prolific strikers in Europe
Schalke
Manager: Huub Stevens.
Last season: 3rd, Bundesliga.
Competition Best: Semi-finals: 2010-2011, lost 1-6 on aggregate to Manchester United.
2011-2012: Europa League Quarter-finals, lost 4-6 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao.
Summer signings: Roman Neustadter (Borussia Monchengladbach, Undisclosed), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen, Free), Chinedu Obasi (1899 Hoffenheim, £3.5m)
Key Player: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - One of the most prolific strikers in Europe. Huntelaar scored 48 goals in 47 appearances for Schalke last season in all competitions.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - A team that will be heavily reliant on Huntelaar for goals, but nevertheless a competent side who enjoyed a good season last year following an indifferent 14th place finish the year before as they struggled to balance reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League with domestic form.
Manchester City
Manager: Roberto Mancini.
Last season: 1st, Premier League.
Competition Best: Group stage, 2011-2012.
Summer Signings: Jack Rodwell (Everton, £12m).
Key Player: Yaya Toure - One of the most impressive midfield players in Europe and has experienced winning the Champions League with Barcelona.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - After a difficult draw in last year’s competition led to an early exit, City will be a much greater menace to the European giants this time round. Last season’s Premier League win has given them the extra confidence they will need to progress.
Force of nature: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure holds the key for Roberto Mancini
Braga
Manager: Jose Peseiro.
Last Season: 3rd, Primeira Liga.
Competition Best: Group stage 2010-2011.
2011-2012: Europa League round of 32, lost 1-2 on aggregate to Besiktas.
Summer Signings: Beto (Porto, Undisclosed), Maximilian Haas (Uniao Leiria, Free), Eder (Academica, Free), Ismaily (Olhanense, Undisclosed), Carlao (Kashima Antlers, Loan), Ruben Micail (Atletico Madrid, Loan).
Key Player: Hugo Viana –The former Newcastle man will need to take a grasp on central midfield if Braga are to make any impression in their Champions League campaign.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Did well to overcome Udinese on penalties in the play-off round, showing character to come from behind. This showed some potential, but simply reaching the group was an objective achieved and it would be surprising to see them advance any further.
Dynamo Kiev
Manager: Yuri Syomin.
Last Season: 2nd, Ukrainian Premier League.
Competition Best: Semi-final (3): 1977, 1987, 1999.
2011-2012: Europa League group stage
Summer Signings: Miguel Veloso (Genoa, Undisclosed), Niko Kranjcar (Tottenham, £2m), Raffael (Hertha Berlin, Free), Admir Mehmedi (FC Zurich, Free), Marco Ruben (Villarreal, Free).
Familiar face: Former Spurs man Niko Kranjcar (left)
Key Player: Miguel Veloso - A holding midfield player who is an expert in breaking up opposition attacks and generally uses the ball very well.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - A club with a rich European tradition, but it’s been a long time since Dynamo Kyiv graced the latter stages of the Champions League. They look the weaker of the two Ukrainian sides this year and that is not a good sign.
Olympiakos
Manager: Leonardo Jardim.
Last season: 1st, Greek Superleague.
Competition Best: Quarter-final: 1999, lost 2-3 on aggregate to Juventus.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League round of 16, lost on away goals to Metalist Kharkiv after 2-2 draw.
Summer Signings: Vasilios Karagounis (Udinese, Undisclosed), Leandro Greco (Roma, £748,000), Paulo Machado (Toulouse, Undisclosed).
Key Player: Rafik Djebbour - The Algerian striker may be relied upon as a goal source following the departure of Kevin Mirallas.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - The loss of last season’s top goalscorer Mirallas to Everton means that Olympiacos will face a huge task just to get out of the group. They will be reliant on their home performances to give them a chance.
Ajax
Manager: Frank de Boer.
Last season: 1st, Eredivisie.
Competition Best: Winners (4): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League round of 32, lost 2-3 on aggregate to Manchester United.
Summer Signings: Niklas Moisander (AZ Alkmaar, £2.3m), Ilan Boccara (Paris Saint-Germain, £395,000), Tobias Sana (IFK Goteborg, £275,000), Christian Poulsen (Evian Thonan Gaillard, Free), Lasse Schone (NEC, Free).
Key Player: Christian Eriksen - The young Dane was reportedly a target for Barcelona and will be a serious goal threat.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Ajax will be entertaining to watch in this season’s Champions League as they will score goals, but will also concede plenty. Reaching the knockout stages would represent an excellent achievement this year for a club steeped in European tradition.
Juventus
Manager: Antonio Conte.
Last season: 1st, Serie A.
Competition Best: Winners (2): 1985, 1996.
2011-2012: Not in Europe.
Summer Signings: Sebastian Giovinco (Parma, £8.7m), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, £7.1m), Mauricio Isla (Udinese, £7.4m), Martin Caceres (Sevilla, £6.3m), Emmanuele Giaccherini (Cesena, £3.35m), Richmond Boakye (Genoa, £3.1m), Nicola Leali (Brescia, £3m), Alberto Masi (Pro Vercelli, Undisclosed), Paul Pogba (Manchester United, Free).
Key Player: Andrea Pirlo - the rejuvenated Pirlo had an exceptional Euro 2012, he is an artistic midfielder with an eye for a killer pass.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - Juventus went all of last season unbeaten and, although this achievement has been overshadowed by the emergence of another betting scandal in Italian football, they are a dangerous side. Accomplished all over the pitch, they will provide the favoured teams with very stern tests from pot three.
Playmaker: Andrea Pirlo is still going strong at Juventus after a brilliant Euro 2012
Anderlecht
Manager: John van den Brom.
Last Season: 1st, Belgian Pro League.
Competition Best: Semi-final (2): 1982, 1986
2011-2012: Europa League round of 32, lost 0-2 on aggregate to AZ Alkmaar.
Summer Signings: None
Key Player: Lucas Biglia - A defensive midfielder who has won caps for Argentina in recent times and a mainstay in the Anderlecht starting line-up since signing in 2006.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - Anderlecht is not a side that will worry many teams in the competition as they do not appear to have the calibre of player to compete at this level.
Spartak Moscow
Manager: Unai Emery.
Last season: 2nd, Russian Premier League.
Competition Best: Semi-final (1): 1990-1991.
2011-2012: Europa League Play-off round, lost 4-5 on aggregate to Legia Warsaw.
Summer Signings: Ilya Kutepov (Akademiya Tolyatti, Undisclosed), Romulo (Vasco da Gama, £6.1m), Vyacheslav Krotov (Volgar Astrakhan, Undisclosed), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon, £2.6m).
Key Player: Welliton – Prolific Brazilian striker who has twice been top goalscorer in the Russian League and will be required to score if Spartak’s aspirations lie beyond the group stage.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - A talented squad, including the seemingly obligatory quota od Brazilians for an Eastern European side. Could be a dark horse if they play well at home but lack the pedigree to progress far in the competition.
Paris Saint-Germain
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti.
Last season: 2nd, Ligue 1.
Competition Best: Semi-finals: 1995.
2011-2012: Europa League group stage.
Summer Signings: Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli, £23.7m), Lucas Moura (Sao Paulo, £35.6m), Thiago Silva (AC Milan, £33.2m), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan, £18.2m), Marco Verratti (Pescara, £7.9m).
Key Player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic - The enigmatic Swede has plenty of Champions League experience, and is a potential match-winner on his day.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Thanks to a seemingly bottomless pit of money, PSG have managed to sign some exciting players and, in Carlo Ancelotti, have a manager who has a fantastic European record. The question will be whether they can play as a team.
Swede dreams: Paris St Germain signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) from AC Milan this summer
Lille
Manager: Rudi Garcia.
Last season: 3rd, Ligue 1.
Competition Best: Round of 32: 2007.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage.
Key Player: Marvin Martin – Diminutive playmaker with good technique and vision who has broken into the French nation side and looks a good acquisition for Lille after moving from Sochaux.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - The loss of Eden Hazard was expected, but still a massive blow. They have refurbished their attack with the purchases of Martin and Salomon Kalou but remain suspect defensively. Will do well to finish in the top two of their group.
Galatasaray
Manager: Fatih Terim.
Last season: 1st, Super Lig.
Competition Best: Semi-finals: 1989.
2011-2012: Not in Europe
Summer signings: Nordin Amrabat (Kayserispor, £6.8m), Burak Yilmaz (Trabzonspor, £3.95m), Hamit Altintop (Real Madrid, £2.8m), Dany Nounkeu (Gaziantepspor, £2.6m), Felipe Melo (Juventus, Loan), Umut Bulut (Toulouse, Loan)
Key Player: Selcuk İnan - An all-action midfielder who scores goals and throws himself into challenges in equal measure.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Galatasaray are another side who will need to be dominant at home in order to have a chance of progressing. They are a well-organised outfit with players who are not afraid of a tackle but perhaps lack the technical ability of other teams.
Something to celebrate: Neil Lennon has guided Celtic through to the Champions League group stage
Celtic
Manager: Neil Lennon.
Last Season: 1st, Scottish Premier League.
Competition Best: Winners: 1967.
2011-2012: Europa League group stage.
Summer Signings: Fraser Forster (Newcastle United, £2m).
Key Player: Victor Wanyama - The athletic midfielder has been the subject of much transfer talk this summer and Celtic will desperately want to keep hold of him.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Celtic do not have the look of a top European team but as always, their passionate home support may intimidate opponents. Nevertheless, they would do well to escape the group.
Borussia Dortmund
Manager: Jurgen Klopp.
Last season: 1st, Bundesliga.
Competition Best: Winners (1): 1997.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage
Summer Signings: Marco Reus (Borussia Monchengladbach, £15m), Oliver Kirch (1. FC Kaiserslautern, £308,000), Julian Schieber (VfB Stuttgart, £4.8m), Leonardo Bittencourt (Energie Cottbus, £2.3m)
Key Player: Mats Hummels - The towering German centre half will have to be at his commanding best for Dortmund in this year’s competition.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Despite the loss of Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United, Dortmund remain a force to be reckoned with. They are strong in all areas and will be better for last season’s Champions League experience.
Making a point: Dortmund's Mario Goetze (centre), Robert Lewandowski (left) and Marco Reus (right)
Montpellier
Manager: Rene Girard.
Last season: 1st, Ligue 1.
Competition Best: Never qualified.
2011-2012: Not in Europe
Summer Signings: Anthony Mounier (OGC Nice, £3.1m), Daniel Congre (Toulouse, £4.4m), Gaetan Charbonnier (SCO Angers, £1.3m).
Key Player: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa - A commanding central defender with pace and strength, Mbiwa has been linked with moves to several big clubs.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - Montpellier had an astonishing season last year where they managed to win the French title despite having only a fraction of the financial power of their rivals. They clearly have excellent team spirit, but following the loss of star striker Olivier Giroud to Arsenal they may be found wanting at this level.
Nordsjælland
Manager: Kasper Hjulmand.
Last season: 1st, Danish Superliga.
Competition Best: Never qualified.
2011-12: Europa League play-off round, lost 1-2 to Sporting Lisbon.
Summer Signings: Morten Nordstrand (FC Copenhagen, Free), Joe Sise (Halmstads BK, Free), Joshua John (FC Twente, Undisclosed).
Key Player: Joshua John - The summer acquisition from FC Twente has begun the season in red-hot form, netting six times in just four appearances in the Danish Superliga.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - Like Montpellier, Nordsjælland have never qualified for the Champions League and are something of an unknown quantity. They will be looking to savour every moment of their European adventure, however don’t expect it to last too long.
BATE Borisov
Manager: Viktor Goncharenko.
Last Season: 1st, Belarusian Premier League.
Competition Best: Group stage (2): 2009, 2012.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage.
Key Player: Alexander Hleb - A name that will be familiar to Arsenal fans, Hleb is a tricky midfielder with lots of European experience.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - BATE is a side which consists of almost solely Belarusian players and a lack of experience at this level will seriously inhibit their chances.
Malaga
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini.
Last Season: 4th, La Liga.
Competition Best: Never qualified
2011-2012: Not in Europe.
Summer Signings: None.
Key Player: Camacho - A highly rated 22-year-old midfield player with an impressive range of passing.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Malaga have lost some crucial players over the summer such as playmaker Santi Cazorla, defender Joris Mathijsen and striker Jose Rondon. Their failure to replace these players may cost them a chance of progressing in Europe.
Debutants: Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini celebrates qualification with his players
Dinamo Zagreb
Manager: Ante Cacic
Last Season: 1st, Croatian Premier League
Competition Best: Group stage (3): 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2011-2012
2011-2012: Champions League group stage
Key Player: Josip Simunic - A strong experienced defender with excellent positional awareness. He has won 95 caps for Croatia.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - As with many of the Eastern European clubs, teams will not relish the long journey in midweek. However, the trip to Zagreb is perhaps more daunting than a match against Dinamo for Europe’s premier sides.
CFR Cluj
Manager: Ioan Andone.
Last Season: 1st, Liga I.
Competition Best: Group stage (2): 2008-2009, 2010-2011.
2011-2012: Not in Europe.
Summer Signings: Ciprian Deac (Schalke 04, Free), Diogo Valente (Academica, Free), Adam Vass (Brescia, Free), Ivo Pinto (Rio Ave, Loan).
Key Player: Cadu - The central defender has captained the Romanian club for nearly five years. He is a loyal determined character who will inspire his teammates.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Cluj have proved capable of shocking teams in Europe in recent years, evidenced by their stunning 2-1 victory over Roma in their first ever Champions League game back in 2008. However, they will again be unfancied and it would be a major shock to see them in the knockout phase.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz252GluBB9
By John Edwards, Adam Shergold and Phil Leake
PUBLISHED:01:13, 30 August 2012| UPDATED:13:05, 30 August 2012
LIVE: Champions League draw
Follow the draw live by clicking here
When: Thursday, 4.45pm Where: The Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
How it works...
The draw for the Champions League group stage will divide the 32 teams into 8 groups of 4. The groups will be lettered A to H and the rules are as follows:
- Teams from the same country cannot be drawn into the same group.
- If two teams from the same country have qualified, they will be paired to split their matches between Tuesday and Wednesday. These pairings will be based on the TV audience and take account of the provisions of the competition regulations concerning stadiums.
Can they do it again? Fernando Torres and Chelsea won the Champions League last season- Each team will play three matches on Tuesdays and three on Wednesdays.
- Clubs from a Nordic country, Russia and Belarus will play their final group games away in December because of their severe winters.
Winning formula? Can Robin van Persie help Manchester United win the trophy againGroup of death!
The nature of the seeding system has opened up the possibility of a titanic ‘group of death' featuring the domestic champions in Spain, England, Italy and Germany:
Real Madrid
Manchester City
Juventus
Borussia Dortmund
But you'd fancy your chances in this possible group...
Manchester United / Chelsea / Arsenal
Braga
Anderlecht
Nordsjaelland
The pots...
There are four pots of eight teams. Pots three and four were decided after Wednesday night's play-off ties. One club from each pot makes up a group.
POT ONE CHELSEA, Barcelona, MANCHESTER UNITED, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, ARSENAL, Porto, AC Milan.
POT TWO Valencia, Benfica, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, Schalke, MANCHESTER CITY, Braga, Dynamo Kiev.
POT THREE Olympiakos, Ajax, Anderlecht, Juventus, Spartak Moscow, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, Galatasaray.
POT FOUR Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, BATE Borisov, Dinamo Zagreb, Cluj, Malaga, Montpellier, Nordsjaelland.
Real challenge: Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid will hope to go one step further this seasonKey dates...
Group stages (Sept 18-19 to Dec 4-5).
Round of 16, 1st leg (Feb 12-13 and 19-20; 2nd leg (Mar 5-6 and 12-13).
Quarter-finals, 1st leg (Apr 2-3; 2nd leg Apr 9-10).
Semi-finals, 1st leg (Apr 23-24; 2nd leg Apr 30-May 1).
Final (May 25, Wembley).
The teams...
Chelsea
Manager: Roberto Di Matteo.
Last season: 6th, Premier League; Winners, Champions League.
Competition Best: Winners 2012.
Summer Signings: Eden Hazard (Lille, £32m), Oscar (Internacional, £25m), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen, £7m), Victor Moses (Wigan, £9m), Cesar Azpilicueta (Marseille, £6.5m).
Key Player: Eden Hazard - the Belgian playmaker has wreaked havoc in every Premier League game he has played and, perhaps most importantly, is helping to get the best out of Fernando Torres.
Danger Rating: 4/5- In theory, Chelsea look better equipped to win the Champions League this season than last. However they are likely to be much more competitive domestically this season which, as shown by the Manchester clubs last year, can be detrimental to European ambitions.
Barcelona
Manager: Tito Vilanova.
Last season: 2nd, La Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (4): 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011.
2011-2012: Champions League semi-finals, lost 2-3 on aggregate to Chelsea.
Summer Signings: Jordi Alba (Valencia, £11m), Alex Song (Arsenal, £15m).
Key Player: Andres Iniesta - Spanish playmaker who treats the ball like a friend. His understanding with Xavi and Messi is telepathic.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - The most talented club side in world football will once again be favourites but, as Chelsea showed last season, their threats can be nullified.
A lot will depend on how they adapt under a new manager.
Key man: Manchester United's Nemanja VidicManchester United
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson.
Last season: 2nd, Premier League.
Competition Best: Winners (3): 1968, 1999, 2008.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League Last 16, lost 3-5 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao.
Summer Signings: Robin van Persie (Arsenal, £24m), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, £17m), Nick Powell (Crewe Alexandra, £4m), Alexander Buttner (Vitesse Arnhem, £4m).
Key Player: Nemanja Vidic - United missed the Serbian centre half immeasurably last season and his presence at the centre of defence will reassure Sir Alex Ferguson.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - The manager suggested in pre-season that regaining the Premier League title is United’s priority.
But the Red Devils will be determined to do well in Europe after last season’s debacle, and Sir Alex has long stated his desire to win a third Champions League title.
Bayern Munich
Manager: Uli Hoeness.
Last season: 2nd, Bundesliga.
Competition Best: Winners (4): 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001.
2011-2012: Champions League final, lost 3-4 on penalties to Chelsea after a 1-1 draw.
Summer Signings: Mario Mandzukic (VfL Wolfsburg, £10.3m), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel, £7.1m), Dante (Borussia Monchengladbach, £3.5m), Mitchell Weiser (1. FC Koln, £395,000), Tom Starke (1899 Hoffenheim, undisclosed), Lukas Raeder (Schalke 04, undisclosed), Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen, Free).
Key Player: Bastian Schweinsteiger - Described by Germany manager Joachim Loew as ‘the brain’, Schweinsteiger is the man that makes Bayern tick.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Bayern Munich’s European record speaks for itself and, much like Germany in international tournaments, are always there or thereabouts. However, while they offer much going forward, defensively they remain suspect.
Pass master: Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (right)Real Madrid
Manager: Jose Mourinho.
Last Season: 1st, La Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (9): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2003.
2011-2012: Champions League semi-final, lost 1-3 on penalties to Bayern Munich after 3-3 aggregate tie.
Summer Signings: Luka Modric (Tottenham, £33m).
Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo - A man for the big occasion and a constant threat, Ronaldo could be the star of the tournament.
Danger Rating: 5/5 -Nine-times winners Real Madrid have something of an obsession with winning the Champions League. The Spanish champions possess world-class players in almost every position. They were agonisingly close to the final last season and Jose Mourinho seems to have a knack for success in this competition.
Arsenal
Manager: Arsene Wenger.
Last season: 3rd, Premier League.
Competition Best: Runners-up: 2005-2006.
2011-2012: Champions League Round of 16, lost 3-4 on aggregate to AC Milan.
Summer Signings: Santi Cazorla (Malaga, £16.5m), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier, £12.8m), Lukas Podolski (Cologne, £10.9m).
Key Player: Santi Cazorla - Arsenal already seem to be reliant on the diminutive Spaniard for creativity and he also provides a goal threat.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Arsenal, despite several summer acquisitions, are struggling for goals at the beginning of this season and that trend is understandable. They no longer have an attacking player of the class of Robin van Persie and that is a major concern.
Pulls the strings: Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla has made a big impression in north LondonPorto
Manager: Vitor Pereira.
Last season: 1st, Primeira Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (2): 1987, 2004.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League Round of 32, lost 1-6 on aggregate to Manchester City.
Summer Signings: Jackson Martinez (Jaguares, £7.7m), Fabiano (Sporting Olhanense, £1.05m).
Key Player: Joao Moutinho - the midfield maestro shone at Euro 2012 and provides an effective link between midfield and attack.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Porto have been a regular fixture in the knockout stages of the Champions League in recent times, with the exception of last season. The Estadio Dragao is something of a fortress but their away form could put them in danger in the group stage once again.
AC Milan
Manager: Massimiliano Allegri.
Last season: 2nd, Serie A.
Competition Best: Winners (7): 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007.
2011-2012: Champions League Quarter-finals, lost 1-3 on aggregate to FC Barcelona.
Summer Signings: Francesco Acerbi (Genoa, £3.2m), Gabriel Vasconcellos Ferreira (Cruzeiro, £395,000), Bakaye Traore (Nancy, Free), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina, Free), Kevin Constant (Genoa, Loan), Edoardo Pazzagli (Fiorentina, Free), Cristián Zapata (Villarreal, Loan), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan, £5.6m+Antonio Cassano).
Key Player: Riccardo Montolivo - The energetic midfielder impressed at Euro 2012 and is Milan’s most significant summer signing.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Milan still have the look of a side in transition, and appear to lack the firepower to realistically challenge the best sides in Europe. However, their European record shows that they can never be discounted.
New boy: Riccardo Montolivo (right) signed for Italian giants AC Milan this summerValencia
Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino.
Last season: 3rd, La Liga.
Competition Best: Runners-up (2): 2000, 2001.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League semi-finals, lost 2-5 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid.
Summer Signings: Sergio Canales (Real Madrid, £6.3m), Joao Pereira (Sporting Lisbon, £2.9m), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, £2.7m), Jonathan Viera (Las Palmas, £1.9m), Anthony Lozano (Olimpia, £0.8m), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna, Free), Felipe Ramos (Deportivo La Coruna, Loan), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Rubin Kazan, Loan).
Key Player: Soldado - A consistent goalscorer who will be vital if Valencia are to progress.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Valencia have taken on the mantle of ‘best of the rest’ in La Liga behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the gap of 30 points to second placed Barcelona last season suggests they are a long way short of being capable to reach the latter stages.
Benfica
Manager: Jorge Jesus.
Last season: 2nd, Primeira Liga.
Competition Best: Winners (2): 1961, 1962
2011-2012: Champions League quarter-finals, lost 1-3 on aggregate to Chelsea.
Summer Signings: Paulo Lopes (Feirense, Free), Luisinho (Pacos Ferreira, Undisclosed), Ola John (FC Twente, Undisclosed), Eduardo Salvio (Atletico Madrid, Undisclosed), Michel (Pacos Ferreira, Undisclosed), Hugo Vieira (Gil Vicente, Undisclosed).
Key Player: Axel Witsel - A box-to-box midfielder with a major physical presence, in the mould of Everton’s Marouane Fellaini.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Benfica look better equipped than Portuguese champions Porto to progress in the competition. Plenty of attacking menace makes them a potential dark horse.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Manager: Mircea Lucescu.
Last season: 1st, Ukrainian Premier League.
Competition Best: Quarter-finals: 2011.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage.
Summer Signings: Marko Devic (Metalist Kharkiv, £3.5m).
Key Player: Darijo Srna - charismatic captain who inspired his team to win the UEFA Cup, the equivalent of the Europa League, in 2009.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - A well-drilled outfit who will be difficult to beat, even if they end up losing playmaker Willian. Donetsk will not be a popular place to visit for Europe’s top clubs.
Zenit St Petersburg
Manager: Luciano Spalletti.
Last season: 1st, Russian Premier League.
Competition Best: Round of 16: 2012.
Key Player: Vyacheslav Malafeev - A very highly regarded goalkeeper who will need to be at his best if Zenit are to trouble the best sides.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - The Russian teams are constantly improving and Zenit are the current champions, making them a potentially intimidating team to draw. Many of the national team ply their trade in St Petersburg.
Flying the flag: Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is one of the most prolific strikers in EuropeSchalke
Manager: Huub Stevens.
Last season: 3rd, Bundesliga.
Competition Best: Semi-finals: 2010-2011, lost 1-6 on aggregate to Manchester United.
2011-2012: Europa League Quarter-finals, lost 4-6 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao.
Summer signings: Roman Neustadter (Borussia Monchengladbach, Undisclosed), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen, Free), Chinedu Obasi (1899 Hoffenheim, £3.5m)
Key Player: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - One of the most prolific strikers in Europe. Huntelaar scored 48 goals in 47 appearances for Schalke last season in all competitions.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - A team that will be heavily reliant on Huntelaar for goals, but nevertheless a competent side who enjoyed a good season last year following an indifferent 14th place finish the year before as they struggled to balance reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League with domestic form.
Manchester City
Manager: Roberto Mancini.
Last season: 1st, Premier League.
Competition Best: Group stage, 2011-2012.
Summer Signings: Jack Rodwell (Everton, £12m).
Key Player: Yaya Toure - One of the most impressive midfield players in Europe and has experienced winning the Champions League with Barcelona.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - After a difficult draw in last year’s competition led to an early exit, City will be a much greater menace to the European giants this time round. Last season’s Premier League win has given them the extra confidence they will need to progress.
Force of nature: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure holds the key for Roberto ManciniBraga
Manager: Jose Peseiro.
Last Season: 3rd, Primeira Liga.
Competition Best: Group stage 2010-2011.
2011-2012: Europa League round of 32, lost 1-2 on aggregate to Besiktas.
Summer Signings: Beto (Porto, Undisclosed), Maximilian Haas (Uniao Leiria, Free), Eder (Academica, Free), Ismaily (Olhanense, Undisclosed), Carlao (Kashima Antlers, Loan), Ruben Micail (Atletico Madrid, Loan).
Key Player: Hugo Viana –The former Newcastle man will need to take a grasp on central midfield if Braga are to make any impression in their Champions League campaign.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Did well to overcome Udinese on penalties in the play-off round, showing character to come from behind. This showed some potential, but simply reaching the group was an objective achieved and it would be surprising to see them advance any further.
Dynamo Kiev
Manager: Yuri Syomin.
Last Season: 2nd, Ukrainian Premier League.
Competition Best: Semi-final (3): 1977, 1987, 1999.
2011-2012: Europa League group stage
Summer Signings: Miguel Veloso (Genoa, Undisclosed), Niko Kranjcar (Tottenham, £2m), Raffael (Hertha Berlin, Free), Admir Mehmedi (FC Zurich, Free), Marco Ruben (Villarreal, Free).
Familiar face: Former Spurs man Niko Kranjcar (left)Key Player: Miguel Veloso - A holding midfield player who is an expert in breaking up opposition attacks and generally uses the ball very well.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - A club with a rich European tradition, but it’s been a long time since Dynamo Kyiv graced the latter stages of the Champions League. They look the weaker of the two Ukrainian sides this year and that is not a good sign.
Olympiakos
Manager: Leonardo Jardim.
Last season: 1st, Greek Superleague.
Competition Best: Quarter-final: 1999, lost 2-3 on aggregate to Juventus.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League round of 16, lost on away goals to Metalist Kharkiv after 2-2 draw.
Summer Signings: Vasilios Karagounis (Udinese, Undisclosed), Leandro Greco (Roma, £748,000), Paulo Machado (Toulouse, Undisclosed).
Key Player: Rafik Djebbour - The Algerian striker may be relied upon as a goal source following the departure of Kevin Mirallas.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - The loss of last season’s top goalscorer Mirallas to Everton means that Olympiacos will face a huge task just to get out of the group. They will be reliant on their home performances to give them a chance.
Ajax
Manager: Frank de Boer.
Last season: 1st, Eredivisie.
Competition Best: Winners (4): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995
2011-2012: Champions League group stage; Europa League round of 32, lost 2-3 on aggregate to Manchester United.
Summer Signings: Niklas Moisander (AZ Alkmaar, £2.3m), Ilan Boccara (Paris Saint-Germain, £395,000), Tobias Sana (IFK Goteborg, £275,000), Christian Poulsen (Evian Thonan Gaillard, Free), Lasse Schone (NEC, Free).
Key Player: Christian Eriksen - The young Dane was reportedly a target for Barcelona and will be a serious goal threat.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Ajax will be entertaining to watch in this season’s Champions League as they will score goals, but will also concede plenty. Reaching the knockout stages would represent an excellent achievement this year for a club steeped in European tradition.
Juventus
Manager: Antonio Conte.
Last season: 1st, Serie A.
Competition Best: Winners (2): 1985, 1996.
2011-2012: Not in Europe.
Summer Signings: Sebastian Giovinco (Parma, £8.7m), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, £7.1m), Mauricio Isla (Udinese, £7.4m), Martin Caceres (Sevilla, £6.3m), Emmanuele Giaccherini (Cesena, £3.35m), Richmond Boakye (Genoa, £3.1m), Nicola Leali (Brescia, £3m), Alberto Masi (Pro Vercelli, Undisclosed), Paul Pogba (Manchester United, Free).
Key Player: Andrea Pirlo - the rejuvenated Pirlo had an exceptional Euro 2012, he is an artistic midfielder with an eye for a killer pass.
Danger Rating: 4/5 - Juventus went all of last season unbeaten and, although this achievement has been overshadowed by the emergence of another betting scandal in Italian football, they are a dangerous side. Accomplished all over the pitch, they will provide the favoured teams with very stern tests from pot three.
Playmaker: Andrea Pirlo is still going strong at Juventus after a brilliant Euro 2012Anderlecht
Manager: John van den Brom.
Last Season: 1st, Belgian Pro League.
Competition Best: Semi-final (2): 1982, 1986
2011-2012: Europa League round of 32, lost 0-2 on aggregate to AZ Alkmaar.
Summer Signings: None
Key Player: Lucas Biglia - A defensive midfielder who has won caps for Argentina in recent times and a mainstay in the Anderlecht starting line-up since signing in 2006.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - Anderlecht is not a side that will worry many teams in the competition as they do not appear to have the calibre of player to compete at this level.
Spartak Moscow
Manager: Unai Emery.
Last season: 2nd, Russian Premier League.
Competition Best: Semi-final (1): 1990-1991.
2011-2012: Europa League Play-off round, lost 4-5 on aggregate to Legia Warsaw.
Summer Signings: Ilya Kutepov (Akademiya Tolyatti, Undisclosed), Romulo (Vasco da Gama, £6.1m), Vyacheslav Krotov (Volgar Astrakhan, Undisclosed), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon, £2.6m).
Key Player: Welliton – Prolific Brazilian striker who has twice been top goalscorer in the Russian League and will be required to score if Spartak’s aspirations lie beyond the group stage.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - A talented squad, including the seemingly obligatory quota od Brazilians for an Eastern European side. Could be a dark horse if they play well at home but lack the pedigree to progress far in the competition.
Paris Saint-Germain
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti.
Last season: 2nd, Ligue 1.
Competition Best: Semi-finals: 1995.
2011-2012: Europa League group stage.
Summer Signings: Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli, £23.7m), Lucas Moura (Sao Paulo, £35.6m), Thiago Silva (AC Milan, £33.2m), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan, £18.2m), Marco Verratti (Pescara, £7.9m).
Key Player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic - The enigmatic Swede has plenty of Champions League experience, and is a potential match-winner on his day.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Thanks to a seemingly bottomless pit of money, PSG have managed to sign some exciting players and, in Carlo Ancelotti, have a manager who has a fantastic European record. The question will be whether they can play as a team.
Swede dreams: Paris St Germain signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) from AC Milan this summerLille
Manager: Rudi Garcia.
Last season: 3rd, Ligue 1.
Competition Best: Round of 32: 2007.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage.
Key Player: Marvin Martin – Diminutive playmaker with good technique and vision who has broken into the French nation side and looks a good acquisition for Lille after moving from Sochaux.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - The loss of Eden Hazard was expected, but still a massive blow. They have refurbished their attack with the purchases of Martin and Salomon Kalou but remain suspect defensively. Will do well to finish in the top two of their group.
Galatasaray
Manager: Fatih Terim.
Last season: 1st, Super Lig.
Competition Best: Semi-finals: 1989.
2011-2012: Not in Europe
Summer signings: Nordin Amrabat (Kayserispor, £6.8m), Burak Yilmaz (Trabzonspor, £3.95m), Hamit Altintop (Real Madrid, £2.8m), Dany Nounkeu (Gaziantepspor, £2.6m), Felipe Melo (Juventus, Loan), Umut Bulut (Toulouse, Loan)
Key Player: Selcuk İnan - An all-action midfielder who scores goals and throws himself into challenges in equal measure.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Galatasaray are another side who will need to be dominant at home in order to have a chance of progressing. They are a well-organised outfit with players who are not afraid of a tackle but perhaps lack the technical ability of other teams.
Something to celebrate: Neil Lennon has guided Celtic through to the Champions League group stageCeltic
Manager: Neil Lennon.
Last Season: 1st, Scottish Premier League.
Competition Best: Winners: 1967.
2011-2012: Europa League group stage.
Summer Signings: Fraser Forster (Newcastle United, £2m).
Key Player: Victor Wanyama - The athletic midfielder has been the subject of much transfer talk this summer and Celtic will desperately want to keep hold of him.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Celtic do not have the look of a top European team but as always, their passionate home support may intimidate opponents. Nevertheless, they would do well to escape the group.
Borussia Dortmund
Manager: Jurgen Klopp.
Last season: 1st, Bundesliga.
Competition Best: Winners (1): 1997.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage
Summer Signings: Marco Reus (Borussia Monchengladbach, £15m), Oliver Kirch (1. FC Kaiserslautern, £308,000), Julian Schieber (VfB Stuttgart, £4.8m), Leonardo Bittencourt (Energie Cottbus, £2.3m)
Key Player: Mats Hummels - The towering German centre half will have to be at his commanding best for Dortmund in this year’s competition.
Danger Rating: 3/5 - Despite the loss of Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United, Dortmund remain a force to be reckoned with. They are strong in all areas and will be better for last season’s Champions League experience.
Making a point: Dortmund's Mario Goetze (centre), Robert Lewandowski (left) and Marco Reus (right)Montpellier
Manager: Rene Girard.
Last season: 1st, Ligue 1.
Competition Best: Never qualified.
2011-2012: Not in Europe
Summer Signings: Anthony Mounier (OGC Nice, £3.1m), Daniel Congre (Toulouse, £4.4m), Gaetan Charbonnier (SCO Angers, £1.3m).
Key Player: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa - A commanding central defender with pace and strength, Mbiwa has been linked with moves to several big clubs.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - Montpellier had an astonishing season last year where they managed to win the French title despite having only a fraction of the financial power of their rivals. They clearly have excellent team spirit, but following the loss of star striker Olivier Giroud to Arsenal they may be found wanting at this level.
Nordsjælland
Manager: Kasper Hjulmand.
Last season: 1st, Danish Superliga.
Competition Best: Never qualified.
2011-12: Europa League play-off round, lost 1-2 to Sporting Lisbon.
Summer Signings: Morten Nordstrand (FC Copenhagen, Free), Joe Sise (Halmstads BK, Free), Joshua John (FC Twente, Undisclosed).
Key Player: Joshua John - The summer acquisition from FC Twente has begun the season in red-hot form, netting six times in just four appearances in the Danish Superliga.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - Like Montpellier, Nordsjælland have never qualified for the Champions League and are something of an unknown quantity. They will be looking to savour every moment of their European adventure, however don’t expect it to last too long.
BATE Borisov
Manager: Viktor Goncharenko.
Last Season: 1st, Belarusian Premier League.
Competition Best: Group stage (2): 2009, 2012.
2011-2012: Champions League group stage.
Key Player: Alexander Hleb - A name that will be familiar to Arsenal fans, Hleb is a tricky midfielder with lots of European experience.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - BATE is a side which consists of almost solely Belarusian players and a lack of experience at this level will seriously inhibit their chances.
Malaga
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini.
Last Season: 4th, La Liga.
Competition Best: Never qualified
2011-2012: Not in Europe.
Summer Signings: None.
Key Player: Camacho - A highly rated 22-year-old midfield player with an impressive range of passing.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Malaga have lost some crucial players over the summer such as playmaker Santi Cazorla, defender Joris Mathijsen and striker Jose Rondon. Their failure to replace these players may cost them a chance of progressing in Europe.
Debutants: Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini celebrates qualification with his playersDinamo Zagreb
Manager: Ante Cacic
Last Season: 1st, Croatian Premier League
Competition Best: Group stage (3): 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2011-2012
2011-2012: Champions League group stage
Key Player: Josip Simunic - A strong experienced defender with excellent positional awareness. He has won 95 caps for Croatia.
Danger Rating: 1/5 - As with many of the Eastern European clubs, teams will not relish the long journey in midweek. However, the trip to Zagreb is perhaps more daunting than a match against Dinamo for Europe’s premier sides.
CFR Cluj
Manager: Ioan Andone.
Last Season: 1st, Liga I.
Competition Best: Group stage (2): 2008-2009, 2010-2011.
2011-2012: Not in Europe.
Summer Signings: Ciprian Deac (Schalke 04, Free), Diogo Valente (Academica, Free), Adam Vass (Brescia, Free), Ivo Pinto (Rio Ave, Loan).
Key Player: Cadu - The central defender has captained the Romanian club for nearly five years. He is a loyal determined character who will inspire his teammates.
Danger Rating: 2/5 - Cluj have proved capable of shocking teams in Europe in recent years, evidenced by their stunning 2-1 victory over Roma in their first ever Champions League game back in 2008. However, they will again be unfancied and it would be a major shock to see them in the knockout phase.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz252GluBB9
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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