Premier League champions Manchester City have been drawn with Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund in this year's Champions League 'Group of Death', while United landed in perhaps the softest group on paper. Manchester United were drawn to face Braga, Galatasaray and CFR Cluj in Group H, while Arsenal have also been handed a relatively straighforward group which contains Schalke, Olympiakos and Montpellier. United 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. Chelsea will defend their champions league title against Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and Danish title-winners FC Nordsjaelland in Group E. 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. Celtic have perhaps the toughest task of the British sides ahead of them. Their opponents will be favourites Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.
