Liverpool will go head to head with reigning champions Real Madrid on their return to the Champions League after the group stages were decided in Monaco.
Arsenal and Manchester City will meet Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively yet again, while Chelsea will face the likes of Schalke and Sporting Lisbon.
Discover how the draw unfolded as it happened with our updates below:
Good afternoon everyone! This is when the big guns come into the fray as we prepare for the Champions League group stage draw. The playoffs are done and thankfully for Arsenal fans, the Gunners made their way into the next phase following a slender 1-0 victory over Besiktas last night. Will they get a kind draw? We don't have long to wait now!
Arsenal will join their fellow Premier League clubs Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the draw, while a wealth of European talent, including last season's winners Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich will also discover their group fate.
So, how does it work? The 32 teams are divided into four pots depending on their UEFA rankings and previous campaigns in the tournament. A team from each pot will be placed into one of eight groups and once all the teams are drawn, the groups are final. Now, let's take a look at who is in each pot...
Pot 1: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Porto.
Pot 2: Schalke, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Basel, Zenit St Petersburg, Manchester City
Pot 3: Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiakos, CSKA Moscow, Ajax, Liverpool, Sporting Lisbon, Galatasaray, Athletic Bilbao
Pot 4: Anderlecht, Roma, Apoel, Bate Borisov, Maribor, Monaco, Malmo, Ludogorets
It's also important to note that no team from the same association can be drawn together at this stage, so none of the English teams will be placed in the same group. Although, I'm sure you knew that already...
As well as the excitement of the group draw, UEFA's Best Player in Europe award is due to be announced. Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and Bayern Munich duo Arjen Robben and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer are among the finalists for the award. All three have arrived at the Grimaldo Forum in Monaco, and all are looking rather dapper it must be said!
Ronaldo made an understated arrival as expected...
Right, back to business! So, who could the English contingent face in their groups today? The toughest draw is expected to be handed to five-time champions Liverpool, who return to the tournament following a five-year absence.
The Merseyside outfit, who finished runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, are in Pot 3, which means that they could be drawn against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, who are among the top seeds. Borussia Dortmund, Paris St-Germain, Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg, who are all in Pot 2, are also possible opponents for the Reds. Eeek!
I doubt you'll find many easy groups, but being in Pot 3 isn't particularly helpful. So, what about possible match-ups for Chelsea?
Worst case scenario: Paris St-Germain, Ajax, Roma.
Best case scenario: Basel, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor
Manchester City:
Worst case scenario: Real Madrid, Ajax, Roma
Best case scenario: Benfica, Olympiacos, Maribor
Arsenal:
Worst case scenario: Paris St-Germain, Ajax, Roma
Best case scenario: Basel, Sporting, Maribor
Liverpool:
Worst case scenario: Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma
Best case scenario: Benfica, Basel, Maribor
According to Sky Sports News, during the rehearsal earlier today, Liverpool were drawn Real Madrid, Juventus and Monaco! I'm sure Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for a difference outcome this afternoon.
Right, here we go. Only 20 minutes late... but we are ready to go in Monaco!
Group E: Bayern Munich
Group B: Real Madrid
Group C: Benfica
Group D: Arsenal
Group F: Barcelona
Group H Porto
Group A Atletico Madrid
Group G: Chelsea
So, the teams from Pot 1 have been placed in their respective groups. Iker Casillas has been led away after doing the honours and former Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro is up next to help with the draw...
Group C: Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg
Group F Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk
Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City
Group D Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund
Group B: Real Madrid, Basel
Group A Atletico Madrid, Juventus
Group G: Chelsea, Schalke
Arsenal and Dortmund meet again! Last season's Premier League champions Manchester City will go up against Bayern Munich and Chelsea have drawn Schalke. Pot 3, which includes Liverpool, is coming up next...
Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao
Group B: Real Madrid, Basel, Liverpool
Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow
Group F: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax
Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos
Group G: Chelsea, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon
Group C: Benfica, Zenit, Bayer Leverkusen
Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray
Well, well, well, Liverpool and Real Madrid meet again in the Champions League! The last time the Spanish giants went to Anfield, they lost 4-0... Arsenal have Galatasaray added to their group, while Manchester City will face CSKA Moscow and Chelsea will take on Sporting Lisbon.
Sooo Bayern Munich again 😄
— Edin Džeko (@EdDzeko) August 28, 2014
The final stage of the group draw is coming up next...
Group B: Real Madrid, Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets
Group C: Benfica, Zenit, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco
Group F: Barcelona, PSG, Ajax, APOEL
Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos, Malmo
Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Anderlecht
Group G: Chelsea, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor
Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao, Bate
Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma
There we have it, the draw is concluded! So, Liverpool fans, how do you feel about that? The Reds may be facing the champions, but it could have been a lot worse. As well as the Spanish side, Liverpool will face Basel and Ludogorets, who are playing in the first Champions League group stage. The Bulgarian side reached the next round in dramatic fashion last night after their centre-back Cosmin Moti had to go in goal. He scored one and saved two in a penalty shootout!
Liverpool have faced Madrid three times before in European competition, winning all three, their last victory, as I mentioned, ending in a 4-0 victory for the Reds.
Arsenal will go head to head with Borussia Dortmund for the second campaign in a row. They also face Galatasaray and Anderlecht, which could prove to be a tough task for the Gunners, but you would think they would progress into the knockout rounds.
Saucy little draw we've got there.. Let's do the damn ting. #lfc #redordead pic.twitter.com/y2cwrF2fe0
— Daniel Sturridge (@D_Sturridge) August 28, 2014
Manchester City never seem to have it easy in the Champions League and that looks set to continue. Matches against Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow and Roma await the North-West outfit. It's a simpler affair for Chelsea though, who will feel confident that they will progress to the knockout rounds after drawing Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor.
Right folks, that's all from me as the Champions League groups are decided and the elite tournament gets on the road to Berlin! Thanks for joining me, and Until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Danielle Joynson
