Manchester United have been pitted against reigning champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League for the third season in a row. Alex Ferguson's men fought back in the 1999 final to seal a historic treble, but were outclassed at the quarter final stage last year. Ironically, Bayern boss Ottmar Hitzfeld has repeatedly been linked with the job to succeed Ferguson at Old Trafford at the end of the season. Portuguese side Boavista, who were runners up to Liverpool at the group stage, and French team Nantes will make up the rest of Group A.
Barcelona and Roma have been given a chance at revenge over Liverpool in the Champions League following last year's UEFA Cup defeats at the hands of the Anfield club. In what looks to be a difficult set of fixtures for last season's treble cup winners, Group B is completed by Turkish side Galatasaray.
Arsenal will face Italian giants Juventus, Deportivo – the Spanish side who beat Manchester United twice in qualifying - and German team Bayer Leverkusen in Group D.
GROUP A
Bayern Munich, FC Nantes, Manchester United, Boavista
GROUP B
Barcelona, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Roma
GROUP C
Real Madrid, Panathinaikos, Porto, Sparta Prague
GROUP D
Juventus, Deportivo La Coruna, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen
Filed by Greg McKevitt
