Madrid return to Lyon's lair

PFC Levski Sofia will get an early taste of what the UEFA Champions League is all about when they get the group stage under way on 12 September with a daunting trip to Catalonia to tackle the holders FC Barcelona.

Reward
Levski's reward for becoming the first Bulgarian club to reach this phase of the competition will also see them come up against Chelsea FC and Werder Bremen in Group A. The German team face the English champions in the other opening fixture. The same Tuesday evening will see the 2005 winners Liverpool FC take on PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion in Group C, and Galatasaray SK welcome FC Girondins de Bordeaux of France.

No winners
FC Internazionale Milano's latest attempt to lift a third European Champion Clubs' Cup begins at Sporting Clube de Portugal, with FC Bayern München entertaining FC Spartak Moskva in the other Group B tie. Group D, the only pool not to contain a former champion, sees Olympiacos CFP square off against Valencia CF and AS Roma encounter FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

British derby
Wednesday's matches are dominated by a British derby between Manchester United FC and Celtic FC, although the Group E game between Olympique Lyonnais and Real Madrid CF looks equally attractive - especially as the Spanish side were humbled 3-0 at Stade Gerland on the opening night of last season's edition. FC Steaua Bucuresti's return to the competition entails a trip to FC Dynamo Kyiv before they meet Lyon on Matchday 2.

Milan-AEK
In Group F, FC København's inaugural fixture in the group stage comes against SL Benfica, whose Portuguese rivals FC Porto start against PFC CSKA Moskva. Elsewhere, RSC Anderlecht play LOSC Lille Métropole and the losers of the past two finals, Arsenal FC and AC Milan, engage Hamburger SV away and AEK Athens FC at home. All the teams who are at home on Matchday 1 will be away a fortnight later.