The Premier League will be guaranteed four places in the Champions League group stages from 2018-19, UEFA has confirmed.
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The changes came after Europe’s top clubs discussed the possibility of forming a Super League, possibly without Uefa’s authorisation.
Before now, only La Liga, the Bundesliga and the Premier League were guaranteed three places in the group stage, with a fourth possible through play-offs.
Guardiola has been pitted against one of his former clubs. They will avoid the risk of losing in the playoff qualifying round and miss tens of millions of euros (dollars) in UEFA prize money.
The changes mean that the fourth-ranked league – currently Italy’s Serie A – will now gain an extra place and will go straight in to the groups.
Captain Philipp Lahm nevertheless spoke of Bayern having a “duty” to get through the group stage once again “even if we are up against Atletico”.
In Italy only the top two qualify automatically with third contesting a play-off, which their clubs have failed to negotiate for the last three seasons. Currently, the Europa victor can be made to qualify through the playoffs.
Ranieri led the 5,0000-1 outsiders to a historic league title last season and they have been drawn in Group G along with Porto, Club Bruges and FC Copenhagen.
UEFA has helped storied clubs who have slumped in recent seasons and would slip in the rankings which determine draw seeding. Under the newly-designed structure, clubs will be judged on their own records, with historical success in the competition being acknowledged in coefficient calculation.
Guardiola twice steered Barca to Champions League glory before leaving at the end of the 2011-12 season and switching to Bayern.
All things considered, it has kept down before ensuring places for named clubs, for occasion, circulating air through and cooling Milan, Liverpool, AC Milan and Manchester United.
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The youngster joined Celtic from Manchester City in the winter transfer window on a loan deal until next summer, and the defender feels Roberts did want to face his parent club in the Champions League.
