The seeding system meant they avoided numerous bigger sides and they may harbour realistic hopes of progress.
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Copenhagen reached the last 16 in 2010/11, one of only four previous times it has made it into the Champions League proper, while Brugge has also had only sporadic appearances in the group stages.
Prediction: Bayern Munich wins group and Atleti finishes second.
Paris Saint-Germain will likely be happy with draw. Every team in the competition will fight like champions.
While now Spain, Germany and England each have guaranteed group stage spots for their top three finishers with the fourth-placed team going into a play-off, in Italy only the top two qualify automatically with third contesting a play-off.
“It’s an interesting group and there are no clear favourites”.
For the 19th consecutive season, Arsenal are in the last 32 of the Champions League – and this season they didn’t have to play qualifiers to get there.
Moreover, prize money will be “increased significantly” for both the Champions League and Europa League. But both have lost key players over the summer.
Group B: Benfica (Portugal), Napoli (Italy), Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine), Besiktas (Turkey).
While it has been four years since Guardiola left Barcelona, his legacy still remains.
City faced Monchengladbach and beat them home and away in their group last season. There is an all British clash, too, with Scottish champion Celtic involved.
“Pep knows the group very well – obviously Barcelona but also Borussia Monchengladbach from his time in Germany”.
Manchester City – now under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola – were that club from the Premier League as they overcame Steaua Bucuresti 6-0 on aggregate. Those two teams, who have been regulars in the latter stages in recent seasons, should progress. Meanwhile, after defeating Ajax, Russian Premier League winners Rostov will have nothing to fear going up against another Dutch side.
And don’t forget Atletico Madrid – a finalist twice in the past three years. Arsenal, Leicester City, Manchester City, Tottenham and 28 more football teams finally discovered who they have to face in Europe.
Leicester are one of the top seeds having won the league by 10 points in May and Ranieri believes they will be massive underdogs in Europe this year. Tottenham, 3. Monaco, 4.
Matches between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are swift becoming classics.
The aim now for Madrid is to become the first team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era – the last club to win back-to-back European Cups was AC Milan in 1990.
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Prediction: 1. Porto, 2. The double champions from Portugal have won only three of their last 16 ties against English teams in the competition. Dinamo Zagreb may find itself filling the role of group whipping boy.
