Manchester City face tough initiation despite steering clear of Barca and Real

Neighbours Manchester United were given a much easier draw in Group C alongside Benfica, the club they beat to secure their first European Cup in 1968, as well as Swiss champions Basle and unknowns Otelul Galati from Romania, making their bow in the competition.

Arsenal have to overcome Marseille, Greek champions Olympiakos and a potentially tricky test against Borussia Dortmund – the club among the pot of fourth seeds most will have wanted to avoid – in Group F.

Chelsea will face Valencia, the former club of latest new signing Juan Mata, plus Bayer Leverkusen – where former Blue Michael Ballack is now playing – and Genk from Belgium in Group E.

City, among the pot of third seeds, could have been drawn against reigning champions Barcelona or Real Madrid but still ended up in the toughest-looking group.

Although Bayern Munich and Villarreal both had to come through a play-off to qualify, both clubs have plenty of Champions League experience.

Napoli finished third in Serie A last season but have managed to hang on to the core of their team and provide a threat too.

Sergio Aguero should be guaranteed a good welcome given that he is the son-in-law of Naples’s favourite adopted son Diego Maradona.

United’s group appears the easiest on paper, and though Arsenal have to play German champions Borussia Dortmund, they should be confident of overcoming both Marseille and Olympiakos.

Chelsea, too, should view themselves as more than capable of progressing to the knockout stages in Andres Villas-Boas’s first season in charge.

Group H became the one to avoid with Barcelona and AC Milan the first two into it, and BATE Borisov from Belarus and Czech side Viktoria Plzen were the unlucky ones to be matched with them.

Real Madrid face Lyon, Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb in Group D, Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Lille and Trabzonspor will fight in out in Group B, while Europa League winners Porto are in Group G with Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg and APOEL from Cyprus.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill said he was sure manager Sir Alex Ferguson would be happy with the draw.

United beat Benfica at Wembley to win the first of three European Cups in 1968 – a match in which Sir Bobby Charlton played and scored twice, and he paired the two together again during yesterday’s draw in Monaco.

Gill said: “We have had great matches against them and he (Charlton) was reminiscing before the draw about that great match back in 1968.

“We had some great games against them in 2000 so we are looking forward to going back to Portugal.”

Gill added: “We’ve had great success in the last few years in the competition and we’re looking forward to it.

“I’m sure he’s (Ferguson’s) happy with that. We have a new Romanian team, congratulations to them for getting in the competition. We are looking forward to going there.”

Arsenal club secretary David Miles said: “We’ve been in the Champions League every season under Arsene Wenger’s tenure. I’m pleased we don’t have to travel too far, to the far off eastern European clubs. Arsene will see that as a big bonus.”

Brian Marwood, Manchester City’s football administrator, said: “It’s a very competitive group, four teams with great experience in Europe who have won honours at the highest level. But we feel we have a very competitive squad who can compete at this level.”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW

Group A: Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Manchester City, Napoli.

Group B: Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Lille, Trabzonspor.

Group C: Manchester United, Benfica, Basle, Otelul Galati.

Group D: Real Madrid, Lyon, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb.

Group E: Chelsea, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, Genk.

Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Olympiacos, Borussia Dortmund.

Group G: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, APOEL.

Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, BATE Borisov, Plzen.

The first round of fixtures will be played on September 13-14.