Real chance for England's top clubs

Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal will all be among the top seeds for today's Champions League draw in Monaco – but could still find themselves facing Real Madrid in the group stage.

By The Newsroom

Published 26th Aug 2010, 10:42 BST

Updated 26th Aug 2010, 10:42 BST

The English trio are among eight clubs in the top pot meaning they will avoid the likes of champions Inter Milan, Barcelona and beaten finalists Bayern Munich.

However Real Madrid are only in the second pot of eight clubs and would provide stiff opposition in the group phase, as would fellow Spanish side Valencia and Werder Bremen.

Tottenham will be in the third pot along with Rangers meaning they would have to be in a group with strong sides from the top two pots.

UEFA's rules for the draw will see the 32 qualified teams allocated into eight groups of four teams. Each group will contain a top seed, plus one club each from the second, third and fourth pots.

No English sides can play each other before the quarter-finals stage.