Reuters Soccer Blog

New Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will get a quick return to the San Siro but instead of facing former club and champions Inter Milan, it’s another double header with AC Milan for the Spaniards like last year.

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba can look forward to a trip to old haunt Marseille and Arsenal will have a speedy reunion with ex-striker Eduardo who now plays for Shakhtar Donetsk.

Holders Inter, who can boast UEFA keeper of the year Julio Cesar, defender of the year Maicon, midfielder of the year Wesley Sneijder and forward of the year Diego Milito, have been drawn with Werder Bremen and debutants Tottenham Hotspur.

A battle of Britain between Manchester United, of course managed by a Scot, and Rangers promises some fireworks while Barcelona will probably be the happiest of the top seeds with their easy-looking group.

What do you reckon? Group G is probably the proverbial “group of death”. How many European Cups between Milan, Real and Ajax?? Come on, put that calculator away!

The other groups are somewhat low-key but there’s bound to be some cracking surprises like always.

Here are the groups: (first matches to be played Sept. 14/15) 

Group A: Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Tottenham Hotspur, FC Twente

Group B: Lyon, Benfica, Schalke, Hapoel Tel Aviv

Group C: Manchester United, Valencia, Rangers, Bursaspor 

Group D: Barcelona, Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen, Rubin Kazan

Group E: Bayern Munich, AS Roma, FC Basel, CFR Cluj

Group F: Chelsea, Marseille, Spartak Moscow, MSK Zilina

Group G: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Ajax, Auxerre

Group H: Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, SC Braga, FK Partisan