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Full draw: European giants collide as UEFA Champions League groups set

UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League - Q1 and Q2 Qualifying Round Draw

NYON, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 24: The UEFA Champions League trophy is displayed in the draw room ahead to the UEFA CChampions League Q1 and Q2 qualifying rounds draw at the UEFA headquarters on June 24, 2013 in Nyon, Switzerland. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images)

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On Thursday the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage was made in Monaco and plenty of top European teams will clash in the continent’s elite club competition.

Reigning champions Real Madrid were handed a good draw alongside Premier League side Liverpool, as the Spanish giants will try to become the first team in the modern era to defend the UCL trophy.

[ANALYSIS: Arsenal, City get tough draw]

Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester City were handed tough draws, as they will once again face German opposition in the group stage.

For the second season running City will face Bayern Munich, while Arsenal also have Borussia Dortmund as they did back in 2013-14. Man City also face Roma and CSKA Moscow in the ‘Group of Death’ while the Gunners have Galatasaray and Anderlecht. Chelsea got off lightly as they have Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor.

[RELATED: Latest Champions League news]

On their return to the Champions League for the first time since 2009, Liverpool were handed a decent draw with defending champions Real Madrid, Swiss giants FC Basel and a tricky trip to Bulgaria against Ludogorets.

Other notable news from the draw will see Juventus clash with Atletico Madrid in Group A, while FC Barcelona, Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain will collide In Group F.

The opening games of the 2014-15 group stages of the Champions League will begin on September 16-17, while the final will be played in Berlin on June 6, 2015 as the German capital will host the showpiece event for the first time in history.

2014-15 Champions League groups in full

Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiakos, Malmo

Group B: Real Madrid, Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets

Group C: Benfica, Zenit, Bayer Leverkusen, AS Monaco

Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Anderlecht

Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma

Group F: FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax, APOEL Nicosia

Group G: Chelsea, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor

Group H: FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao, BATE Borisov

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