The top four clubs in last season's Barclays Premier League learnt their opponents for the group stages of this season's UEFA Champions League when the draw was made in Monaco.
Defending champions Chelsea, who defeated Bayern Munich to win the title in May, were drawn in Group E against three of last season's champions: Shakhtar Donetsk, of the Ukraine, Juventus, who won Serie A, and FC Nordsjaelland, the Danish side.
Manchester City face a similarly tough draw against the title-holders of their countries in Group D. Roberto Mancini's side will face Real Madrid, Ajax, the Eredivisie champions, and Borussia Dortmund, who won back-to-back Bundesliga titles last season.
Three-time champions Manchester United were drawn in Group H against Braga, of Portugal, Galatasaray, the Turkish champions, and CFR Cluj, of Romania.
The 2006 finalists Arsenal will face the German side Schalke, Greek champions Olympiacos and Montpellier, who won the French title last season.
The group stage of this season's competition begins on 18th-19th September and finishes on 4th-5th December.
The final will take place at Wembley Stadium, London on 25th May 2013.
Group A: Porto, Dynamo Kiev, Paris St Germain, Dinamo Zagreb.
Group B: Arsenal, Schalke, Olympiacos, Montpellier.
Group C: AC Milan, Zenit St Petersburg, Anderlecht, Malaga.
Group D: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund.
Group E: Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, FC Nordsjaelland.
Group F: Bayern Munich, Valencia, Lille, BATE Borisov.
Group G: Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moscow, Celtic.
Group H: Manchester United, Braga, Galatasaray, CFR Cluj.
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