The four Premier League representatives – Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal – had reasonable fortunes in the draw for the group stages of the Champions League, avoiding the most powerful of the second seeds, while Rangers will be happy that they, too, have a decent chance of progressing.

Manchester United, last season's losing finalists, were drawn against CSKA Moscow, Besiktas and Wolfsburg in Group B. Chelsea were grouped with Porto, Atlético Madrid and the Cypriot champions, Apoel Nicosia in Group D. Liverpool face Lyon, Fiorentina and the Hungarian champions, Debreceni, in Group E. Arsenal tackle AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos and Standard Liege in Group H. Rangers were drawn against the seeded Sevilla, Stuttgart and the Romanian champions, Unirea Urziceni, Champions League newcomers, in Group G.

Barcelona, as champions, were seeded, along with the four Premier League sides, plus Sevilla, Milan and Bayern Munich. Barça, in Group F, must face Internazionale, and make long trips to Dynamo Kiev, in Ukraine, and Rubin Kazan, the Russian champions.

Milan will have a first-hand chance to assess how Florentino Pérez's new galácticos are bedding in at Real Madrid, as well as playing Marseille and FC Zurich in Group C. Bayern Munich were joined by Juventus, Bordeaux and Maccabi Haifa in Group A.

Wolfsburg, the German champions and the strongest of the sides in the fourth tier of seeds, will give United a test. Atlético Madrid troubled Liverpool last year and will hope to do the same to Chelsea. Lyon have regularly progressed to the knockout stages and Fiorentina, too, will be difficult opponents for Liverpool. But having avoided Real, Inter and Juventus from the second seeds, all the Premier League clubs must feel that they have been given every chance to maintain the consistent qualification of recent years, while in landing Sevilla, Rangers were drawn against one of the weaker top seeds.

The draw in full

Group A: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Bordeaux , Maccabi Haifa

Group B: Manchester United, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Wolfsburg

Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich

Group D: Chelsea, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Apoel FC

Group E: Liverpool, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debreceni

Group F: Barcelona, Internazionale, Dynamo Kiev, FC Rubin Kazan

Group G: Sevilla, Rangers, VfB Stuttgart, Unirea Uriziceni

Group H: Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Standard Liege