Manchester City prepare to face the big boys ahead of Champions League draw



By Sportsmail Reporter

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Manchester City could be paired with holders Barcelona in Thursday's Champions League draw.



Making their debut in Europe's elite competition, big-spending City may be handed a baptism of fire when the balls are drawn in Monaco at 5pm.

Placed in pot three because of their previous success, City could face Barcelona in the group stages.



Countdown: Monaco hosts the glamorous Champions League draw

Even if they avoid the champions, a double-header against the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan or Bayern Munich could await.



The other English clubs - Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal - are among the top seeds hoping for favourable draws for the group stages.



However, there are some tough sides lurking in the lower pots. AC Milan and Spanish duo Valencia and Villarreal are in pot two, while Ajax and German champions Borussia Dortmund are in pots three and four respectively.



Deadly duo: Man City could face Messi and Fabregas

UEFA rules prevent clubs from the same country being placed in the same group, but City could still find themselves up against Barcelona, Milan and Dortmund in a glamorous group.

UEFA distributed £663million in prize money and bonuses among the clubs that played in last season's group stage.



The 32 clubs in the draw are set to share at least the same amount as a three-year cycle of broadcasting and sponsorship deals ends next May after the final in Munich.

Gunning for glory: Arsenal are into the group stage yet again

The draw is conducted at the beachside Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo in a lavish ceremony. Ahead of the draw, UEFA will announce the inaugural winner of its Best Player in Europe award.



Lionel Messi and Xavi of Barcelona and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo are on the three-man shortlist selected by a panel of 53 journalists. The panel, representing each of UEFA's member nations, also votes for the winner.



UEFA created the awarxd after France Football magazine combined its traditional European award with FIFA's world player prize.



POT 1 Manchester United

Barcelona

Chelsea

Bayern Munich

Arsenal

Real Madrid

Porto

Inter Milan

POT 2 AC Milan

Lyon

Shakhtar Donetsk

Valencia

Benfica

Villarreal

CSKA Moscow

Marseille



POT 3 Zenit St Petersburg

Ajax

Bayer Leverkusen

Olympiakos

Manchester City

Lille

Basel

BATE Borisov POT 4 Borussia Dortmund

Napoli

Dynamo Zagreb

APOEL Nicosia

Genk

FC Viktoria Plzen

Otelul Galati

Trabzonspor



Key dates



Matchday 1

September 13-14 Matchday 2

September 27-28

Matchday 3

October 18-19

Matchday 4

November 1-2

Matchday 5

November 22-23

Matchday 6

December 6-7 Round of 16

February 14-22, 2012

Round of 16

March 6-14, 2012 Quarter-finals

March 27-28, 2012 Quarter-finals

April 3-4, 2012 Semi-finals

April, 17-18, 2012 Semi-finals

April, 24-25, 2012

Final: May 19, 2012, Munich



