Champions League groups decided

The draw for the group stages of the Champions League has been made and it’s a mixed bag for the Premier League teams competing in the competition.

However, all four English sides will be confident of progressing and this is backed up in the Champions League odds.

Manchester United will face a battle of Britain when they take on Glasgow Rangers in what is sure to be two exciting matches.

United have made two of the previous three finals in the Champions League and Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking for his third Champions League trophy this season.

As well as Rangers, United will face a tough couple of games against Spanish side Valencia. Ferguson’s team will also face the unknown prospect of Turkish champions Bursaspor, who will be making their Champions League debut.

Chelsea face a tricky but winnable group after being drawn against Marseille, Spartak Moscow and Slovenian side MSK Zilina. Marseille were crowned Ligue 1 champions at the end of last season. Spartak are the other strong team in the group as they finished second in the Russian Premier League. MSK Zilina will be another unknown quantity in the tournament but Chelsea won’t be worrying too much about qualifying from the group.

Arsenal have been handed the kindest draw out of their rivals as Braga, FK Partizan and Shakhtar Donetsk are all winnable matches for Arsene Wenger and his team. The draw will mean a return to the Emirates for Shakhtar’s new striker Eduardo who was signed from Arsenal earlier in the summer.

Spurs have been given no favours in what will be their first experience of the tournament. They have been put in possibly the hardest group of them all. Inter Milan, Werder Bremen and FC Twente will all provide tough tests for Harry Redknapp and his team.

Meanwhile, Liverpool and Manchester City – who are amongst the favourites in the Europa League odds – have been handed tricky groups in Friday’s draw. The Reds will face Steaua Bucharest, Napoli and Utrecht whilst City will come up against Juventus, Salzburg and Lech Poznan.