Eleven of the past champions were among the 22 automaticentrants. The 32 entrants have been split into four seeding pots, with each ofthe groups to contain one team from each tier.
No club can meet a team from their own association. HoldersChelsea FC lead the top tier of seeds, all of whom have lifted the trophy otherthan 2005/06 runners-up Arsenal FC, and both London clubs will be hoping toemulate FC Bayern München's 2011/12 feat of playing the final in their homecity, with the competition concluding at Wembley on Saturday 25 May. The thirdEnglish team in Pot 1, Manchester United FC, are making a record 18thappearance in this, the 21st UEFA Champions League campaign proper.
Of the 32 sides that competed last season, 20 have qualifiedagain, LOSC Lille completing the lineup after their extra-time defeat of FCKøbenhavn in the last play-off to finish on Wednesday. In total there are clubsfrom 17 different national associations playing in the group stage, withEngland and Spain the best represented with a quartet of teams.
The draw consists of 32 teams in four pots and will dividethem into eight groups of four.
The DefendingChampions:
Chelsea
For Chelsea it may seem like yet another opportunity tostamp their authority. A new squad full of young talented players has caughtthe eye in the early stages of the Premier League. Eden hazard has added tremendous flair to aside that has been strengthened by Roman Abramovich billions. Roman Abramovichhad paid out about $125 million, on transfer fees to buy new players forChelsea.
Their defensive mindset has been offloaded and it is a veryaggressive team that has taken to the field. Torres that mostly ineffectualplayer has been transformed this year scoring a goal and making life difficultfor the opposition. He has been helped by the addition of more attackingplayers who share his attitude.
If they sustain their standard of play, the other worthycontenders may have a tough time trying to pry that trophy out of theirhands.
Contenders
Manchester City
After the dramatic win on the final day of the EPL season,they will now look at the continents premier football competition to make theirmark. The team that won the Premier league is still largely constant. Newsignings have not been aplenty despite the coach’s constant demands. He hashowever recruited Jack Rodwell, Vlad Marin, and Jules OlivierNtcham. It remains to be seen however ifthis team has the nous to handle the sophistication of a Barcelona or thedogged style of a Juventus. Time willtell though do not bet on an early exit.
Barcelona
It has been a very disappointing start to the season. A lossto Real Madrid in the Super Cup is not what the team wanted to experience postthe fabulous Pepe Guardiola season of last year. This team is way to classythough to succumb to doubt. The names that grace this team are like the who’swho in the world of football. Messi will certainly be on the lookout to addanother medal to his fantastic career. This could be their year. They are waytoo classy and play a style that setsthem apart from the rest of the football playing world
Real Madrid
Defeating fierce rivals Barcelona in the Super cup could nothave come at a better time. It’s ninth win will be a fantastic boost as it setsout to defend its position as the winners of the La Liga and make a mark in theChampions league. The Liga champions last won European club football's elitecompetition in 2002 and reached the semi-finals the last two years. They along with fierce rivals Barcelona areundoubtedly the two best football teams in the world. What they will need thisyear is an element of luck to traverse the final few slippery steps to laytheir hands on the trophy. Do not put it beyond them. They are way too classyto fail again this year.
Paris Saint Germain
PSG became the most expensively assembled team in Frenchfootball history. With Carlo Ancelotti replacing Antoine Kombouaré as managerduring the winter break last season, the club is expected to perform betterthis time around. Paris Saint-Germain have splashed a French record € 108million and have been the biggest spenders in the world for the 2011“12 season.They became the first French club to top the season transfer market and surpassthe € 100 million barrier, and have broken the Ligue 1 transferrecord with the signing of Javier Pastore from Palermo for € 43 million.Though the start to the season has been sluggish at best, the aim is nothingshort of European glory, and the justification of the money that has been spentin order to bolster the squad.
