The UEFA Champions League draw was made at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, on Aug. 31, and Spanish clubs have been handed easy draws on paper.

Real Madrid, who are fourteen-time champions of the competition, were knocked out in the semi-final of the competition last season by eventual winners Manchester City, but after finishing second in La Liga behind Barcelona, they secured Champions League football.

The Los Blancos were placed in Group C with Italian Serie A Champions Napoli, Braga, and debutants Union Berlin. UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla returned to the UEFA Champions League by virtue of the win against AS Roma in the final in Budapest in May. They have now been put in another easy group against Arsenal, who are returning after six years of absence.

Group C, housing the UEFA Europa League winners, and the North Londoners, is completed by French side RC Lens and Dutch club PSV.

La Liga champions Barcelona didn’t go past the group stage last season in the UEFA Champions League; they will hope to do better than that this time around. This should be easier this time around with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Porto, and Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

The group stages will run from Sept. 19 to Dec. 13, with the final at Wembley on Jun. 1. Meanwhile, Barcelona will travel to Osasuna on matchday of the La Liga this weekend, while Real Madrid will host Getafe.

Group stage draw in full:

Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, Galatasaray

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RC Lens

Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin

Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, Salzburg, Real Sociedad

Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic 

Group F: Paris St-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle 

Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys

Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu