City will face off against La Liga title winners Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund in the group stage of the 2012-13 Champions League.

The four teams are all champions of their respective countries, but were eligible to face one another due to their differing seeds.

Jose Mourinho's side's fierce rivals Barcelona will face a daunting trip to Russia to play against Spartak Moscow, and have also been drawn against Benfica and Celtic.

Elsewhere, current holders Chelsea take on Scudetto winners Juventus, and also face a tough trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar. The trio have been drawn alongside Danish minnows Nordsjaelland.

Beaten finalists from last season, Bayern Munich, face a re-match of their victorious 2001 Champions League final against Valencia, and will also have to contend with Lille and BATE.

Just as they were last year, Arsenal have been drawn alongside Olympiakos, and German opposition in Schalke, while the Gunners' summer signing Olivier Giroud will have a swift homecoming to Montpellier.

Big spenders Paris Saint-Germain have been handed a favourable draw alongside Porto, Dynamo Kiev and Dinamo Zagreb in Group A, while Manchester United will look to avoid a repeat of last season's humiliating early exit when they take on Braga, Galatasaray and Cluj.

Finally, AC Milan, who were eliminated by Barcelona in the quarter-final last season, will face Zenit St Petersburg, Anderlecht and Malaga.