Champions League draw smiles on Barca, Man Utd while City in 'group of death'

Arsenal have tough test against Bayern Munich in Group F, while Paris Saint-Germain were pitted against Real Madrid

MONACO: Reigning champions Barcelona and returning giants Manchester United were dealt favourable hands in the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday.

The Spanish giants' quest to become the first team to retain the European crown began smoothly as Lionel Messi and company were paired with Bayer Leverkusen, Roma and BATE Borisov in Group E.

The official result of the #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/Il4iQoqdLU

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 27, 2015

United grace the competition after a year's absence and coach Louis van Gaal will be more than happy with the three-time winners' Group B sparring partners PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg.

Read: Monaco, Celtic fail to progress

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho returns to FC Porto, the club he guided to the continental crown in 2004, with this duo joined by Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Group G.

Arsenal have a tough test against Bayern Munich in Group F while Paris Saint-Germain were pitted against 10-time winners Real Madrid in Group A.

The Catalan giants were the first team plucked out of UEFA's 'hat' by fittingly Andoni Zubizarreta, one of the club's favourite sons who was in goal for their first European title in 1992.

City, however, find themselves in a difficult group 'D' which features the likes of Juventus and Sevilla along with Monchengladbach.