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The Champions League is back – we bring you everything you need to know ahead of the 2017/18 group stage.
Real Madrid are seeking a third straight Champions League after becoming the first club to retain the trophy since AC Milan did so in 1990.
No club has won the European Cup in three consecutive seasons since Bayern Munich from 1974 to 1976, but Zinedine Zidane’s side are favourites to win for an unprecedented 13th time in Kiev next year.
Here are the finer details of this season’s Champions League…
THE GROUPS
Group A: Benfica, Man United, Basel, CSKA Moscow
On the last occasion that Man Utd were in a CL group with FC Basel, they were knocked out in at that stage (2011/12).
Jose Mourinho has lost just one of his previous seven competitive meetings with Benfica as a manager (W4 D2 L1).
Manchester United have played a Russian side on four occasions in the Champions League - all of them were against CSKA Moscow. They met in the Group stage in 2015-16 and beat them 1-0 at home, while drawing 1-1 away.
Group B: Bayern Munich, PSG, Anderlecht, Celtic
These two former European Cup winners have met just once in European competition; in the group stages of the 2003-04 Champions League campaign - Bayern unbeaten (W1 D1).
The Hoops also met RSC Anderlecht in the same group; winning their home fixture 3-0 but losing 1-0 in the reserve game.
Celtic have lost both European games against Paris Saint-Germain in European competition; losing 4-0 on aggregate in the 1995-96 Cup Winners' Cup second round.
Group C: Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Qarabag
Chelsea have won just one of their five games against Atletico Madrid in European competition (D2 L2), and none of the last four.
This will be Chelsea's first European meeting with Roma since November 2008, when they lost 3-1 in Rome under Luiz Felipe Scolari.
English teams have faced opposition from Azerbaijan only twice previously in European competition - Tottenham Hotspur and Qarabag in the 2015/16 Europa League (Spurs W2).
Group D: Juventus, Barcelona, Olympiakos, Sporting CP
Barcelona have won the Champions League in four of the last 12 seasons. Real Madrid are the only other team to have won it more than once in the same period (3).
Juventus have won the European Cup/Champions League on two occasions (1985 and 1996). However, they have lost the final more times than any other club (7 out of 9 played).
Group E: Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, Liverpool, Maribor
Liverpool's only previous meeting with Sevilla came in the 2015/16 Europa League final, when Jurgen Klopp's men were beaten 3-1 in Basel.
The Reds will meet Spartak Moscow in the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2002/03, when they won both home (5-0) and away (3-1).
Maribor will be just the second Slovenian side to face Liverpool in European competition, after Olimpija Ljubljana in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup.
Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk, Man City, Napoli, Feyenoord
Manchester City’s first ever Champions League match came against Napoli in September 2011, drawing 1-1.
Man City have met Ukrainian opponents once before in the Champions League; beating Dynamo Kyiv 3-1 over two legs in the last 16 of the 2015-16 campaign.
The Citizens have never beaten Dutch opposition in the Champions League; failing to win both home and away group stages games against Ajax in 2012-13 (D1 L1).
Group G: Monaco, Porto, Besiktas, RB Leipzig
Monaco have reached the knockout stages in six of their previous seven Champions League participations, including the final in 2004 (0-3 v Porto).
Porto have lost three of their last 18 Champions League group games (W10 D5).
Group H: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, APOEL
Cristiano Ronaldo scored in both of Real Madrid's previous Champions League games against Tottenham.
Spurs lost both home and away against Dortmund in their EL last 16 tie back in 2015-16 - their only previous meetings with the German side.
Tottenham have never lost to Cypriot opposition in Europe before - winning three and drawing once
THE FIRST ROUND OF FIXTURES
click here to view fixtures in full
Tuesday, September 12:
Group A: Man. United v Basel, Benfica v CSKA Moscow
Group B: Celtic v Paris, Bayern v Anderlecht
Group C: Roma v Atletico, Chelsea v Qarabag
Group D: Olympiacos v Sporting CP, Barcelona v Juventus
Wednesday, September 13:
Group H: Tottenham v Dortmund, Real Madrid v APOEL
Group G: Porto v Besiktas, Leipzig v Monaco
Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk v Napoli, Feyenoord v Man. City
Group E: Liverpool v Sevilla, Maribor v Spartak Moscow
THE PREMIER LEAGUE’S CHANCES
England will have five clubs in this season's Champions League group stages, only the second time a country has had as many representatives in the competition after Spain in 2015/16.
We take a look at the challenges facing Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United this season, with a prediction of how they will fare to boot.
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