Get to know the Premier League teams’ Champions League groups

A look at who the top four will face this year

The draw for the 2015/16 Champions League group stages took place today and SillySeason takes a look at who the Premier League top four will have to face in the competition’s first stage.

Champions League Group B

After beating Club Brugge 7-1 on aggregate in their two-legged qualifier, Manchester United were drawn in Group B alongside PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Vfl Wolfsburg. Here’s a look at their group opponents:

PSV Eindhoven – This will be an interesting fixture for one particular United player. Memphis Depay moved to Old Trafford from PSV this summer and I’m sure he will have a welcome return to his old club.

PSV qualified automatically after being crowned champions of Eredivisie and their manager is is ex-Netherlands international star Phillip Cocu. Their main threat and stand-out player is their striker and number nine Luuk De Jong.

They have won the competition only once, during the 1987-88 campaign when it was known simply as the European Cup.

CSKA Moscow – The Russians also progressed to the group stage after being part of a qualifier, they beat Sporting Lisbon 4-3 on aggregate.

They are often a tough nut to crack, especially when you play them at their home stadium. They have one of the most intimidating fan bases in world football and it can be very cold during winter.

Their manager is Leonid Slutsky and he possesses a squad rich with Russian internationals. However, the main threat comes from Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia, who has recently re-signed for the club on loan from AS Roma.

They also have an ex-United player in their ranks in Zoran Tosic.

CSKA have never won the competition.

VfL Wolfsburg – The German Cup winners qualified after finishing as runners-up in the Bundesliga last season.

Their boss is Dieter Hecking and they have a lot of quality attacking players at their disposal. Ex-Chelsea players Andre Schurrle and Kevin De Bruyne could be the ones to watch out for.

That is if De Bruyne stays at the club, he is strongly linked with a move to the Red Devils‘ local rivals Manchester City.

Wolfsburg have also never won the competition.

Champions League Group D

Manchester City automatically qualified for the Champions League group stages after finishing runners-up to Chelsea last term. They will face a tough task after being drawn with Juventus, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Juventus – The Old Lady were last year’s runners-up in this competition after losing 3-1 to Barcelona in the final.

Their manager Massimiliano Allegri has strengthened significantly this summer with the acquisitions of Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado showing the calibre of their squad.

They qualified after winning Serie A for the fourth year in a row and have also won the European Cup/Champions League twice in 1984/85 and 1995/96.

Sevilla – Unai Emery‘s team finished fifth in La Liga last season but qualified directly for the group stages after retaining the Europa League title.

The Spaniards have made some top class signings, bringing in strikers Fernando Llorente and Ciro Immobile, as well as adding the Ukrainian winger Yehven Konoplyanka to their ranks.

These new players, mixed with the already talented squad they have, could prove to be vital if Sevilla are to have some success in this group.

They are another team to have never won this particular competition.

Borussia Monchengladbach – Lucien Favre‘s team qualified for this years Champions League by finishing third in the Bundesliga.

They have a strong squad that includes talent such as Switzerland striker Josep Drmic and ex-Chelsea playmaker Thorgan Hazard, brother of Eden.

They have the ability and potential to be a surprise package in this competition. They almost lifted the famous old trophy in 1976-77 but finished as runners-up to Liverpool.

Champions League Group F

Arsenal qualified for the Champions League after finishing third in the Premier League; they also capped off a successful season by retaining the FA Cup. The Gunners have a fairly tough group for this years tournament, facing the likes of Bayern Munich, Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb.

Bayern Munich – Pep Guardiola‘s men are considered to be one of the main powerhouses in world football, but the five times winners are yet to win the crown under the ex-Barcelona manager’s guidance.

They will be expected to finish top of this group ahead of Arsenal, especially when their squad contains players such as Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Robert Lewandowski.

They qualified after winning the Bundesliga for a record 25th time and have their sights set on a sixth European title.

They must travel to North London to face Arsenal in this year’s group stage, but the last time they won the trophy in 2013 the final was held in North London at Wembley Stadium.

Olympiakos – The Greek side qualified after winning the Greek Super League for the 17th time in a row.

Marco Silva‘s team are always tough to play against, but the recent decline in Greek football hasn’t helped their competitive edge coming into these high-pressure games in recent times.

It’s still a tough away trip as some Premier League teams have found out; and let’s not forget they have reached the quarter-finals of this competition.

Keep an eye out for ex-Leicester City midfielder Esteban Cambiasso.

Dinamo Zagreb – Zoran Mamic‘s team qualified after winning their qualifier against Albanian side Skenderbeu Korce 6-2 on aggregate. They had to play a two-legged qualifier despite winning the Croatian league title last season.

They have never won a European competition but that doesn’t mean they should be underestimated; it will be a tough place to travel to because of it’s intimidating atmosphere.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for former Manchester United and Wigan Athletic centre-forward Angelo Henriquez.

Champions League Group G

Chelsea qualified for the Champions League as Premier League champions and have been drawn in a group with FC Porto, Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Porto – The Portuguese side qualified as runners-up in the Primeira Liga and their head coach Julen Lopetegui will fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.

They have won the European Cup/Champions League twice in their history, the first time in 1987 and the second time in 2004. Their most recent title in ’04 came under the leadership of the present Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

They have made some shrewd signings this summer, securing the signature of Real Madrid legend Iker Cassilas and also capturing rapid Barcelona winger Christian Tello on loan.

Dynamo Kiev – The team from the Ukrainian capital qualified for this years tournament by winning the Ukrainian Premier League.

Their manager is Serhiy Rebrov and he will be looking towards the home games to try and pick up his points, it will be a tough place to travel to.

Their star man is Andriy Yarmolenko, the tricky winger can cause opposition teams all sorts of problems. However, he is strongly linked with a transfer to Everton so it remains to be seen if he will be playing in the Champions League.

Kiev are another side to have never won this competition.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv – The Isreali champions qualified on away goals after drawing 3-3 on aggregate with FC Basel.

They are another side who will have to rely on their home form if they have a chance of professing to the last 16.

Their manager is Martin Bain and the key player he has at his disposal is highly rated Isreal international striker Tal Ben Haim II.

They haven’t won the famous trophy either.