UEFA Champions League 2010-2011 Group Stage Draw

Posted on August 27, 2010 by SoccerPunter

UEFA Champions League holders FC Internazionale Milano will begin the defence of their title in Group A with matches against SV Werder Bremen and two newcomers to this stage, Tottenham Hotspur FC and FC Twente.

The 32 clubs were split into eight sections of four with last season’s runners-up FC Bayern München drawn in Group E alongside AS Roma, FC Basel 1893 and CFR 1907 Cluj. José Mourinho will make a swift return to Italy as his Real Madrid CF team meet AC Milan, as well as AFC Ajax and AJ Auxerre. FC Barcelona, winners in two of the past five seasons, will take on Panathinaikos FC, FC København and FC Rubin Kazan.

The group-stage fixtures will be played on 14/15 September, 28/29 September, 19/20 October, 2/3 November, 23/24 November and 7/8 December.

The rules of the draw are such that none of the English sides can play each other before the quarter-finals.

The group winners and runners-up will progress to the first knockout round in the spring, with the final to be staged at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 28 May 2011.

Teams finishing third in each section will transfer to the UEFA Europa League round of 32.