The Italian, Belarusian and Czech champions, namely AC Milan, Bate Borisov and Viktoria Pilsen will share a group with Barça in the Champions League following Thursday’s draw in Monaco. As defending champions, Barcelona were the number one seed.

There was a distinctly Barça related edge to the affair, with captain Carles Puyol presenting UEFA with the Champions League trophy won at Wembley and Leo Messi being named the best player of the last edition, with Xavi also present on the podium.

Debut against Milan at the Camp Nou

Barcelona start at home to Milan on Tuesday September 13. They then travel to play Bate Borisov before entertaining Viktoria. They will start the return games in the Czech Republic, then go to the San Siro and close the group at home to Bate.

One giant and two incognitos

Barça and Milan have met many times before. The two clubs have won eleven European Cups between them (four for Barça and seven for the rossoneri). They have met six times before in official competitions, including the grand final in Athens in 1994, which Milan won 4-0. In contrast, Barça have never played Bate Borisov or Viktoria Pilsen. The Belarusians qualified by beating Austria’s Sturm Graz and the Czechs eliminated FC Copenhagen.