City face Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow and FC Viktoria Plzen in Champions League

Blues drawn in Group D alongside reigning champions

City once again face a difficult challenge following Thursday's Champions League group stage draw in Monaco, after being drawn in the same group as reigning champions Bayern Munich.

The club will also meet CSKA Moscow and FC Viktoria Plzen after being drawn in Group D.

The Blues disappointing performances in their previous two Champions League campaigns, failing to progress from the group stage on each occasion, meant that the club were in Pot 3 for the draw.

City will be relieved, however, to have avoided to have avoided groups B and H, which contained Real Madrid and Juventus, and Barcelona and AC Milan, respectively.

Key dates:

Group stage, matchday one 17-18/09/13
Group stage, matchday two 01-02/10/13
Group stage, matchday three 22-23/10/13
Group stage, matchday four 05-06/11/13
Group stage, matchday five 26-27/11/13
Group stage, matchday six 10-11/12/13