It’s a mouthwatering draw which pits the Blues against Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, who won the competition at Wembley back in May.
Russian champions CSKA Moscow and Czech league winners Viktoria Plzen are the two other clubs that stand between Manuel Pellegrini’s men and a first crack at the knockout rounds.
Of course City’s encounter with Bayern Munich will grab most of the headlines as it throws up a repeat of the dramatic meeting in 2011/12 – the Blues’ first-ever season in the competition.
City met the Bavarian outfit back at the start of August and contested a highly competitive Audi Cup final match which Bayern came back from a goal down in to win 2-1.
City kick-off their Champions League campaign with Matchday One in Pilsen when the Blues take on Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday 17 September.
Pellegrini will be hoping that qualification is already secured when City travel to the Allianz Arena to take on the European champions on Matchday Six which takes place on Tuesday 10 December.
As ever, the third-placed team in the group will automatically go into the Europa League round of 32, while the eight group winners and runners-up advance to the knockout rounds of the 2013/14 Champions League.
Schedule:
Matchday One - Tuesday 17 September
Viktoria Plzen v City
Matchday Two - Wednesday 2 October
City v Bayern Munich
Matchday Three - Wednesday 23 October
CSKA Moscow v City
Matchday Four - Tuesday 5 November
City v CSKA Moscow
Matchday Five - Wednesday 27 November
City v Viktoria Plzen
Matchday Six - Tuesday 10 December
Bayern Munich v City
Download the full Group Stage schedule.
Over the coming hours and days we’ll bring you all of the reaction to that draw here on mcfc.co.uk and tell you more about City’s group stage opponents.
Our official travel provider Thomas Cook Sport will be offering supporter packages to follow the team during the UEFA Champions League group stages. For more information click here.
