Zenit St. Petersburg are to play AC Milan in the group stage of the Champions League after the draw was made Thursday.
Zenit and Milan’s other opponents in Group C will be Anderlecht of Belgium and Spanish side Malaga.
Making their first Champions League group stage appearance since 2007, Spartak Moscow face an uphill struggle against Barcelona and Benfica.
Scottish champions Celtic also await the Russians, who feature former Bhoy Aiden McGeady in their squad.
In what is likely to be dubbed the group of death, four champions face off as England’s Manchester City, Spain’s Real Madrid, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Ajax of the Netherlands clash.
Reigning champions Chelsea face potentially tricky matches against Italian giants Juventus and Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donestk, plus Danish side Nordsjaelland.
Last season’s beaten finalists Bayern Munich were drawn against Valencia in a repeat of the 2001 final, and will also play France’s Lille and BATE Borisov of Belarus.
Manchester United escaped the strongest sides in the draw, drawn against Braga of Portugal, Turkey’s Galatasaray and Romanian side CFR Cluj.
Arsenal face Germany’s Schalke in Group E, with Greek side Olympiacos and French champions Montpellier their other opponents.
In their first Champions League appearance for eight seasons, France’s big-spending Paris Saint-Germain were drawn against 2004 champions Porto and Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine, as well as Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb.
