Barcelona heads 32-team draw for Champions League groups

Bayern Munich's coach Pep Guardiola reacts during their division soccer match against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Sinsheim, Germany, August 22, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Match-fixing

Greek champion Olympiakos is in the draw despite its president, Vangelis Marinakis, being implicated in a criminal investigation of alleged match-fixing.

UEFA rules bar teams proven to have been involved in fixing a match since 2007.

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport this week dismissed an appeal by Panathinaikos, after UEFA said it had no conclusive evidence from Greece to deny Olympiakos its place.

UEFA can disqualify teams midseason if fixing allegations are proven.

Final destination

The six-round group stage program kicks off Sept 15 and ends Dec 9. The top two in each group advance to the two-legged knockout rounds which start Feb 16.

UEFA picked San Siro in Milan to host the May 28 final but there is no home advantage to play for the famed big-eared trophy.

Neither Milan club - AC or Inter, which have a combined 10 European Cup or Champions League titles - qualified for the second straight season.

San Siro will stage its fourth final, and first since Bayern beat Valencia in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in 2001.

The team of Bayern Munich with Mario Goetze (standing) celebrate a goal against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim during their German Bundesliga first division soccer match in Sinsheim, Germany, August 22, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

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