Friday 26 August 2016 08:00, UK
Charlie Nicholas has backed Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham to make the Champions League knockout stages, but believes Leicester and Celtic will struggle.
Only Claudio Ranieri's side have moved in Sky Bet's Champions League outright odds as a result of the draw, with their odds cut from 80/1 to 50/1, although all four Premier League sides are odds-on to qualify from their groups.
Celtic have been handed the toughest task after coming out of pot 4, with Pep Guardiola's first and current clubs, Barcelona and Man City, in their path along with Borussia Monchengladbach, who won their play-offs tie with Young Boys 8-1 on aggregate.
Here's what Charlie makes of the draw...
Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, FC Basel, Ludogorets
I don't think PSG are as good as they were last season but they're still a strong side.
Basel are dangerous, I know that, but I'd expect a minimum of four points from facing them. Ludogorets are difficult at home but again I'd put a four-point minimum on them, then we just need to split our games with PSG.
I'm very, very pleased with the draw and how the seeding works and this might be the year where finishing second isn't a bad thing.
There's a lot of dangerous teams in the lower pots so that's definitely added to the excitement and benefits Europe's giants a touch less. A few of them might be grumbling about their draws.
Charlie verdict: Arsenal and PSG to qualify
Barcelona, Man City, Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic
What a great group for Celtic. I can guarantee Brendan Rodgers will be happy because he inherited a team that couldn't even qualify and now they've got the opportunity to compete with the best.
Hopefully they can do that with some help in the transfer market. They're lucky to get a £5m player but now they're in a pot that gets them £30m so why shouldn't they give Rodgers a budget to work with now?
They've now got a free hit, which for a native of Glasgow gives us a chance to get excited again.
Manchester City fans might not be so excited as they would have been hoping for an easy draw at last.
All German sides are dangerous, there's no doubt about that but, while I know they battered Young Boys, Gladbach have not been in this set up for a long time and they're here to battle like Celtic.
Barcelona and Man City is going to be so intriguing. I've been a Barca fan since I was 20, when Guardiola was probably coming through the ranks. They're still playing under the Pep influence and City now trying to learn the Pep way so it will be great to watch.
It's the best Champions League group ever. It's not the group of death, it's the group of entertainment!
Charlie's verdict: Barcelona and Man City to qualify
CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, Monaco
I genuinely don't think Tottenham are favourites to come through this group. When they were dynamic under Harry Redknapp they had nothing to lose.
However, pot four has thrown them a dangerous side in Monaco and CSKA is not an easy place to go. This is going to take a lot out of Spurs, especially as they haven't really added to their squad.
All four clubs are pretty close and if they get Moscow in the winter then it will be really tough. You're asking a lot of 15 or 16 players to handle six really tough games.
You cannot rotate in this competition like they were able to in the Europa League. It's a favourable draw but tough group.
Charlie's verdict: Tottenham and Leverkusen to qualify
Leicester City, FC Porto, Club Brugge, FC Copenhagen
What a group for Leicester! What a chance they have.
You look at these sides and they might expect to win their games at home but that's where they'll struggle because teams will come to Leicester and be happy to take a point, which doesn't suit them.
My instinct would be that it's what they have to do away from home and if they can get a win and a draw away then they'll have a chance.
It will be fascinating to see how they cope with this new challenge and I really wish them well. I just fear their lack of European experience will cost them.
Charlie's verdict: Porto and Copenhagen to qualify
