It's time for a fresh season of Champions League action, with some familiar faces, some new additions and a shocking absence. 

You will not see four time champion Ajax, sent home in qualifying by newcomer Belgian side FC Copenhagen. 

You will see Chelsea and Barcelona get right at each other in what will surely be yet another grueling and unpredictable struggle. 

You will also see a magnificently loaded Milan Internationazionale contesting Bayern Munich for early round supremacy and playoff momentum. 

You also very well may see an upset in a wide open Group C, where Bordeaux and PSV Eindhoven both have the pluck to get by "favorites" Liverpool and Galatasaray. 

In Group D, you will see Olympiacos and AS Roma renew an ancient Mediterranean rivalry while you may see Valencia emerge as a new European power. 

You will see underachieving Real Madrid insufficiently tested for the playoffs in Group E, and far more interested to see a veritable UK derby grudge match pitting Celtic against Man U, which may mean more to Hoops fans than tournament advancement. 

You will see Arsenal stroll down a clear path through Group G, while you may see scandal plagued AC (Milan) vulnerable in the playoffs coming out of an undaunting Group H.

You will also see crisp goals, crushing tackles, daring runs, and miraculous saves.  Mark my words.

The Champions League draw:

Group A: Levski, Bremen, Chelsea, Barcelona
Group B: Spartak Moskva, Sporting Lisbon, Milan Internazionale, Bayern Munich
Group C: Liverpool, Galatasaray, Bordeaux, PSV Eindhoven
Group D: Shakhtar, Valencia, Olympiacos, Roma
Group E: Real Madrid, Dynamo Kiev, Steau Bucharest, Lyon
Group F: Benfica, Man U, Celtic Copenhagen
Group G: Arsenal. Porto, CSKA Moskva, Hamburg
Group H: AEK, Anderlecht, Lille, Milan