Arsenal, with Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley, meet Italian champions Juventus, managed by fellow Aussie Joe Montemurro, who brought them to London when in charge at the Gunners.

Reigning champions Lyon, for whom Ellie Carpenter is recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in last year's final, are also in the group from which only two teams progress. Making up the quartet are Swiss club Zurich.

Sam Kerr's Chelsea were paired with last year's semi-finalists Paris Saint-Germain, who have Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold in their squad, and Real Madrid, who put out the Manchester City team of Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy and Mary Fowler in the qualifying round.

The likely makeweights in the section are Vllaznia, the first Albanian men's or women's club to reach the last 16 in any European competition for more than 30 years.

Matildas' 'keeper Teagan Micah's Rosengard face Barcelona, the 2021 champions and runners-up last season, German giants Bayern Munich, and Benfica.

In the remaining group regular finalists Wolfsburg were drawn with Roma, Slavia Prague, and St Polten.

The group stage will run October 19-December 22 with the knock-out rounds in the northern hemisphere spring and the final on June 3 or 4 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Group A: Chelsea (England), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Real Madrid (Spain), Vllaznia (Albania).

Group B: Wolfsburg (Germany), Slavia Prague (Czechia), St. Polten (Austria), Roma (Italy).

Group C: Lyon (France), Arsenal (England), Juventus (Italy), Zurich (Switzerland).

Group D: Barcelona (Spain), Bayern Munich (Germany), Rosengard (Sweden), Benfica (Portugal).

Australian Associated Press