Soccer: Champions draw kind to Milan, less so to Inter

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 26 - Thursday night's Champions League draw was kind to AC Milan and less so to cross-city rivals Inter.
    Serie A champs Milan got Chelsea, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
    Serie A runners-up Inter were drawn into the group of death with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Viktoria Plzen.
    Only two qualify from each group with the third dropping down to the Conference League.
    Last year's third-placed Serie A team Napoli were drawn against Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers, another fairly tough group.
    Last year's Serie A fourth-placed team, Turin giants Juventus, got Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Maccabi Haifa, another relatively tough group.
    The final is in Istanbul on June 10 next year.
    Milan technical area director Paolo Maldini said "we mean to improve over last year, and dreams help you set goals".
    Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said "we are going to meet strong and well-organized teams but like always we will prepare each match in the best way possible and we hope to progress".
    22-year-old Napoli and Italy striker Giacomo Raspadori, on loan from Sassuolo, said "I really wanted to take a new step in my career and I can't wait to feel the thrills of the Champions League".
    Juve sources said it was a good omen to be drawn against French giants PSG since the Bianconeri had "always made good progress after meeting them".
    Here is the draw: - Group A: Ajax (Ned) Liverpool (Eng) Napoli (Ita) Rangers (Sco) - Group B: Porto (Por) Atletico Madrid (Spa) Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) Bruges (Bel) - Group C: Bayern Munich (Ger) Barcelona (Spa) Inter (Ita) Viktoria Plzen (Cec) - Group D: Eintracht Francfurt (Ger) Tottenham (Eng) Sporting Lisbon (Por) Olympique Marseille (Fra) - Group E: Milan (Ita) Chelsea (Eng) Salzburg (Aut) Dinamo Zagrebr (Cro) - Group F: Real Madrid (Spa) Leipzig (Ger) Shakhtar Donetsk (Ucr) Celtic (Sco) - Group G: Manchester City (Eng) Sevilla (Spa) Borussia Dortmund (Ger) FC Copenaghen (Den) - Group H Paris SG (Fra) Juventus (Ita) Benfica (Por) Maccabi Haifa (Isr) (ANSA).