The UEFA Champions League group stage draw took place today at Monaco.

Galatasaray were drawn against Benfica, Atletico Madrid and Astana in Group C.

The Lions will be hoping to do better than last season. The Istanbul giants finished the 2014-15 group stages in last place with just one points.

Galatasaray will compete in the Champions League group stages for the fourth consecutive season.

The Istanbul giants won the league title for a record 20th time last season and became the first Turkish league club to add a fourth star to their crest.

Galatasaray boss Hamza Hamzoğlu guided his side to the double last season despite replacing former Italian national team coach Cesare Prandelli mid-way through the season.

The reigning champions strengthened over the summer bringing in Lukas Podolski from Arsenal and 20-year-old Jose Rodriguez from Real Madrid. The only noticeable absence from last season will be Bruma who joined Deportivo de la Coruna on loan.

The group will also see clubs from two Turkic states face each other for the first time in the Champions League.

Astana who secured a place in the group stages for the first time have become the first club from Kazakhstan to feature in the competition.

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