The Irish layers have cut the champions from a pre-draw 6/1 following what looks a comfortable grouping with Spaniards Villareal, Celtic and Danes Aalborg.

However its mixed news for the other British teams where Liverpool look to have the toughest group draw and remain at 12/1 but Arsenal have been cut from 12s to 11/1.

Liverpool play PSV, Marseille and Fernando Torres' former side Atletico Madrid in Group D while the Gunners have been drawn in Group G with Porto, Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev.

Last year's runners-up Chelsea have been drawn in Group A along with Italian giants Roma, Bordeaux and Romanian unknowns Cluj.

Celtic's pairing with Manchester United in the 'Battle of Britain' has seen their odds unmoved at 100/1. However Celtic's home fortress makes them 3/1 to win the match when they host the European and English champions.

Torres will have his emotions tested when he lines up against his former club and the Spanish striker is 4/9 to score against his boyhood team in the group stages.

It's 5/2 for an all-English final and 14/1 for a repeat of last season's Manchester United v Chelsea final.

Sky Bet offer 6/4 that an English club triumphs again while bet365 go 25/1 that the final in Rome's Stadio Olimpico will be an all-English affair decided on penalties.