As we near the start of another year of high-octane European footballing action, the UEFA Champions League group stage draws were announced on Thursday.
Defending Premier League champions Manchester City have been locked in with French giants Paris Saint-Germain in Group A. This means, if Cristiano Ronaldo moves to Man City, fans would get a Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo feast on the group stage. RB Leipzig and Club Brugge will fill up the final spots in the group.
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La Liga 2020/21 champions Atletico Madrid will play Liverpool in Group B in an apparent ‘group of death’ while Chelsea and Juventus have been put together in Group H. FC Barcelona will face Bayern Munich in Group E. Portuguese club Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv will fill up the rest of the spots in the group.
Meanwhile, in Group F, last year’s UEFA Europa League finalists Villarreal and Manchester United will face each other in the group stages. Atalanta and BSC Young Boys will complete the group.
Ligue 1 champions LOSC Lille have been drawn in an apparent ‘group of death’ — featuring Sevilla, Salzburg and Wolfsburg.
Real Madrid, Internazionale and Shakhtar Donetsk will face each other in the group stages like last season, along with new entrants FC Sheriff Tiraspol.
Here are the groups for the UEFA Champions League 2021/22 season:
Group A
Manchester City
Paris Saint Germain
Leipzig
Club Brugge
Group B
Atletico Madrid
Liverpool
Porto
AC Milan
Group C
Sporting CP
Dortmund
Ajax
Besiktas
Group D
Internazionale
Real Madrid
Shakhtar Donetsk
Sheriff
Group E
Bayern Munich
Barcelona
Benfica
Dynamo Kiev
Group F
Villarreal
Manchester United
Atlanta
Young Boys
Group G
LOSC Lille
Sevilla
Salzburg
Wolfsburg
Group H
Chelsea
Juventus
Zenit
Malmo
