The 2018-19 Champions League group stage, which begins next month, will more than a few several eye-catching games after Thursday’s draw pitted some of Europe’s biggest clubs against each other.
Group H sees a reunion for Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba with Manchester United and Juventus respectively, while last season’s finalists Liverpool face a difficult task against Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade. Barcelona, meanwhile, have been drawn with Tottenham and Inter.
Elsewhere, holders Real Madrid — aiming for a fourth successive title — will be happy with their draw, as will English champions Manchester City and German title holders Bayern.
With the group stage mapped out, who will make it through and keep alive their dream of lifting the European Cup in Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium next June?
Europa League holders Atletico Madrid will be desperate to win this season’s Champions League due to the final being staged at their stadium in the Spanish capital, but Diego Simeone’s team have been handed a tough start.
Atletico, who have reached three finals and lost each time, won the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month and will be favourites to top the group and expect to leave the rest fighting for runners-up spot.
However, Borussia Dortmund have a strong European pedigree, while Monaco’s recent Champions League performances make them a dangerous opponent. Brugge’s best hope will be to snatch third and a place in the Europa League.
The group has serious pedigree, but beyond the names and history of the clubs involved, should ultimately see both Barcelona and Tottenham progress comfortably.
Barca will be favourites to qualify as winners — Ernesto Valverde’s team still possess awesome firepower in the form of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele — but Spurs showed last season, when topping their group ahead of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, that they can beat the best on the big stage.
Dutch champions PSV will do well to finish in the top two under new coach Mark van Bommel. Inter are some distance from repeating their 2010 Champions League success and are likely to find life tough under Luciano Spalletti; a battle with PSV for third place is their most likely scenario.
Despite Group C consisting of PSG, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade, Paul Mariner feels Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have enough to finish atop the group.
Liverpool were fearful of a tough group after being placed in Pot Three and their nightmare became reality as Jurgen Klopp’s men were paired with PSG and Napoli.
PSG, with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Edinson Cavani in their ranks, will be favourites for first place and Napoli, under Carlo Ancelotti, have the ability to beat anyone. As such, while Liverpool’s run to the final last season will give them belief, it will be tough for the five-time European champions to make the knockout stages.
Red Star Belgrade, European Cup winners way back in 1991, have qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time, but the Serbian champions can expect to be left behind in a three-way battle for qualification.