The UEFA Champions League group stage draw for the 2021/22 season has been confirmed with English Premier League champions Manchester City pitted in Group against French giants Paris Saint Germaine (PSG).
In what will be a repeat of last season’s UCL semi-final encounter, Man City coach pep Guardiola will look to lock horns with PSG’s new starlet Lionel Messi in what has been termed to many as the group of death.
The Citizens’ meeting with PSG could see a clash between Lionel Messi and potential new signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
In other draws, defending champions Chelsea FC meet Juventus, Zenit St. Petersburg, and Malmo in Group H, while Manchester United will face their familiar opponents in European football, Villareal CF, seeking to revenge last seasons Europa final in Gdansk, Poland.
The Red Devils lost to the Spanish side in May’s Europa League final via a marathon penalty shoot-out.
Liverpool, the English team with most UCL titles will renew their rivalry with Laliga champions Atletico Madrid with FC Porto and AC Milan other teams in Group B.
During the draw ceremony held in Instanbul Turkey, the individual awards for the Men’s 20-21 tournament were handed out.
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was crowned goalkeeper of last campaign’s tournament and his manager, Thomas Tuchel, claimed coach of the year.
Manchester City’s Ruben Dias and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante picked up the respective defender and midfielder accolade.
While Jorginho was crowned the best Men’s player overall of the tournament and as Erling Haaland picked up the best forward award having won the UCL top scorer boot with 10 goals.
Below is the full UEFA UCL Group Stage Draw in Full
Group A
Manchester City
Paris Saint-Germain
RB Leipzig
Club Brugge
Group B
Atletico Madrid
Liverpool
Porto
AC Milan
Group C
Sporting Lisbon
Borussia Dortmund
Ajax
Besiktas
Group D
Inter Milan
Real Madrid
Shakhtar Donetsk
Sheriff
Group E
Bayern Munich
Barcelona
Benfica
Dynamo Kiev
Group F
Villarreal
Manchester United
Atalanta
Young Boys
Group G
Lille
Sevilla
Salzburg
VfL Wolfsburg
Group H
Chelsea
Juventus
Zenit St Petersburg
Malmo
Matchday one will be played over Tuesday, September 14, and Wednesday, September 15.
The group stage will take place across six-midweek matchdays between Tuesday, September 14, and Wednesday, December 8.
2022’s final will be played at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia on Saturday, May 28.
It was originally scheduled to be played at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, Germany but after the 2020 iteration of the competition, the scheduled host venues were pushed back one year.
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: [email protected] Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.
