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| Champions League group stage draw – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| And that’s it from me today. Thanks for being with us. Head here for a roundup of the draw. | |
| Or see below for the full groups. | |
| Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco Club Brugge | |
| Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven Internazionale | |
| Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool Red Star Belgrade | |
| Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalkeGalatasaray | |
| Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjaxAEK Athens | |
| Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyonHoffenheim | |
| Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow Viktoria Plzeň | |
| Group HJuventusManchester United ValenciaYoung Boys | |
| Uefa are yet to announce the fixtures, but these are the match days | |
| Match day one: 18-19 September | |
| Match day two: 2-3 October | |
| Match day three: 23-24 October | |
| Match day four: 6-7 November | |
| Match day five: 27-28 November | |
| Match day six: 11-12 December | |
| Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke is less happy about it, with his team facing Atlético, Monaco and Club Brugge in Group A: “I am not very happy. This is a difficult group. Atlético are a top team, and those games will be massive.” | |
| Here’s someone very happy with the draw: Falcao returns to Atlético Madrid with Monaco. “Very happy and honoured to go back to a place that has always been like my home,” he tweets. “Happy to meet again, Tiger!,” say Atlético. Aww. | |
| 😊 ¡Felices por volver a encontrarnos, Tigre! 🇨🇴 Radameeeeeeel @FALCAO, la, la, la, lara, lala... 🎶#AúpaAtleti #UCLDraw https://t.co/YmUUtUsdHC | |
| Here’s a full report on the draw in Monaco, which will be updated with Martha Kelner’s nuanced take on proceedings later today. | Here’s a full report on the draw in Monaco, which will be updated with Martha Kelner’s nuanced take on proceedings later today. |
| Peter Schmeichel is on Manchester United duty. Group H is made up of Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia and Young Boys. “It’s a little bit harder than I wanted,” he says but he’s looking forward to Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford with Juventus. “Juventus are the hardest team in Europe at the moment because of this signing,” he says. “They are rebuilding the Italy club football scene at the moment.” | Peter Schmeichel is on Manchester United duty. Group H is made up of Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia and Young Boys. “It’s a little bit harder than I wanted,” he says but he’s looking forward to Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford with Juventus. “Juventus are the hardest team in Europe at the moment because of this signing,” he says. “They are rebuilding the Italy club football scene at the moment.” |
| Ian Rush is representing Liverpool in Monaco. “Anyone of the four could qualify,” he says. “It’s a decent draw, because they won’t want to come to Liverpool.” | Ian Rush is representing Liverpool in Monaco. “Anyone of the four could qualify,” he says. “It’s a decent draw, because they won’t want to come to Liverpool.” |
| He says PSG are the biggest threat because they will be desperate to win the Champions League after their expenditure – “But they’ll find it tough when they come to Anfield,” he adds. | He says PSG are the biggest threat because they will be desperate to win the Champions League after their expenditure – “But they’ll find it tough when they come to Anfield,” he adds. |
| Rush says the players will have learned from getting to the final last year and can “go onto better things” this year. | Rush says the players will have learned from getting to the final last year and can “go onto better things” this year. |
| So, who qualifies? Group A: Atletico, Monaco perhaps? Group B: Barcelona, Tottenham? Group C: hard to call. Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow and Porto? Group E: Bayern, Ajax? Group F: Manchester City, Lyon? Group G: Real Madrid and Roma? Group H: Juve and Man Utd? Could be but it’s difficult to tell here. | So, who qualifies? Group A: Atletico, Monaco perhaps? Group B: Barcelona, Tottenham? Group C: hard to call. Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow and Porto? Group E: Bayern, Ajax? Group F: Manchester City, Lyon? Group G: Real Madrid and Roma? Group H: Juve and Man Utd? Could be but it’s difficult to tell here. |
| Group C feels like the most exciting one - there could be goals galore, with Red Star an unknown(ish) quantity in amongst them to cause chaos. | Group C feels like the most exciting one - there could be goals galore, with Red Star an unknown(ish) quantity in amongst them to cause chaos. |
| Ledley King, representing Spurs at the draw, says he’s delighted with how Group B has turned out: “you want to face the biggest teams”. Well, Barcelona, PSV and Inter are up there. | Ledley King, representing Spurs at the draw, says he’s delighted with how Group B has turned out: “you want to face the biggest teams”. Well, Barcelona, PSV and Inter are up there. |
| He says Tottenham are comfortable in the competition now and is looking forward to facing Barca. “I really wanted to see that test, the fans will look forward to that game and it’s a great game for the neutrals.” | He says Tottenham are comfortable in the competition now and is looking forward to facing Barca. “I really wanted to see that test, the fans will look forward to that game and it’s a great game for the neutrals.” |
| All three teams in their group, C, have won the competition except Spurs. “The team will have to play well to progress,” he says. | All three teams in their group, C, have won the competition except Spurs. “The team will have to play well to progress,” he says. |
| Here’s that Group stage draw in a handy guide: | Here’s that Group stage draw in a handy guide: |
| Group A | Group A |
| Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Club Brugge | Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Club Brugge |
| Group B | Group B |
| Barcelona, Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven, Inter | Barcelona, Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven, Inter |
| Group C | Group C |
| Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade | Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade |
| Group D | Group D |
| Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray | Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray |
| Group E | Group E |
| Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax, AEK Athens | Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax, AEK Athens |
| Group F | Group F |
| Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon, Hoffenheim | Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon, Hoffenheim |
| Group G | Group G |
| Real Madrid, Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen | Real Madrid, Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen |
| Group H | Group H |
| Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia, Young Boys | Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia, Young Boys |
| “I feel excited and proud of this great award,” he says. He thanks his club, team-mates and coaches “who help me in my good and less good moments.” | “I feel excited and proud of this great award,” he says. He thanks his club, team-mates and coaches “who help me in my good and less good moments.” |
| Was there someone who inspired him the most? “I think it’s my father – he was always pushing me to fight for my dreams, to never give up. I owe him a lot.” | Was there someone who inspired him the most? “I think it’s my father – he was always pushing me to fight for my dreams, to never give up. I owe him a lot.” |
| Mo Salah looks gutted. | Mo Salah looks gutted. |
| Aleksander Čeferin, Uefa head honcho, trots out onstage and hands the gong to ... Luka Modric! | Aleksander Čeferin, Uefa head honcho, trots out onstage and hands the gong to ... Luka Modric! |
| Before the award is handed out, there’s a brief pause for some pretty innocuous interviews with Salah and Modric. Lots of chat about pride, working hard, being role models etc. | Before the award is handed out, there’s a brief pause for some pretty innocuous interviews with Salah and Modric. Lots of chat about pride, working hard, being role models etc. |
| On to the men, with Luka Modrić, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah nominated. Only two have bothered to turn up, with Ronaldo steering clear of the bash. | On to the men, with Luka Modrić, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah nominated. Only two have bothered to turn up, with Ronaldo steering clear of the bash. |
| Pernille Harder of Wolfsburg and Denmark wins the gong! She can’t be there as she’s on international duty but says via video: “This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I want to give a big thanks to Wolsburg for an amazing season.” | Pernille Harder of Wolfsburg and Denmark wins the gong! She can’t be there as she’s on international duty but says via video: “This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I want to give a big thanks to Wolsburg for an amazing season.” |
| While we watch the montage, here’s news from yesterday. | While we watch the montage, here’s news from yesterday. |
| Here come the final two awards of the day: the Uefa men and women’s player of the year. First, the women - Pernille Harder, Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry are the nominees. | Here come the final two awards of the day: the Uefa men and women’s player of the year. First, the women - Pernille Harder, Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry are the nominees. |
| Barry Glendenning previewed the Big Cup draw in the Fiver - how much of it get right? Find out here: | Barry Glendenning previewed the Big Cup draw in the Fiver - how much of it get right? Find out here: |
| It feels like Group A will be tightly contested, with Group G very competitive too. Easiest group? Perhaps Group D - but there’s a lot of travelling involved in that one, which could have an effect. | It feels like Group A will be tightly contested, with Group G very competitive too. Easiest group? Perhaps Group D - but there’s a lot of travelling involved in that one, which could have an effect. |
| Well then, there are some tasty ties in there. For the Premier League clubs, there are some tough draws. Liverpool have got their work cut out, Tottenham could have fared better, Manchester United will have some difficult fixtures - so perhaps Manchester City have done best of all. | Well then, there are some tasty ties in there. For the Premier League clubs, there are some tough draws. Liverpool have got their work cut out, Tottenham could have fared better, Manchester United will have some difficult fixtures - so perhaps Manchester City have done best of all. |
| Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco Club Brugge | Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco Club Brugge |
| Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven Internazionale | Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven Internazionale |
| Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool Red Star Belgrade | Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool Red Star Belgrade |
| Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalkeGalatasaray | Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalkeGalatasaray |
| Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjaxAEK Athens | Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjaxAEK Athens |
| Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyonHoffenheim | Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyonHoffenheim |
| Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow Viktoria Plzeň | Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow Viktoria Plzeň |
| Group HJuventusManchester United ValenciaYoung Boys | Group HJuventusManchester United ValenciaYoung Boys |
| So that means AEK Athens get Group E | So that means AEK Athens get Group E |
| Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjaxAEK Athens | Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjaxAEK Athens |
| Internazionale can only go into Group B. Oof | Internazionale can only go into Group B. Oof |
| Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven Internazionale | Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven Internazionale |
| Viktoria Plzeň, the Czech champions, are drawn into Group G | Viktoria Plzeň, the Czech champions, are drawn into Group G |
| Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow Viktoria Plzeň | Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow Viktoria Plzeň |
| Club Brugge are placed into Group A | Club Brugge are placed into Group A |
| Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco Club Brugge | Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco Club Brugge |
| Red Star Belgrade on their return to the Champions League are drawn in Group C, which is looking very tasty | Red Star Belgrade on their return to the Champions League are drawn in Group C, which is looking very tasty |
| Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool Red Star Belgrade | Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool Red Star Belgrade |
| Young Boys are off to Group H | Young Boys are off to Group H |
| Group HJuventusManchester United ValenciaYoung Boys | Group HJuventusManchester United ValenciaYoung Boys |
| Galatasaray get Group D | Galatasaray get Group D |
| Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalkeGalatasaray | Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalkeGalatasaray |
| Hoffenheim go into Group F - meaning it looks like this: | Hoffenheim go into Group F - meaning it looks like this: |
| Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyonHoffenheim | Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyonHoffenheim |
| So we’re onto Pot 4 at maximum speed | So we’re onto Pot 4 at maximum speed |
| Pot 4Viktoria Plzeň Club Brugge Galatasaray Young Boys Internazionale Hoffenheim Red Star Belgrade AEK Athens | Pot 4Viktoria Plzeň Club Brugge Galatasaray Young Boys Internazionale Hoffenheim Red Star Belgrade AEK Athens |
| Cristiano Ronaldo gets forward of the year - but hasn’t turned up to accept it. Pah. | Cristiano Ronaldo gets forward of the year - but hasn’t turned up to accept it. Pah. |
| As it stands | As it stands |
| Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco | Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco |
| Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven | Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven |
| Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool | Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool |
| Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalke | Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalke |
| Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjax | Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjax |
| Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyon | Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyon |
| Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow | Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow |
| Group HJuventusManchester United Valencia | Group HJuventusManchester United Valencia |
| So Liverpool get Group C. | So Liverpool get Group C. |
| Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool | Group CPSGNapoli Liverpool |
| Monaco go into Group A. | Monaco go into Group A. |
| Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco | Group AAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundMonaco |
| Ajax are next out of the bowl, and are placed straight into Group E | Ajax are next out of the bowl, and are placed straight into Group E |
| Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjax | Group EBayern MunichBenficaAjax |
| PSV Eindhoven are drawn into Group B | PSV Eindhoven are drawn into Group B |
| Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven | Group BBarcelonaTottenham HotspurPSV Eindhoven |
| Valencia are handed Group H | Valencia are handed Group H |
| Group HJuventusManchester United Valencia | Group HJuventusManchester United Valencia |
| Schalke are in Group D | Schalke are in Group D |
| Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalke | Group DLokomotiv MoscowPortoSchalke |
| CSKA Moscow go into Group G. | CSKA Moscow go into Group G. |
| Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow | Group GReal MadridRomaCSKA Moscow |
| Lyon are drawn into Group F | Lyon are drawn into Group F |
| Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyon | Group FManchester CityShakhtar DonetskLyon |
| Time for Pot 3: | Time for Pot 3: |
| Liverpool Schalke Lyon Monaco Ajax CSKA Moscow PSV Eindhoven Valencia | Liverpool Schalke Lyon Monaco Ajax CSKA Moscow PSV Eindhoven Valencia |
| We pause again, this time for Luka Modric to be awarded the gong for Champions League midfielder of last season. | We pause again, this time for Luka Modric to be awarded the gong for Champions League midfielder of last season. |
| 🏆 2017/18 #UCL Midfielder of the Season!⭐️ Luka Modrić 👏👏👏#UEFAawards #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/T8RggiRIG2 | 🏆 2017/18 #UCL Midfielder of the Season!⭐️ Luka Modrić 👏👏👏#UEFAawards #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/T8RggiRIG2 |
| As it stands: | As it stands: |
| AAtlético MadridBorussia Dortmund | AAtlético MadridBorussia Dortmund |
| BBarcelonaTottenham Hotspur | BBarcelonaTottenham Hotspur |
| CPSGNapoli | CPSGNapoli |
| DLokomotiv MoscowPorto | DLokomotiv MoscowPorto |
| EBayern MunichBenfica | EBayern MunichBenfica |
| FManchester CityShakhtar Donetsk | FManchester CityShakhtar Donetsk |
| GReal MadridRoma | GReal MadridRoma |
| HJuventusManchester United | HJuventusManchester United |
| So that means Tottenham Hotspur are in Group B with Barcelona. | So that means Tottenham Hotspur are in Group B with Barcelona. |
| Now it’s Carlo Ancelott’s Napoli: they get Group C with PSG | Now it’s Carlo Ancelott’s Napoli: they get Group C with PSG |
| Benfica are pulled out of the pot by Kaka, and head straight into Group E with Bayern. | Benfica are pulled out of the pot by Kaka, and head straight into Group E with Bayern. |
| Shakhtar Donetsk go into Group F with Manchester City. | Shakhtar Donetsk go into Group F with Manchester City. |
| Borussia Dortmund can go into Group A, B or C and they get … A, alongside Atletico Madrid. | Borussia Dortmund can go into Group A, B or C and they get … A, alongside Atletico Madrid. |