2021-22 UEFA Champions League draw: possible clashes between Ronaldo and Messi in Group A and more
The draw for the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League group stage took place in Istanbul on Thursday. All 32 teams participating in the competition are divided equally into eight groups – from group A to group H.
Pot 1 for the draw includes current Champions League winners Chelsea and reigning Europa League champions, Villarreal. Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter, Lille, and Sporting Lisbon were also in Pot 1, having won their national title last season.
The remaining 24 teams in the competition are divided into Pot 2, Pot 3, and Pot 4 based on UEFA club odds rankings.
How is the UEFA Champions League draw going?
Manchester City, who were runners-up in the Champions League last season, are the first team in Pot 1. This means that the Premier League champions are already placed in Group A.
Atletico Madrid (Group B), Sporting (Group B), Inter (Group D), Bayern Munich (Group E), Villarreal (Group F), Lille (Group G), and Champions League winners Chelsea (Group H) are in next place .
Zenit join the Blues and Juventus in Group H of this season's #UCL. #UCLDraw pic.twitter.com/zVt7sXy3OE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 26, 2021
Pot 2 sees Borussia Dortmund play Sporting Lisbon in Group C, while Real Madrid play Inter in Group D. Liverpool, the most successful English club in Champions League history, are third and in Group B with Atletico Madrid.
In an inspiring draw, Paris Saint-Germain was drawn alongside Manchester City in Group A of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League. Juventus, who followed in Pot 2, face Chelsea in Group N.
Barcelona in particular are classified in Group E along with Bayern Munich. Sevilla and Manchester United are the last two teams to exit Pot 2 respectively, joining Lille (Group G) and Villarreal (Group F).
RB Leipzig and Club Brugge (Group A), Porto and Milan (Group B), Ajax and Besiktas (Group B), Shakhtar Donetsk and Sheriff (Group D) completed the first four groups. Meanwhile, Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv (Group E), Atalanta and Young Boys (Group F), Salzburg and Wolfsburg (Group G), Zenit and Malmö (Group H) have all been distributed.
The 2021-22 Champions League could be Ronaldo and Messi. experience
If Cristiano Ronaldo still joins Manchester City from Juventus, he will face fierce rival Lionel Messi in the 2021/22 Champions League group stage. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are in Group A of the competition and will meet twice in the group stage.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Premier League champions will sign Cristiano Ronaldo before the transfer window closes. If the reports are to be believed, the striker wants to leave Juventus, with Manchester City being his favorite destination.
Complete draw 🏆🇪🇺 #UCL pic.twitter.com/OrsSlgaP8K
— PSGhub (@PSGhub) August 26, 2021
2021-22 UEFA Champions League Group
Group A: Manchester City, PSG, RB Leipzig, Club Bruges
Group B: Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, Milan
Group B: Sporting, Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas
Group D: Inter, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sheriff Tiraspol
Group E: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kiev
Group F: Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, BIA Young Boys
Group G: Lille, Seville, Salzburg, Wolfsburg
Group H: Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit, Malmo