The Champions League is back, and back with a bang, after the draw for the 2020-21 group phase concluded on Thursday in Geneva. A head-to-head in between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as Juventus and Barcelona were combined together in Group G, in a game that could likewise see fans inside the arena after UEFA confirmed premises can be up to 30 percent complete for fixtures if local guidelines permit.
Champions League draw: Messi vs. Ronaldo as Barca, Juve satisfy
With Italian champs Juve and La Liga runners-up Barcelona having not satisfied competitively because November 2017, the Group G clashes will see Ronaldo and Messi restore their on-field rivalry for the very first time considering that the Portuguese forward left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018.
Ronaldo and Messi have actually bet each on 33 events in competitive club games, and Barcelonas Messi has actually up until now triumphed 15 times, with Ronaldo winning on 9 events at past clubs Real and Manchester United. The two males have controlled the Champions League, with Ronaldo winning 5 European Cups– two more than Messi. Ronaldo also tops the all-time scoring charts with 130, 15 more than Messi, his closest rival.
2 RelatedBut while the match-up in between footballs 2 most significant stars is the heading from the Juventus v. Barcelona pairing, the game might likewise see two of the USMNTs brightest skills take to the stage. Juventus midfielder McKennie completed a summer season move to Turin from Schalke, while protector Dest has actually just sealed a permanent move to Barcelona from Ajax.
Done offer! USMNTs Dest joins Barcelona
Away from Group G, ruling champions Bayern Munich have actually been put in Group A versus Atletico Madrid, FC Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow. And Group H guarantees to be the most unpredictable, with last seasons runners-up Paris Saint-Germain paired with Manchester United, RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir.
With the group stages due to start on Oct 20-21, ESPN has actually assessed how they will shake down and which groups will make it through to the Round of 16.
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Ronaldo, left, and Messi, right, are no complete strangers when it comes to private awards, however its been a long time considering that they satisfied head-to-head in the Champions League. BEN STANSALL/AFP through Getty ImagesGROUP A: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, RB Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow
The German and Champions League winners, Bayern, will be strong favourites to make it to the knock-out phases, with Atletico Madrid and FC Salzburg most likely to be fighting it out for 2nd area in the group.
Salzburg have actually lost Erling Haaland and Takumi Minamino since practically advancing beyond last seasons group phase, however the Austrian champs have proven to be masters of recruitment and rebuilding. Atletico ought to not ignore the danger they will posture, even with their brand-new strike pairing of Diego Costa and Luis Suarez.
Lokomotiv Moscow, who completed runners-up to Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russias Premier League, ended up bottom of their group, winning simply when, in last seasons competition and theyre facing the same fate this time around.
TO ADVANCE: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid
MUST-SEE MATCH: The 2 video games in between Bayern and Atletico will not simply represent the very best of the group, however will likewise offer a genuine appearance at how well theyre built for the presumptive pressure of the knockout rounds. Plus itll be fun to see Luis Suarez, now in Diego Simeones very first XI, and Joao Felix trading punches with Bayerns fearsome forward corps. (Oh, and they no longer have wily veterans like Diego Godin to hold down Atleticos rearguard.).
ESPN FCs Alejandro Moreno breaks down Real Madrids laboring 1-0 triumph over Real Valladolid.
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All eyes will be on the two matchdays that see Ronaldo and Messi take on, due to the fact that this actually is a group of 2 heavyweights and 2 minnows, in Dynamo Kiev and Ferencvaros.
Both Kiev and Hungarian champs Ferencvaros have proud histories in European competitors, however in regards to the modern era, theyre likely to be defending 3rd area and a place in the Europa League while the big 2 slug it out for leading spot. Barcelonas 8-2 crisis versus Bayern Munich in last seasons quarterfinals highlighted the problems at Camp Nou, so Juventus will be expected to shade the head-to-head games.
TO ADVANCE: Juventus, Barcelona.
MUST-SEE MATCH: Juventus vs. Barcelona. Required we state more?
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Gab Marcotti declares Man United are in one of the toughest UCL groups together with PSG and RB Leipzig.
Matteo Bonetti states he can not pick versus Juventus for the Serie A title until a true challenger emerges.
One big club will fall by the wayside in this group, with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and RB Leipzig all battling it out for the 2 certifying areas.
PSG, with the firepower of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, will be the group to beat, however Uniteds front 3 of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood also have objectives in them. Leipzig will miss out on Timo Werners objectives following his summer relocation to Chelsea, but they have held onto defensive rock Dayot Upamecano.
Istanbul Basaksehir, making their first appearance in the Champions League, will be an awkward opponent too and credentials might depend upon which groups take most points from the Turkish champs.
TO ADVANCE: PSG, Man United.
MUST-SEE MATCH: PSG and RB Leipzig is a reprise of the one-legged semifinal this summer season, which the French side won with ease thanks to goals from Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat. Will it be any various this time around?
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The Champions League is back, and back with a bang, after the draw for the 2020-21 group phase concluded on Thursday in Geneva. A head-to-head between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as Juventus and Barcelona were matched together in Group G, in a video game that could likewise see fans inside the arena after UEFA verified premises can be up to 30 percent full for fixtures if local policies allow. The noteworthy pairing of the group phase likewise boasts an American sub-plot with U.S. colleagues Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest facing off versus each other.
The two men have actually controlled the Champions League, with Ronaldo winning five European Cups– 2 more than Messi. MUST-SEE MATCH: The 2 video games in between Bayern and Atletico will not just represent the best of the group, however will also offer an authentic look at how well theyre built for the presumptive pressure of the knockout rounds.
On paper, Real Madrid seem the favourites to certify, however it is an evenly-balanced group, with each group capable of beating each other.
Zinedine Zidanes Real should top the group, however Internazionale are an emerging force again under Antonio Conte, with the goals of Romelu Lukaku shooting the team to last seasons Europa League final. Ukrainian champs Shakhtar are experienced entertainers in the Champions League and a harmful opponent, particularly in Ukraine, while Monchengladbach have become one of the leading groups in Germany under coach Marco Rose.
TO ADVANCE: Real Madrid, Inter.
MUST-SEE MATCH: Inter Milan vs. Borussia Monchengladbach may not sound like much, but itll be a tactical battle and, probably, the video games that determine who joins Real in the round of 16. Conte and Inter have enough skill, front to back, to advance, but Gladbachs assaulting circulation will agitate all comers in Europe as it performs in Germany.
Dan Thomas is signed up with by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the most recent highlights and dispute the biggest storylines. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. just).
Portuguese champions FC Porto are the seeded group in Group C, however the truth is that Manchester City will conveniently be the side to beat in this section. Pep Guardiolas team, who were remarkably gotten rid of by Lyon in the quarterfinals in Lisbon last season, must coast through this group.
Marseille, coached by former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham supervisor Andre Villas-Boas, will back their chances to make it out of the group, specifically if they able to recreate the typically-hostile atmosphere inside Stade Velodrome with a minimal number of supporters inside the ground.
TO ADVANCE: Man City, Marseille.
MUST-SEE MATCH: Porto vs. Marseille will be the defend second place but also an opportunity for Villas-Boas, who won the Europa League with Porto in 2010-11, to demonstrate how far hes come in his career after 2 humbling gigs in the Premier League.
GROUP D: Liverpool, Ajax, Atalanta BC, FC Midtjylland.
Liverpool must receive progress through the group. Ajax and Atalanta, the surprise packages of the last 2 Champions League campaigns, could make life hard for Jurgen Klopps team in your home, but even without the support of a passionate and noisy Anfield, Liverpool will be too strong for their competitors.
As for Midtjylland, they will be wishing to cause a distressed by finishing third and getting approved for the Europa League in their very first Champions League group phase appearance.
TO ADVANCE: Liverpool, Atalanta.
MUST-SEE MATCH: With all due respect to Ajax, seeing how Liverpool and Atalantas all-out attacking forces compares will be the thing that thrills in Group D. Both sides boast a terrifying range of goalscoring weapons and both sides like to force their imprints on any challenger. Will either side attempt back down?
GROUP E: Sevilla, Chelsea, Krasnodar, Rennes.
Europa League winners Sevilla and Chelsea will anticipate to fight it out for the top two positions in what seems the most straightforward group to emerge from the draw. This is a group of extremes, as 2 clubs with serious European pedigree will handle 2 others– Stade Rennais and Krasnodar– making their very first look in the Champions League group stages.
Both Stade Rennais and Krasnodar sealed qualification for the competition by ending up third in their domestic leagues, so Sevilla coach Unai Emery and Chelsea supervisor Frank Lampard will silently think that they have actually landed a dream draw.
TO ADVANCE: Sevilla, Chelsea.
MUST-SEE MATCH: Sevillas European bonafides are difficult to disagreement, however this will be the time when Chelsea expect their new signings, like Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, to reveal their class given a wealth of their own experience in this competitors. Tune in and view the enjoyable.
GROUP H: Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, RB Leipzig, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Borussia Dortmund will be favourites to top this group, particularly if Manchester United target Jadon Sancho stays at the club to construct on his forward collaboration with Erling Haaland.
Simone Inzaghis Lazio will be enthusiastic of making it to the Round of 16 too, with Russian champions Zenit Saint Petersburg frequently struggling to repeat the domestic kind in the Champions League. 2nd spot is likely to be a two-way battle in between Lazio and Zenit, with Club Brugge making up the numbers.
TO ADVANCE: Dortmund, Lazio.
GROUP G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv, Ferencvaros.
