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Holders Real Madrid were drawn against Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon and Legia Warsaw on Thursday in the group stage of football’s Champions League, while Barcelona will face Manchester City and Bayern Munich will reencounter old foes Atletico Madrid.
Real idol Cristiano Ronaldo – who scored the winning penalty in The Whites’ final triumph last season against neighbours Atletico – will this time face Sporting Lisbon, the team where he began his illustrious career.
Ronaldo was yesterday named Europe best player by UEFA, for having guided Real to triumph for a record 11th time last season – and for having captained Portugal to unexpected success at Euro 2016.
Sporting Lisbon and Legia Warsaw should give Real few problems, though Dortmund will certainly be a tough proposition. The Whites were eliminated by Dortmund at the semi-final stage in 2013, but took revenge a year later by beating the Germans in the quarter-finals.
“There was a lot of anticipation in our camp ahead of the draw. We now have an appealing group,” Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel said.
“It’s difficult but equally attractive. Matches against Real are becoming classics for Dortmund. We are looking forward to meeting the holders.”
The draw also brings coach Pep Guardiola back to Barcelona, where he won so much, with his new-look Manchester City side.
Guardiola coached Barcelona to Champions success in 2009 and 2011, but will have his work cut out now to control the Spanish champions given the good form of South Americans Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar – who guided Barca to another Champions triumph in 2015.
The Barca-City group seems to be the much-feared ‘Group of Death’, since the other members are former European heavyweights Borussia Moenchengladbach and Celtic, both of whom qualified this week through the play-offs.
“It is not a nightmare draw because we are in a wonderful competition – but it is a very tough group,” City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said.
“Pep (Guardiola) knows the group very well - obviously Barcelona but also Borussia Monchengladbach from his time in Germany.”
Meanwhile, German champions Bayern Munich – whom Guardiola left for City in June – will again face Atletico Madrid, the team that ousted them in the semi-finals last season.
Meanwhile, 2015 finalists Juventus will face Europa League winners Sevilla, Lyon and Dynamo Zagreb.
Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira said: “This is going to be very interesting. The draw has brought us trips to Spain, France and Croatia. I can’t wait for the tournament to start.”
Ronaldo crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award yesterday after winning both last season’s Champions League and Euro 2016 with Portugal.
Ronaldo, 31, received the accolade for the second time in his career after finishing ahead of Real teammate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.
“I’m obviously delighted to receive this award, it’s been an incredible season. But these two other players deserve it as well,” said Ronaldo, who also won the prize in 2013-14.
The award was voted for by journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations.
Norway striker Ada Hegerberg won the women’s award, ahead of France’s Amandine Henry and Dzsenifer Marozsan of Germany.
Draw results
Group A: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Arsenal (ENG), Basel (SUI), Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)
Group B: Benfica (POR), Napoli (ITA), Dynamo Kiev (UKR), Besiktas (TUR)
Group C: Barcelona (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER), Celtic (SCO)
Group D: Bayern Munich (GER), Atletico Madrid (ESP), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Rostov (RUS)
Group E: CSKA Moscow (RUS), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER), Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), Monaco (FRA)
Group F: Real Madrid (ESP), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Sporting (POR), Legia Warsaw (POL)
Group G: Leicester City (ENG), FC Porto (POR), Club Brugge (BEL), FC Copenhagen (DEN)
Group H: Juventus (ITA), Sevilla (ESP), Lyon (FRA), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Matchday 1: September 13/14
Matchday 2: September 27/28
Matchday 3: October 18/19
Matchday 4: November 1/2
Matchday 5: November 22/23
Matchday 6: December 6/7
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