UEFA Champions League full draw: Messi vs Ronaldo; Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool group matches confirmed

It has finally happened.

After more than a decade of watching Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi face off in the battle for the Ballon d’Or, the Champions League and goal awards, the pair will meet in the group stage for the first time.

Ronaldo currently holds the crown for the all-time record scorer in the Champions League, but has played 27 more matches and has a 15-goal lead.

Ronaldo, 35, and Messi, 33, had a long-standing rivalry in Spain when the Portugal star was with Real Madrid, but they had never met this early in the Champions League.

The idea of ​​a ‘Group of Death’ is often floated, but it is never really played in the Champions League draw. But this year, Man United can say that it has fallen victim to the curse.

PSG reached the final for the first time in their history last season before succumbing to an incredible Bayern Munich. They have Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Angel Di María who can hurt any team on the planet.

Then there is RB Leizpig. A different animal without Timo Werner, but still a side to be feared under tactician Julien Nagelsmann. They are a team with a great future and they easily pushed Tottenham aside last season.

Newcomer Istanbul Basaksehir may not pose a big problem in terms of capacity. But if fans get back to the stadiums in time for their trip to Turkey, it could be a hostile atmosphere for United players.

Group E: Sevilla, Krasnodar, Rennes

It’s dangerous to get excited about being the favorites in the group, but Chelsea will know that only the first place will make it in Group E.

Of course, Sevilla, the Europa League champion, led by Julen Lopetegui, will be a tough test for the Blues. But it’s interesting to note that his three opponents were in the Europa League last season.

With that in mind and seven summer signings, including Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, Frank Lampard hopes his team will secure qualification as quickly as possible.

Group D: Ajax, Atalanta, FC Midtylland

It is not in Jurgen Klopp’s nature to underestimate teams and it seems that the German will love having such a group.

Ajax and Atalanta play fluent attacking football, while Midtjylland drew attention with their 4-1 demolition of Slavia Prague in the final qualifying round.

It’s a group the Reds should comfortably emerge from, given that the Ajax team has been decimated over the summer, although Atalanta’s impressive form means they shouldn’t be ruled out for first place.

Group C: Porto, Olympiacos, Marseille

Facing three highly experienced teams in the Champions League will never be as easy as some might think, but Man City will know this is as good a draw as they could have gotten.

Pep Guardiola will surely be relieved not to have faced his former teams Bayern Munich and Barcelona after being in Pot 2 and they should easily secure the top spot in this group.

But stay, we will have many reactions to come and also the confirmation of the group matches.

Of the men: Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Women’s: Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg / Chelsea), Wendie Renard (Lyon)

A quick look at the groups and overall it’s a good draw for English teams.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea will all be favorites to finish top of their respective groups after avoiding the bigwigs in Pot 1.

But for Manchester United, reaching the round of 16 could be a difficult task. PSG and RB Leipzig reached the last four of last season’s competition and will be dangerous again in 2020/21.

Of the men: Hansi Flick (Bayern Munich)

Women’s: Jean-Luc Vasseur (Lyon)

In the Liverpool group. The Reds will be happy with that.

The final team in the Chelsea group. You have to imagine your chances of overcoming that.

And a trip to Turkey to finish for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Oh!