Breaking down the 2020/21 Champions League draw 🔎 | OneFootball

The group stage for this season’s Champions League has been drawn after an understandably more mooted ceremony in Geneva.

But there was still the same old excitement with 32 of Europe’s best sides learning who they will face in Europe’s premier club competition.

Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Group of Death

That simply has to be Group H as Manchester United were drawn against last year’s finalists Paris Saint-Germain, and semi-finalists RB Leipzig.

The thought of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé up against Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof is almost too much to bear, but will a Timo Werner-less Leipzig have what it takes to progress again?

And then there’s Turkish debutants Istanbul Basaksehir, boasting a squad that includes Rafael, Demba Ba and Martin Skrtel.

It’s going to be fascinating.

Easiest draw

Sevilla must surely be licking their lips at the thought of facing a defence-less Chelsea, Russian outfit FK Krasnodar and Champions League first-timers Stade Rennes.

A long trip east may not be ideal for Julen Lopetegui’s men but you would fancy them to breeze through to the latter stages here.

That just brings one downside though – how are they going to win the Europa League this year?

How will the other English clubs fare?

Manchester City are in the same group as Porto, Marseille and Olympiacos, which in normal times would be an absolute dream European trip location for fans – but as it is, should prove to be relatively easy for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Liverpool will take on Atalanta in what will surely be one of the games of the group stage and matches against Ajax and Mitdjylland won’t be half bad either. Fact fans: it’s the first time the Reds have played the Dutch champions since 1966.

Best reunion

Here we go then. The big one. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi is back. Juventus were drawn alongside Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv and Ferencvaros but it’s the Bianconeri/Blaugrana title fight that will surely be the group stage’s most-hyped match.

As well as that, there’s also a reunion for Achraf Hakimi, who will return to Real Madrid after new side Inter were drawn in Group B alongside Los Blancos, Shakhtar and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Group stage top goalscorer

You really can’t look past Robert Lewandowski, can you? Bayern Munich have been drawn in Group A and will face Atlético Madrid, Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow.

After his 15 goals last term, and with the Bavarian giants getting better and better with each week that passes, it looks like the Pole will be filling his boots once again.

Most likely shock exit

How about Borussia Dortmund for this one?

Yes, they’re one of the most exciting young sides in Europe but as we saw against Augsburg last weekend, they’re also one of the most volatile.

The German side were placed in Group F alongside Zenit, Lazio and Club Brugge – not an easy one at all.