Juventus will face Man Utd, and Barcelona will be in the group of death.
Cristiano Ronaldo will have the opportunity to face his former team, Manchester United, in the Champions League group stage.
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The eight groups of the 2018-2019 Champions League season. |
Ronaldo's new team, Juventus, is in Group H alongside his former club, Manchester United. This will be the second time CR7 has faced the "Red Devils" in a European competition.While playing for Real Madrid, Ronaldo had his first reunion with Manchester United and scored two goals against them in the 2012-2013 season.
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Ronaldo scored one goal in each of the two matches against Man Utd in the 2012-2013 season. Photo:Reuters |
Group H also features another strong team, Valencia. Currently on a resurgence, Valencia has made considerable progress recently under coach Marcelino. The Mestalla Stadium team also recently spent nearly $50 million to buy Goncalo Guedes, a player considered to be Ronaldo's successor in the Portuguese national team, from PSG.
The remaining team in Group H is Young Boys, representing Switzerland. Unless something unexpected happens, Young Boys will most likely play the role of "stepping stone" for the three higher-ranked teams.
The spotlight in the group stage will be on Group B, which includes Barca, Tottenham, PSV, and Inter. While Barca and Tottenham have proven their strength over the past few seasons, PSV and Inter are by no means weak teams. The reigning Dutch champions possess a talented squad of young players, and Inter have recently acquired a number of top players in preparation for the Champions League.
Above all, PSV and Inter are both former Champions League/European Cup winners. With pride in their historical traditions, these two underdog teams will give their all when they face Barca and Tottenham.
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In 2010, Inter eliminated Barca in the Champions League semi-finals and then beat Bayern in the final. |
Compared to their rivals Barca, Real Madrid has an easier time being drawn in Group G with...Roma, CSKA Moscow, and Viktoria Plzen. These three opponents in the same group are not on the same level as the defending champions, if not significantly inferior.
Meanwhile, defending runners-up Liverpool find themselves in a tough group with PSG, Napoli andRed Star Belgrade.Red Star Belgrade are not highly rated, but their two remaining opponents both have a chance to advance.
PSG's strength comes from its expensive squad and its hunger for success after a previous season's early elimination. Meanwhile, Napoli, while not particularly outstanding, were a strong contender against Juventus in Serie A last season. Under the guidance of experienced coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian team is also more confident in its ability to progress further in European competitions.
While the other three English teams all faced some degree of difficulty, Man City can be most pleased to be drawn in Group F withShakhtar Donetsk, Lyon, and Hoffenheim. Barring any surprises, Pep Guardiola's team will soon complete their group stage campaign and return to focus on the Premier League.