The just concluded draw for the 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League group stages has thrown up a host thrilling matchups and storylines for the coming months with a string of Europe’s biggest clubs drawn against each other.
Top on the list is the upcoming clash between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in Group A, in what could ultimately be a matchup between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Messi had moved to PSG earlier in the transfer widow while the Premier league champions are in talks with Ronaldo’s representatives over a potential transfer.
In Group E, Barcelona will square off against Bayern Munich, a club that humiliated Barcelona with Messi still in their ranks, 8-2 in the 2020 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.
Ronaldo’s Juventus play the reigning Champions, Chelsea in Group H, while Group B contains three clubs that have won the competition within the last 20 years; Liverpool, Porto and AC Milan alongside Spanish Champions Atletico Madrid.
Champions League group stage results
- Group A: Manchester City, Paris Saint Germain, RB Leipzig, Club Brugge
- Group B: Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, AC Milan
- Group C: Sporting, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas
- Group D: Inter MIlan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sheriff
- Group E: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv
- Group F: Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys
- Group G: Lille, Sevilla, Red Bull Salzburg, Wolfsburg
- Group H: Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Malmo
The Group Stage starts on September 14, and the Champions League final will be in Saint Petersburg Stadium on Saturday, May 28, 20222.
Do we know the draw seedings?
For the group stage draw, the teams are divided into four pots. Pot 1 contains the UEFA Champions League holders, the UEFA Europa League holders and the champions of the top six-ranked associations (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal). The remaining sides are seeded based on their UEFA club coefficients.
Pot 1
Chelsea (ENG) 98.000
Villarreal (ESP) 63.000
Bayern (GER) 134.000
Manchester City (ENG) 125.000
Atlético de Madrid (ESP) 115.000
Inter (ITA) 53.000
Sporting CP (POR) 45.500
LOSC Lille (FRA) 14.000
Pot 2
Real Madrid (ESP) 127.000
Barcelona (ESP) 122.000
Juventus (ITA) 120.000
Manchester United (ENG) 113.000
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 113.000
Liverpool (ENG) 101.000
Sevilla (ESP) 98.000
Borussia Dortmund (GER) 90.000
Pot 3
Porto (POR) 87.000
Ajax (NED) 82.500
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 79.000
Leipzig (GER) 66.000
Salzburg (AUT) 59.000
Benfica (POR) 58.000
Atalanta (ITA) 50.500
Zenit (RUS) 50.000
Pot 4
Beşiktaş (TUR) 49.000
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 47.000
Club Brugge (BEL) 35.500
Young Boys (SUI) 35.000
AC Milan (ITA) 31.000
Malmö (SWE) 18.500
Wolfsburg (GER) 14.714
Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) 14.500
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
