Champions League draw, Group A: Real Madrid, PSG clear favourites to advance

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs. Cristiano Ronaldo? Bring it on.

Two of the highest-spending clubs will clash in the opening round of the the Champions League after Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were drawn together into Group A.

The storylines heading into the first meeting between the two will overshadow any other pairing in the group stage, thanks to the star power the European giants have spent vast amounts of money on in order to reach the pinnacle of club football.

Two years removed from capturing its 10th European title, Real Madrid will be desperate to reach the final yet again following its disappointing semi-final exit last season against Juventus.

The Spanish giants have a new philosophy thanks to the introduction of Rafael Benitez as manager. Although the side is relatively unchanged from last season, Benitez's ability to correct the team's flaws and coax improvement following its trophy-less 2014-15 campaign will get all the attention.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain faces the task of being paired with yet another La Liga powerhouse, after the French side got lumped into a group with eventual tournament winner Barcelona last season.

Angel Di Maria is the latest addition to PSG's star-studded lineup following his transfer from Manchester United. The pairing gives the Argentine midfielder an opportunity to go up against his former team after his controversial transfer away from the Santiago Bernabeu in 2014.

It's going to be a major test for Laurent Blanc, as he attempts to deliver a Champions League trophy to the team's owners following the avalanche of money they've pumped into the Parisian side over the years to propel them into Europe's elite.

Picturing a scenario in which either Shakhtar Donetsk or Malmo finishes at the top of the group is nearly impossible. The only battle between those teams will be to determine which finishes third and gets to continue its continental journey in the Europa League.

One of the few interesting features to watch outside of the PSG-Real Madrid encounter will be Ibrahimovic's return to Malmo, where he began his youth and professional career.

His hopes of experiencing Champions League football at Malmo's stadium actually came true.

But seriously, are his otherworldly abilities - including his psychic powers - a surprise to anyone these days?

Predicted Finish

1. Real Madrid
2. Paris Saint-Germain
3. Shakhtar Donetsk
4. Malmo