The opening stage of the 2018-19 Champions League season is set, and there is more than one quartet that could be dubbed the Group of Death.
At the bottom of the draw, Juventus ' Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United 's Paul Pogba will return to their former clubs in a group completed by rejuvenated Spanish giants Valencia and Swiss minnows Young Boys .
Last term's runners-up Liverpool were already dealt difficult assignments in Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli , and were then paired with Red Star Belgrade to round off Group C. The Serbians promise a fiery atmosphere on home soil, and also displayed their spirit in a come-from-behind away-goal victory at Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday to reach the tournament proper.
Internazionale , possibly the toughest opponent in the final pot, were picked alongside Barcelona , Tottenham Hotspur , and PSV Eindhoven , promising a tantalizing run of 12 matches in Group B.
The first tussles of the group stage will be held on Sept. 18. The other half of opening-round fixtures will be played a day later.
Group A
Pot
Team
Country
1
Atletico Madrid
Spain
2
Borussia Dortmund
Germany
3
AS Monaco
France
4
Club Brugge
Belgium
Group B
Pot
Team
Country
1
Barcelona
Spain
2
Tottenham Hotspur
England
3
PSV Eindhoven
Netherlands
4
Internazionale
Italy
Group C
Pot
Team
Country
1
Paris Saint-Germain
France
2
Napoli
Italy
3
Liverpool
England
4
Red Star Belgrade
Serbia
Group D
Pot
Team
Country
1
Lokomotiv Moscow
Russia
2
FC Porto
Portugal
3
FC Schalke
Germany
4
Galatasaray
Turkey
Group E
Pot
Team
Country
1
Bayern Munich
Germany
2
Benfica
Portugal
3
Ajax
Netherlands
4
AEK Athens
Greece
Group F
Pot
Team
Country
1
Manchester City
England
2
Shakhtar Donetsk
Ukraine
3
Olympique Lyonnais
France
4
Hoffenheim
Germany
Group G
Pot
Team
Country
1
Real Madrid
Spain
2
AS Roma
Italy
3
CSKA Moscow
Russia
4
Viktoria Plzen
Czech Republic
Group H
Pot
Team
Country
1
Juventus
Italy
2
Manchester United
England
3
Valencia
Spain
4
Young Boys
Switzerland
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
