Champions League draw: Europe's giants to discover fate in group stages

By James Masters and Matias Grez, CNN

Updated 2:19 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019
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2:13 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

That's full time!

James Masters, CNN

Thanks so much for joining us for this season's Champions League draw.

You can read all about the draw here in case you're yet to cure that insatiable appetite for more Champions League action.

The first round of games kick off on September 17 so make sure you mark your calendar.

We're pretty sure you won't want to miss it. Until then, take care.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp celebrates after winning the 2019 Champions League final.
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp celebrates after winning the 2019 Champions League final. Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Champions League draw in full:

Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray.

Group B: Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympiakos, Red Star Belgrade.

Group C: Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta.

Group D: Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moscow.

Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, Salzburg, Genk.

Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Slavia Prague.

Group G: Zenit St. Petersburg, Benfica, Lyon, RB Leipzig.

Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille.

1:48 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

Who's happy? Who's worried?

By James Masters, CNN

It's always dangerous to predict which teams will taste success in the Champions League -- just look at how Ajax shocked the world last season.

But you can be pretty sure Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will be happy with his side's draw. The English champion will face Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb and Atalanta, which is making its debut in the competition.

Pep Guardiola is aiming to win the Champions League with Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola is aiming to win the Champions League with Manchester City. Glyn Kirk/Getty Images

Liverpool will also fancy its chances of progressing, though it lost to Napoli in last season's group stage before winning the reverse fixture at Anfield.

If you're Borussia Dortmund, you may be a little apprehensive after being grouped with Barcelona and Inter Milan. For Slavia Prague, it may prove nigh on impossible to qualify from the group.

Paris-Saint Germain and Real Madrid should provide two entertaining games in Group A, while the contests between Bayern Munich vs Tottenham in Group B are also likely to provide some drama.

In Group D, Juventus will renew acquaintance with Atletico Madrid, the team it defeated last year in the round of 16.

Ajax will be hoping for another good run in the competition this year after reaching the final four last time around. It's going to be tough for the Dutch side though after being grouped with Europa League winner Chelsea, Spanish side Valencia and French club Lille.

1:47 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

Does Ronaldo miss Messi?

By James Masters, CNN

Sitting side by side in the auditorium in Monaco, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could scarcely look more relaxed.

After competing against one another season after season, the two took a break last year with Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid for Juventus while Messi continued his magic at Barcelona.

The two men are inextricably linked through their rivalry, brilliance and capacity to push one another to yet further greatness.

So did the Portuguese star miss the man who he is so often compared with?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Barcelona and Real Madrid. Josep Lago/Getty Images

"I was curious because we've shared the stage here for 15 years," Ronaldo told BT Sport.
"It's not easy but of course we have a good relationship. We have not yet had dinner but it is nice. We push each other and it's good to be part of the history of football."
1:25 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

Van Dijk sees off Messi and Ronaldo to win

There aren't many players who can say they've beaten Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to a top individual prize -- but Virgil van Dijk has just done exactly that.

The Liverpool defender has been named as the UEFA Men's Player of the Year after helping his side win the 2019 Champions League.

The Dutchman has been a colossus at the heart of the Liverpool defense and has grown into one of the world's best.

“I need to thank my teammates, without them I would not have achieved what I have achieved," he told BT Sport.

"It has been a long road and it’s part of my journey. I’m very proud to get this trophy. It’s credit to everyone who has helped me.”

Virgil van Dijk starred in Liverpool's Champions League triumph.
Virgil van Dijk starred in Liverpool's Champions League triumph. Michael Regan/Getty Images

1:11 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

Bronze gets gold

England star Lucy Bronze has been named as UEFA's Women's Player of the Year.

The Lyon defender was one of the outstanding players at the 2019 Women's World Cup.

She beat off competition from France's Amandine Henry and Lyon teammate Ada Hegerberg.

Lucy Bronze helped England make the semifinal at the Women's World Cup
Lucy Bronze helped England make the semifinal at the Women's World Cup Franck Fife/Getty Images

1:05 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

UEFA to name Women's Player of the Year

Matias Grez, CNN

Ada Hegerberg, the winner of the first ever women's Ballon d'Or, is the overwhelming favorite to secure a second UEFA Women's Player of the Year award.

Ada Hegerberg, the first ever women's Ballon d'Or winner is favorite to win Women's Player of the Year.
Ada Hegerberg, the first ever women's Ballon d'Or winner is favorite to win Women's Player of the Year. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The Norwegian star, who boycotted the Women's World Cup over a disagreement with her country's football association, led Lyon to a record-extending sixth Women's Champions League title with a first-half hat-trick in the final.

The 24-year-old is bidding to become the first ever two-time winner but faces stiff competition from two Lyon teammates: Lucy Bronze and Amandine Henry.

In the summer, Bronze -- widely considered the world's best full-back -- helped England to reach the Women's World Cup semifinal, while Henry captained France to the quarterfinal on home soil.

1:05 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

UEFA to name Men's Player of the Year

Matias Grez, CNN

Will Virgil van Dijk emulate last year's winner Luka Modric and pip the two biggest superstars in football, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, to be named Men's Player of the Year?

Luka Modric was named 2018 UEFA Player of the Year.
Luka Modric was named 2018 UEFA Player of the Year. Denis Doyle/Getty Images

The omens are good for Liverpool's imposing Dutch defender; you have to go all the way back to 2011/12 for the last time a player that didn't play for the Champions League winning team scooped the award.

However, a defender has never previously made it into the top three, let alone won the prize -- though Van Dijk certainly has a realistic chance.

He was an integral part to a Liverpool defense that conceded just 22 goals in the Premier League last season, less than any other side, and also kept a further six clean sheets in his side's victorious Champions League campaign.

1:07 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

And there we are...the draw in full

Here's the complete draw for the Champions League group stage.

What do you think? Tasty, eh?

Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray.

Group B: Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympiakos, Red Star Belgrade.

Group C: Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta.

Group D: Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moscow.

Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, Salzburg, Genk.

Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Slavia Prague.

Group G: Zenit St. Petersburg, Benfica, Lyon, RB Leipzig.

Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille.

12:54 p.m. ET, August 29, 2019

Group F: Group of death?

Matias Grez, CNN

With three of the four teams now drawn for each group, it looks as though Group F will be this year's 'group of death.'

Antonio Conte is now in charge of Inter.
Antonio Conte is now in charge of Inter. MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images

Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and a revamped Inter Milan offer up a mouth-watering list of fixtures.

With Antonio Conte now in charge and boosted by the arrival of Romelu Lukaku (and soon Alexis Sanchez), Inter are one of the more exciting projects on the continent.