Fans no longer have to wait, as the Champions League draw in Geneva has pitted Barcelona against Juventus. This sets the stage for the first encounter between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo since the Portuguese star moved to Turin.
The wait is over as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are all set to face each other in the upcoming Champions League season for the first time since the Portuguese forward moved to Turin from Real Madrid. The Champions League draw took place in Geneva in which Barcelona and Juventus were paired in the together in Group G.
Expectations are hitting a fever pitch because this is the first time these two titans of the game have met since Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018. Their legendary rivalry spanned nearly a decade in Spain, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. To put their greatness into perspective, they have split 11 of the past 12 Ballon d’Or awards between them.
Group G isn't just about the giants; it also includes Dynamo Kiev and Ferencvaros. It's a milestone for Ferencvaros, who secured their first-ever spot in the main tournament by taking down Celtic.
Manchester United has finally ended its Champions League drought. They've been drawn into Group H, where they'll have to battle RB Leipzig, Istanbul Basaksehir, and PSG.
In Group A, the reigning champions Bayern Munich—who secured their sixth title with a 1-0 win over PSG in Lisbon—will take on Red Bull Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Atletico Madrid. Group D features 2018 winners Liverpool alongside Atalanta, Ajax, and Midtjylland. Meanwhile, Group B looks like the 'group of death,' featuring 13-time champions Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Borussia Monchengladbach. Over in Group C, Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, will fight for their first-ever trophy alongside Porto, Marseille, and Olympiacos.
Group E consists of Chelsea, Rennes, Krasnodar, and Europa League veterans Sevilla, while Group F brings together Lazio, Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund, and Zenit St Petersburg. The 2020/21 campaign kicks off this October, with the group stages running until early December before the top teams advance to the knockout rounds.