Istanbul (AFP)
Paris SG and his new recruit Lionel Messi will come up against the powerful Manchester City led by Pep Guardiola in the group stage of the Champions League, according to the draw which put Sevilla FC on the road to Lille on Thursday.
The ceremony organized in Istanbul did not spoil the club of the capital, finalist of the 2020 edition which was strengthened this summer with the arrival of the brilliant Argentinian playmaker.
Messi will be reunited with his ex-Barça coach Guardiola, the same one who eliminated PSG in the semi-finals last season.
In this group A, the Germans from Leipzig and the Belgians from Club Brugge will try to play the spoilsport.
The table of the group stage of the Champions League, after the draw, made on August 26, 2021 in Istanbul OZAN KOSE AFP
The draw was more lenient for Lille, reigning French champions and therefore seeds, who avoided the big fish like Barça or Juventus.
Le Losc will challenge the Sevillians in Group G, as well as the Austrians from Salzburg and the Germans from Wolfburg.
Group E is among the most relieved with in particular a long-awaited opposition between FC Barcelona of Antoine Griezmann and Bayern Munich of Robert Lewandowski.
The Portuguese Benfica will act as outsiders alongside Dinamo Kiev.
Polish Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski celebrates his goal with Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho in front of Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann in the Champions League quarter-final on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon Rafael Marchante POOL / AFP / Archives
Chelsea FC and their coach Thomas Tuchel, reigning European champions, will have to battle against Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus Turin, the Portuguese with the five Golden Balls being nevertheless announced on the departure by several sports media.
Zenit Saint-Petersburg is the third size of this group H.
Other peaks of intensity are expected in Group B where Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, Porto and AC Milan will meet.
ah-ama-eba-jta-bur / mgi
© 2021 AFP