Did you know that 40% of Champions League winners have come from Group F since 2003/04?
Or that Group G hasn’t provided a Champions League winner in the last 15 years?
Our thanks to Opta for those pearls of wisdom.
So to what must be the most tedious event in the whole of football- the 2018/19 Champions League draw.
Legends assemble, balls are awkwardly opened and team delegates try their best to look pleased after drawing a European giant.
Despite finishing as runners-up in last season’s competition Liverpool had to make do with a place in pot 3.
Man City were England’s sole representatives in pot 1 while Spurs and Man United both lay in wait in pot 2.
Smile for the camerasAFP or licensors
Liverpool landed in the obligatory ‘Group of Death’, also known as a selection of hard fixtures, along with PSG, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.
It was a case of deja vu for City who were drawn with Shakhtar Donetsk again, as well as Lyon and Hoffenheim.
Spurs earned themselves a glamour tie with Barcelona, while PSV and Inter Milan will also provide stiff competition.
United were drawn alongside Juventus, Valencia and Young Boys in Group H, meaning another Old Trafford return for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Time for a little danceNews Group Newspapers Ltd
Narratives galore, a chance to see Lionel Messi in London and Jose Mourinho losing his head after being hammered by Young Boys.
Ahh, we’ve missed the Champions League.
Maybe next year UEFA can have a little think about livening up the draw though? Introducing rollerblades and fiery balls would be a start…
Champions League draw in full:
Group A- Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Club Brugge
Group B- Barcelona, Spurs, PSV, Inter Milan
Group C- PSG, Napoli, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade
Group D- Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray
Group E- Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax, AEK
Group F- Man City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim
Group G- Real Madrid, Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen
Group H- Juventus, Man United, Valencia, Young Boys
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