Lionel Messi has been reunited with his old Barcelona teammate Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain. AFP
Lionel Messi has been reunited with his old Barcelona teammate Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain. AFP
Lionel Messi has been reunited with his old Barcelona teammate Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain. AFP
Lionel Messi has been reunited with his old Barcelona teammate Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain. AFP

Sport

Football

Manchester City draw Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain in Champions League group stage

Holders Chelsea will be up against Juventus, while Bayern Munich face Barcelona

The National

August 26, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Manchester City will take on Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain in this season's Champions League group stage.

In the draw that took place in Istanbul on Thursday, the English Premier League champions found out they will be taking on PSG's superstar squad in Group A, as well as German side RB Leipzig and Belgium's Club Bruges.

City and the Ligue 1 side faced off in the semi-final last season, when Pep Guardiola's team ran out 4-1 winners on aggregate before they were defeated by Chelsea in the final.

Thomas Tuchel's reigning champions were drawn against Serie A giants Juventus, Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg and Malmo of Sweden.

Messi's former club Barcelona will take on 2020 winners Bayern Munich - for the first time since the Germans ran out 8-2 victors at Camp Nou during that same campaign - in Group E, along with Portuguese club Benfica and Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev

Manchester United find themselves in the same group as Villarreal in a repeat of last season's Europa League final that the Spaniards won 11-10 on penalties. Italy's Atalanta and Young Boys of Switzerland complete Group F.

Liverpool, who last won the competition in 2019, find themsleves in a tough Group B up against La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, Portuguese runners-up Porto and seven-time European champions AC Milan of Serie A.

The first round of group matches take place on September 14/15, while the final will be held at the St Petersburg Stadium in Russia on May 28.

DRAW IN FULL

Group A Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Club Bruges

Group B Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, AC Milan

Group C Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas

Group D Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sheriff Tiraspol

Group E Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kiev

Group F Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys

Group G Lille, Sevilla, FC Salzburg, Wolfsburg

Group H Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit St Petersburg, Malmo

Gallery: Chelsea win 202/21 Champions League

Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City 1-0 to win the Champions League final on Saturday, May 30.
Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City 1-0 to win the Champions League final on Saturday, May 30.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates after Kai Havertz's winning goal.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates after Kai Havertz's winning goal.
Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City in Porto.
Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City in Porto.
Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
Dejected City players Phil Foden and Sergio Aguero after the match.
Dejected City players Phil Foden and Sergio Aguero after the match.
Chelsea's Kai Havertz skips past City goalkeeper Ederson to put his team ahead in the first half.
Chelsea's Kai Havertz skips past City goalkeeper Ederson to put his team ahead in the first half.
City's Phil Foden on the attack being chased by Reece James of Chelsea.
City's Phil Foden on the attack being chased by Reece James of Chelsea.
City forward Raheem Sterling sees an early chance saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
City forward Raheem Sterling sees an early chance saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
City manager Pep Guardiola.
City manager Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea striker Timo Werner shoots at goal in the first half but City goalkeeper Ederson saves his weak finish easily.
Chelsea striker Timo Werner shoots at goal in the first half but City goalkeeper Ederson saves his weak finish easily.
Kai Havertz celebrates his first-half goal. Getty
Kai Havertz celebrates his first-half goal. Getty
City players see their penalty appeals turned down in the second half.
City players see their penalty appeals turned down in the second half.
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante heads over the bar in the first half.
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante heads over the bar in the first half.
City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne receives treatment after being caught in the face by Antonio Rudiger's shoulder.
City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne receives treatment after being caught in the face by Antonio Rudiger's shoulder.
Kevin de Bruyne with his eye injury clearly visible.
Kevin de Bruyne with his eye injury clearly visible.
City's Kevin de Bruyne is substituted due to his face injury.
City's Kevin de Bruyne is substituted due to his face injury.
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger slides in to deny Phil Foden a shot at goal.
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger slides in to deny Phil Foden a shot at goal.
Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta and Kevin de Bruyne of City challenge for a header.
Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta and Kevin de Bruyne of City challenge for a header.
Chelsea's Thiago Silva on the ground due to an injury that led to him being substituted in the first half.
Chelsea's Thiago Silva on the ground due to an injury that led to him being substituted in the first half.
Chelsea's Kai Havertz is mobbed by teammates after scoring.
Chelsea's Kai Havertz is mobbed by teammates after scoring.
Christian Pulisic misses a chance to make it 2-0 to Chelsea.
Christian Pulisic misses a chance to make it 2-0 to Chelsea.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after a missed chance in the second half.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after a missed chance in the second half.
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MATCH INFO

Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')

Fulham 0

Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)

Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Fighter profiles

Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)

Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.

Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)

Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.

Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)

Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.

Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)

One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.

Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)

Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.

Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)

Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.

 

Timeline

1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line

1962
250 GTO is unveiled

1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company

1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens

1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made

1987
F40 launched

1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent

2002
The Enzo model is announced

2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi

2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled

2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives

2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company

2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street

2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: August 26, 2021, 5:49 PM
Champions LeagueManchester CityAtletico MadridInter Milan