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Champions League group stage draw: Tottenham pull short straw

By Andrew Michael Stone

BERGAMO, ITALY - MAY 27: Giulio Migliaccio of Atalanta BC celebrates the qualification at UEFA Europa League 2017/18 at the end of the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AC ChievoVerona at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on May 27, 2017 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY - MAY 27: Giulio Migliaccio of Atalanta BC celebrates the qualification at UEFA Europa League 2017/18 at the end of the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AC ChievoVerona at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on May 27, 2017 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) /
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The Champions League group stage draw has been finalized, with several contenders for the title of Group of Death.

The greatest club competition in soccer is set to start in less than one month. The Champions League group stage draw took place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday, offering fans a series of mouth-watering matchups. Here are the official group draws:

Group A

  • SL Benfica
  • Manchester United FC
  • FC Basel 1893
  • PFC CSKA Moskva

Early favorites: Manchester United’s grand return to the Champions League should see them take the lead of this group.

Group B

  • FC Bayern München
  • Paris Saint-Germain
  • RSC Anderlecht
  • Celtic FC

Early favorites: Despite the addition of Neymar for a world record transfer fee of €222 million and rumors of Kylian Mbappe joining Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich remain the favorites in Group B.

Group C

  • Chelsea FC
  • Club Atletico de Madrid
  • AS Roma
  • Qarabag FK

Early favorites: With estranged Chelsea striker Diego Costa rumored to return to his stomping grounds at Atletico de Madrid, the only question mark is whether Alvaro Morata can be the man for Antonio Conte’s squad. As it stands, Chelsea have the upper hand in this group.

Group D

  • Juventus Football Club
  • FC Barcelona
  • Olympiacos FC
  • Sporting Clube de Portugal

Early favorites: Can Lionel Messi do everything by himself at a Barcelona club lacking in depth? That seems to be the song sung by all, thus making last season’s runner-ups Juventus the clear favorites.

Group E

  • FC Spartak Moskva
  • Sevilla FC
  • Liverpool FC
  • NK Maribor

Early favorites: Jurgen Klopp will get a taste of Champions League competition after Liverpool qualified with a fourth-place position in the Premier League. Despite a three-year absence and only one point separating them from fifth-ranked Arsenal, Liverpool should be the favorites in Group E.

Group F

  • FC Shakhtar Donetsk
  • Manchester City FC
  • SSC Napoli
  • Feyenoord

Early favorites: Manchester City have splurged during the summer transfer window by solidifying their defense with players such as Danilo and Kyle Walker. Napoli might challenge them, but Pep Guardiola’s troops are ready to take the lead in Group F.

Group G

  • AS Monaco FC
  • FC Porto
  • Besiktas JK
  • RP Leipzig

Early favorites: If Kylian Mbappe sticks around, expect him to lead the way for Monaco in a relatively uninspiring group.

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Group H

  • Real Madrid CF
  • Borussia Dortmund
  • Tottenham Hotspur FC
  • Apoel FC

Early favorites: A “three-peat” could very well be achieved by Zinedine Zidane and his legendary Real Madrid squad, who could nevertheless struggle against Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham but should find themselves atop of Group H.

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