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The highly awaited draw of the 64th instalment of the most competitive club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League was completed on Thursday (30 August), and just like any other year, the fans are in some for great footballing action.
Exciting groups were the final result and football enthusiasts have already started to mark their calendars. Two teams from the current set will have the privilege of playing in Wanda Metropolitano on the final of the competition on 1st June next year, but the road is set to be grueling and mouth-watering group stage clashes are a testament to it. Let us have a look at 5 most anticipated matches of the upcoming UEFA Champions League.
#5 Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
While many might predict the two teams to qualify for the next round by looking at the overall composition of the group, topping the group is of utmost importance for the clubs as it somewhat guarantees a comparatively weaker opponent. Atletico Madrid will have their eyes set on the June 1 final, but they must first clear the German barrier in Borussia Dortmund.
Both teams have similar traits in their national leagues, which is playing under the shadows of giants. While it is Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in Atletico Madrid's case, people tend to associate Bundesliga with FC Bayern Munich more than any team else.
It is time for these two clubs, who failed to qualify for the Round of 16 in last UCL, to make it big. And they have the players required to lift the silverware. While Los Colchoneros have France's 2018 World Cup hero Antoine Griezmann in their team, Die Schwarz Gelben have Germany's 2014 World Cup star Mario Gotze.
#4 Real Madrid v AS Roma
AS Roma, CSKA Moscow and FC Viktoria Plzen - these are the three teams the giants from the Spanish capital will face. Though the group does not possess much prowess to intimidate a team that makes winning the UEFA Champions League look almost easy, it would be foolish to take AS Roma lightly.
I Giallorossi were placed in a tough group last season with the then Premier League defending champions Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. They surprised everyone and qualified for the next round, where they edged past Shakhtar Donetsk. The real surprise came in the quarter-finals, where they came back from a 4-1 defeat against FC Barcelona to win 4-4 on aggregate.
They went down fighting against Liverpool in the semis, who won the tie by the slimmest margins. Now, they must recreate the magic against the Barcelona's rivals, the highly respected Los Merengues, who unlike last year, will be without the services of their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
#3 FC Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur FC
If it was AS Roma who stunned FC Barcelona last season, English side Tottenham Hotspur FC gave a headache to their Spanish rivals. Placed in a tough group with the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, Spurs managed to come out as group leaders. However, their joy was soon ended by Juventus.
Mauricio Pochettino's side didn't sign a single player this transfer window, but given the vast repertoire of skilled players he possesses, Lionel Messi & Co. must be on their toes. Barcelona, on the other hand, have made some quality signings in the form of Malcom, Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal.
#2 Paris Saint-Germain v Liverpool FC
Since Jurgen Klopp's arrival, the Merseyside team have gone through a massive overhaul and are now looking as good as any given team in the world. They came agonizingly close to winning the trophy last season, but their dream couldn't become a reality owing to some horrendous goalkeeping errors. They have splurged money to fix that issue and have now got Brazilian shot-stopper Alisson in their team.
They will be facing a team who also are not very shy to flex their financial muscles, Paris Saint-Germain. Les Rouge-et-Bleu created a havoc in the transfer market last season and were consequently termed as favourites for the title.
Their run, however, was stopped by Real Madrid, and Neymar Jr. and company will have another go at the trophy this team. Both Liverpool and PSG are known to score many goals, and while Gianluigi Buffon or Alisson may not enjoy it, fans can expect a goal fest.
#1 Juventus v Manchester United
The man who has played 196 games for Manchester United and scored 84 goals in them, the player whom United fans consider one of their own even after a decade he left the club, will travel to Old Trafford in the group stages. Not that he has not done it previously, but Cristiano Ronaldo has got a new challenge in hand this time around.
The full white shirt will be replaced by a black and white striped one and he will be representing the Italian giants instead of the Spanish. After what seems like an eternity, Ronaldo has left Real Madrid and joined La Vecchia Signora in search of some greener pastures.
Manchester United will be eager to give their beloved icon a tough time with his new club when Jose Mourinho's side take on Juventus.
