The Champions League group stage draw on Thursday was excruciatingly boring. The matches it presented to us won’t be — at least not in Group C.
The 2018-19 Champions League group stages feature some tasty matchups with a couple of thrilling groups and one shockingly easy group.
Here are the groups:
The Champions League group stage is now set, all 32 teams having clinched their spot in the meat of Europe’s biggest club competition. Red Star Belgrade was the last team in, booking its spot in the Champions League group stage for the first time ever with a dramatic 2-2 draw with FC Salzburg, advancing on away goals.
After breaking through in monster fashion last season, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano somehow looks destined for even bigger and better things during his sophomore year in Europe. The 23-year-old Mexican winger already has two goals in three Eredivisie appearances, and now his two goals — including one today — in PSV’s 6-2 aggregate win over BATE Borisov have ensured the club’s participation in the 2018-19 Champions League group stage.
In some respects, it was the goal that sparked Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus. Now it’s been named the UEFA Goal of the Season 2017-18, and there was never really any doubt.
For all the goals scored by the likes of Liverpool, Barcelona and Manchester City in the Champions League, no goal quite compared to the Cristiano Ronaldo bicycle kick against Juventus.
The Champions League has a long history of using uniquely designed balls for the world’s best annual sporting event. With stars taking the place of pentagons, the spheres are immediately recognizable — no other competition has a similar look. But the Champions League ball 2018-19 is something else entirely, taking the concept to a bold new level.
Hirving “Chucky” Lozano made his Champions League debut and did it in style with a stunning goal in a wild 3-2 win over BATE Borisov on Tuesday.
At the age of 19, Alex Hunter’s career is already approaching that of the journeyman. Back in FIFA 17, you selected a Premier League club to start with, but you were then loaned to a Championship side before returning to the EPL.
In FIFA 18, you started with your parent club before being offloaded to the Los Angeles Galaxy because of Michael the conniving agent. After grinding in MLS, you then signed with either Atletico Madrid, PSG or Bayern Munich.
Sergio Ramos Garcia harvested himself from a little, unknown seed playing for Sevilla to an unearthly spectacle at Real Madrid. He is the captain of both Spain’s national team and Los Blancos. He is the hero of some and the villain of many — he also holds an insane record of red cards.
Turner Broadcasting announced the pricing options for its new streaming service, which will be the primary avenue to watch the Champions League in the U.S. Unfortunately, the Bleacher Report Live cost is not cheap.
For those who grew up watching the Champions League in the early 2000s, the extended absence of 2009-10 champions Inter Milan has certainly been felt. Between 2002 and 2012 there was a 10-season period in which Inter always had a seat at club football’s most prestigious banquet, but the 2018-19 campaign will mark Inter's first appearance in seven years.