2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage draw – Serie A clubs know their opponents

The draw for the 2020/21 Champions League campaign was made at the House of European football in Nyon, Switzerland on Thursday. A number of elite clubs have been pitted against each other and one of the most high-profile encounters will be between Juventus and Barcelona in Group G.

The pair will be favourites to progress to the next round as they have the superior quality of players when compared to Dynamo Kiev and Ferencvaros, who are the other teams in the group.

Meanwhile, the fans will get to witness Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing against each other which has not been possible in recent seasons with the former’s move to the Bianconeri from Real Madrid.

Ronaldo and Messi have bagged 128 and 114 goals in the competition respectively and there is bound to be plenty of excitement when the duo come up against each other later this year.

Elsewhere, Inter Milan have made the same group as 13-time European champions Real Madrid while Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Monchengladbach have been drawn alongside them.

Antonio Conte’s side will be aiming to get out of their group after failing to do so in the previous two campaigns where they finished third on the table and qualified for the round of 32 stage of the Europa League.

Atalanta were the surprise packages last term as they went all the way to the quarter-final in their maiden Champions League campaign. They are a quality attacking side, but their defensive displays still need to be improved.

Liverpool, Ajax and Midtjylland will be their challengers. Jurgen Klopp’s side should have the upper hand in the group and Atalanta may tussle it out with Ajax for the second qualification spot for the round of 16.

Lazio are the fourth and final Serie A club in the group stage of this season’s Champions League. The capital outfit have made the competition proper for the first time in 13 years.

They are scheduled to face Zenit St.Petersburg, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge. Lazio were pretty poor in the Europa League last term as they were ousted in the group stage by Celtic and Rennes.

Simone Inzaghi’s side have the quality in the squad to progress beyond their Champions League group, but it remains to be seen whether they can get their act together and pick up victories.

Groups and Opponents for Serie A teams:

Group B: Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan, Borussia Monchengladbach

Group D: Liverpool, Ajax, Atalanta, Midtjylland

Group F: Zenit St. Petersburg, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio, Club Brugge

Group G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kiev, Ferencvaros

Stats from Transfermarkt.com