Messi-Ronaldo Rivalry Reignites in Champions League DrawMessi-Ronaldo Rivalry Reignites in Champions League Draw The age-old rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo was reignited on Friday as the draw for the Champions League group stage was conducted. The two footballing giants will face off in the group stage of the competition, setting the stage for a tantalizing clash between two of the greatest players of all time. Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain were drawn into Group H, which also includes Ronaldo’s Juventus. The other two teams in the group are Benfica and Maccabi Haifa. This will be the first time Messi and Ronaldo have faced each other at club level since the 2017/18 Champions League quarter-finals, when Ronaldo’s Real Madrid knocked out Messi’s Barcelona. The prospect of Messi and Ronaldo battling it out for supremacy has sent shockwaves through the football world. Both players have won the Champions League five times, and they will be eager to add to their impressive trophy hauls. Messi has been in excellent form for PSG this season, scoring 14 goals in 13 appearances. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has struggled for form at Juventus, but he remains a dangerous opponent on any given day. The match-ups between PSG and Juventus will undoubtedly be the highlight of Group H. The two teams will meet on September 15 and October 23, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In addition to the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry, the Champions League draw has thrown up a number of other intriguing matchups. Reigning champions Manchester City will face Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Viktoria Plzen in Group C. Bayern Munich, Barcelona’s conquerors in last season’s semi-finals, will take on Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group E. Liverpool, the 2018/19 champions, will face Atletico Madrid, Porto, and AC Milan in Group B. Chelsea, the 2020/21 champions, will take on AC Milan, Dinamo Zagreb, and Red Bull Salzburg in Group E. The Champions League group stage will begin on September 6, and the final will be played on May 28, 2023. With Messi and Ronaldo set to face off again, the competition promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
