By CARL SETTERLUND
Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League title defense is off a to favorable start.
The 2014 UEFA Champions League group stage draw was held in Monaco on Thursday, and Real Madrid were given a kind draw as they were paired with Liverpool, FC Basel and Ludogorets in Group B. The reigning European champions luckily avoided some of the more talented opponents in the 32-team tournament, but fellow Spanish club Barcelona were not as fortunate.
Barcelona fell into a competitive Group F in which there will be little room for error, as it is also comprised of French giants Paris Saint-Germain, Dutch powerhouse Ajax and Cyprus champions APOEL. Another tough group vying for the “Group of Death” title was Group E, which consists of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, AS Roma and CSKA Moscow.
Group D is perhaps the most balanced one in this season’s competition, with Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasary and Anderlecht all drawn into it.
Here are the complete results of the draw:
Group A:
Atletico Madrid
Juventus
Olympiakos
Malmo
Group B:
Real Madrid
FC Basel
Liverpool
Ludogorets
Group C:
Benfica
Zenit St. Petersburg
Bayer Leverkusen
AS Monaco
Group D:
Arsenal
Borussia Dortmund
Galatasaray
Anderlecht
Group E:
Bayern Munich
Manchester City
CSKA Moscow
AS Roma
Group F:
Barcelona
Paris Saint-Germain
Ajax
APOEL
Group G:
Chelsea
Schalke
Sporting Lisbon
Maribor
Group H:
Porto
Shakhtar Donetsk
Athletic Bilbao
BATE
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What are your thoughts on the draw? Which group is the proverbial “Group of Death”? Which clubs ended up with a favorable draw and which have he toughest road?
Share your thoughts below.