Lionel Messi was adjudged as UEFA Best Player in Europe ahead of perpetual adversary Ronaldo and teammate Luis Suarez after the Champions League Group Stage Draw. The Argentine forward was honoured with this accolade for the second time in five years, as the Barcelona man inspired his side to the treble, with his side winning all trophies this term, barring the Spanish Super Cup.
Messi was awarded the accolade by 54 journalists in a live poll, via an electronic system, and following this individual triumph, Messi is on course of winning the Ballon d’Or for a record 5th time, after losing out to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014. Messi had a stellar season, scoring 58 goals in all competitions along with 28 assists, and although Ronaldo managed to find the net 61 times in the campaign, Real Madrid failed to win any notable silverware.
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Messi had another reason to celebrate on Thursday, as his goal against Bayern Munich, notable for leaving Jerome Boateng on his backside, was adjudged the best goal of last season’s tournament. Swedish side Malmo, who qualified for the Champions League group stage following a win over Celtic, saw their women’s team German striker Celia Sasic win UEFA’s Best Women’s Player in Europe Award.
It was an evening full of drama at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, as the Champions League group stage draws were announced amidst much fanfare. The group stage will be a reunion of sorts for likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Memphis Depay, Angel Di Maria, Jesus Navas and Jose Mourinho, as they visit their old clubs after the tournament kicks off on 15th September.
Holders FC Barcelona drew Bayer Leverkusen, AS Roma and BATE Borisov in Group E, while losing finalists Juventus take on Manchester City, Europa League Champions Sevilla and noisy Germans Borussia Monchengladbach in Group D.
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Arsenal will face German giants Bayern Munich for the 3rd time in 4 seasons but ought to have it easy against Greek champions Olympiacos and minnows Dinamo Zagreb in Group F. Manchester United, who qualified for the group stages after emphatically dismissing Club Brugge in the qualifying round, were handed favorable opponents in a depleted PSV Eindhoven, who will sorely miss Memphis Depay and Giorginio Wijnaldum, CSKA Moscow and German runners-up Wolfsburg in Group B.
In Group G, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will revisit Porto, the side with which he won the Champions League in 2004, along with Ukrainians Dynamo Kiev and Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid will battle it out for pole position in Group A, while Shakhtar Donetsk and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s boyhood club Malmo will try to spring a surprise.
Atletico Madrid will face Benfica and Galatasaray in a tricky Group C, along with Kazakh debutants Astana. Group H is split wide open as Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg take on Valencia, Lyon and Gent.
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2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage draw
Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Malmö
Group B: PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, CSKA Moskva, Wolfsburg
Group C: Benfica, Atlético, Galatasaray, Astana
Group D: Juventus, Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Group E: Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, BATE Borisov
Group F: Bayern München, Arsenal, Olympiacos, Dinamo Zagreb
Group G: Chelsea, Porto, Dynamo Kyiv, Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Group H: Zenit, Valencia, Lyon, Gent
Tags: Lionel Messi UEFA Best Player in Europe
