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With all 32 participants in this season's Champions League confirmed after all the playoff rounds were completed, the draws for the group stage were held at a ceremony on Thursday, August 30 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
The ceremony, which had dignitaries from the footballing community was conducted by legends of the game such as Kaka and Ronaldo de Lima. The event also saw the awarding of the UEFA Men's Best Player to Luka Modric, ending the four-year dominance by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the draws themselves, UEFA'S system of seeding sees the winners of the top six European leagues as well as the holders of the Champions League and Europa League placed as seeded teams in pot 1, while the remaining 24 teams fill out the last three pots in order of UEFA ranking.
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It meant that traditional heavyweights such as Manchester United, Dortmund and Liverpool who were not seeded could potentially be placed with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Champions League Group Stage draw in full
Group A | Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, AS Monaco, Club Brugge
Group B | Barcelona, Tottenham, PSV, Inter Milan
Group C | PSG, Napoli, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade
Group D | Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray
Group E | Bayern, Benfica, Ajax, AEK Athens
Group F | Man City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon, Hoffenheim
Group G | Real Madrid, AS Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen
Group H | Juventus, Man United, Valencia, Young Boys
As it was, that happened, and some exciting matchups are in store for us in this season's group stage, here are the five must-watch fixtures from the Champions League group stage.
Notable mentions: Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund, PSG vs Liverpool, AS Monaco vs Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid vs AS Roma
#5 PSG vs Napoli
Dates: First Leg- 24/10/2018 (Parc des Princes), Second Leg- 06/11/2018 (Estadio San Paolo)
What's the story? Carlo Ancelotti has history with PSG
Three time Champions League winning manager Carlo Ancelotti was unceremoniously fired by Bayern Munich in September of 2017, after losing control of his dressing room, but owing to the Italian's pedigree, it was only a matter of time before another top level club snapped him up.
His next appointment was announced in June of this year, as the replacement for Chelsea bound Maurizio Sarri at Napoli.
He would be tasked with building on from the gains the Pertenopei made under Sarri where they hassled Juventus all the way in the Scudetto race, although they eventually came up empty handed.
The 59-year-old would also attempt to make a mark in Europe, but his task has been made all the more difficult, after being handed what many believe to be the 'group of death'.
Napoli have been drawn together with last season's finalist Liverpool as well as French moneybags PSG and Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade, but it is the clash with the 'city of lovers' club which would be the most emotional for the Italian.
PSG were taken over by Qatar Sports investment in 211, instantly transforming the club's stature into one of the wealthiest in the world. The club announced Carlo Ancelotti as its new manager in December 2011, replacing Antoine Kombouare, and he guided them to a runners-up finish in the league.
The following season, Carlo laid the groundwork for the club's recent success, winning it its first Ligue 1 title in 19 seasons with two games to spare as well as reaching the quarter-final of all cup competitions they participated in.
With PSG very much the team to beat in the group owing to their impressive array of talent the club possesses, the fixture goes just beyond emotional attachment for Ancelotti, as his club could very well be playing for their destinies in this season's Champions League campaign.
#4 Tottenham vs Inter Milan
Dates: First leg- 18/09/2018 (Estadio San Siro), Second Leg- 28/11/2018 (Wembley Stadium)
What's the story? A bit of revenge perhaps
Back at the start of the 2010/2011 season, Inter Milan were the swagger team of Europe, having just become the first Italian club to achieve the unique distinction of winning the treble of Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia the season before. Maicon was also undoubtedly the premier right-back in Europe, so the Italian team were expected to top their group also containing Twente, Werder Bremen and Tottenham with ease.
Elsewhere, fans of Tottenham were also on a high, with the club performing in its first ever Champions league campaign curtsy its fourth place finish the season before, and not too many people would have been optimistic of their chances when they came up against the defending European Champions.
However, the Spurs players must have failed to read the script, as they put in memorable performances over both legs against superior opposition which belied their continental inexperience.
A certain 21-year-old Gareth Bale, who up until that time was still struggling to establish himself in the Tottenham lineup started the match at left-back and came up against the aforementioned Maicon in what many believed would be an uneven match.
However, Bale defied all odds, and put in one of the most memorable individual displays in Champions League history by scoring a hat-trick in Tottenham's 4-3 first leg loss at the San Siro, with many believing it was his performance on that night which paved the way for his conversion into a forward by Harry Redknapp which has yielded tremendous benefits. Gareth Bale ran roughshod over the more experienced Maicon, and the Brazilian's career was never the same after that.
Tottenham players rallied from the narrow loss a fortnight later, winning Inter 3-1 at White Hart Lane with goals from Rafa Van der Vaart, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko which condemned Inter Milan to second place in the group.
Fast forward to the present day, and both teams have markedly different fortunes, with the roles reversed and Tottenham the favorites owing to their impressive trajectory in recent seasons, while Inter Milan have declined since the crescendo of 2010.
Barcelona are one of the favorites for the title, hence would be expected to top the group. This might well see Spurs and Inter battling it out for second place, and it is a battle no one would want to miss.
#3 Liverpool vs Napoli
Dates: 03/10/2018 (Estadio San Paolo), 11/12/18 (Anfield)
What's the story? Just for pure old exciting football
Ever since Jurgen Klopp took the reins at Liverpool, the Merseyside club saw an infusion of enthralling football not seen at Anfield in a long time.
The German tactician's gengenpressing style infused dynamic and fluid counter-attacking with a high-pressing game which ensures Liverpool do not lack for goals even if their backdoor was another matter, and trophies are yet to show.
The signing of Mo Salah last season took their game up another notch, as the Egyptian was the perfect blend in attack, combining with fellow African Sadio Mane and Brazilian Firmino to devastating effect, with the trio scoring a staggering 91 goals between them.
In Italy, Maurizio Sarri had long carved a reputation as a well grounded tactician, earning praise from illustrious names such as Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola for his work with Napoli.
The now Chelsea manager forged Napoli into an intricate, well-oiled possession machine, and the Pertenopei were undoubtedly one of the most beautiful to watch last season.
They pushed record champions Juventus all the way in the Serie A race, and their total point tally of 91 is the highest for a side who didn't win the league in the history of the Scudetto.
His replacement at Napoli and compatriot Ancelotti is also an aesthetic conscious coach, and although not as possession obsessed as Maurizio, the former Real Madrid boss makes sure his teams play beautiful football.
If you are a fan of pure unadulterated attacking football, then make sure not to miss both legs of this epic clash. The fact that the second leg is being played on the final matchday of the group stage also adds extra spice, as depending on results elsewhere, both clubs could be battling it out for top spot or who would finish in second place.
#2 Barcelona vs Inter Milan
Dates: 24/10/2018 (Camp Nou Stadium), 06/11/2018 (Estadio San Siro)
What's the story? Can you believe Messi has not scored a goal against Inter Milan?
In Inter Milan's treble winning campaign of 2010, they were coached by a certain Jose Mourinho, and in the semi-final they came up against defending champions Barcelona who themselves made history less than a year earlier when they became the first and till date only club to win all six trophies they contested for in a season.
Barcelona under Guardiola were breathtaking, playing a possession based tiki taka football never seen before, with many considering that side to be the best in the history of club football.
Lionel Messi was the main man in that talented Barcelona side, with Pep deploying the Argentine maestro's talents to devastating effect.
Jose Mourinho knew his aging players had no chance going to-to-toe with the more dynamic Barcelona players, so in the first leg played at the San Siro, he deployed a counter-attacking tactic which ensured Inter ran out 3-1 winners.
Despite the first leg deficit, a lot of pundits still fancied Barcelona's chances heading into the second leg at Camp Nou, odds which were boosted after Inter were reduced to ten men just 22 minutes in after Thiaggo Motta was sent off for a soft foul on Sergio Busquets which the Spaniard made the most of.
What followed was a defensive masterclass by Mourinho's Inter, as they defended resolutely with Lucio, Maicon, Walter Samuel and Christian Chivu forming an impenetrable shield in front of Julio Ceasar. In midfield, Esteban Cambiasso and Goran Pandev gave Messi no breathing space, while Samuel Eto'o was infamously deployed as a makeshift left-back to further crowd out the defensive line.
Barcelona largely huffed and puffed to limited effect, and it took an 84th minute strike by Gerard Pique to breach the Inter backline. The goal ultimately proved ineffectual, as Inter ran out 3-2 winners on aggregate to the final where they defeated Bayern Munich 2-0, and the sight of Mourinho running around the Nou Camp with fists pumped out at the sound of the final whistle is one which many Barcelona fans abhor till this day.
On a personal level, there is also Messi's quest to find the back of the net against Inter Milan. The nerazzurri are one of six Champions League clubs out of the 37 Messi has faced against whom he has not scored. He has come up against the Italians on three occasions, with all coming in the 2010 campaign. First in a goalless group stage match at the San Siro, and later over both legs in the semi-final.
Much was made over Messi's inability to find the back of the against Chlesea in 8 attempts heading into the round-of-16 last season, but like the Argentine showed where he reduced the number of clubs he hasn't scored in all competitions from 12 to 10 in four days (with his equalizer against Chelsea and freekick against Girona), he is all about breaking records, and the quest for revenge by Barcelona and desire to score against Inter for Messi should make this clash one to watch.
#1 Juventus vs Manchester United
Dates: 23/10/2018 (Old Trafford), 07/11/2018 (Juventus stadium)
What's the story? Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba both returning to the clubs were they made a name for themselves
When the draws were made pitting Juventus against Manchester United, there were audible gasps in the crowd, and the reason is not far-fetched, with one name largely being responsible for that gasp- RONALDO.
The current Ballon d'Or holder is by and large the most recognizable player in the world, as he alongside Messi have totally changed the footballing landscape with their rivalry in the last decade.
Over the last nine seasons at Real Madrid, the 33-year-old Ronaldo elevated his game to a new level, breaking a plethora of goalscoring records and winning numerous accolades, prior to his groundbreaking transfer to Juventus.
However, it was in England where the Portuguese first rose to prominence under the man he refers to as his father- Sir Alex Ferguson, who nurtured him from a tricky winger into an explosive forward, and it was at Old Trafford where he became the first and till date only Premier League player to win the coveted FIFA Player of the Year award.
He returned to Old Trafford with Real Madrid in a 2013 Champions League clash, and the fans showed they still adore him with their adulating praises for him all through the game. Ronaldo also replicated by not celebrating when he scored, and it is not rocket science to know that not too many would have been displeased by the sight of Ronaldo scoring against them, having done so in the red and white of United for so long.
Another sub-plot involves Paul Pogba, who transferred to Juventus in 2012, after failing to nail down a regular spot at United, and at the Bianconerri, Pogba went on to establish himself as one of the premier midfielders in the world, before sealing a then world record transfer back to United in 2016.
Both Ronaldo and Pogba were the most expensive players in the world when leaving Manchester United and Juventus respectively as young men. They return to their former stamping ground as matured individuals who have gone on to achieve greatness, and like a proud parent welcoming back a returning son, you can be sure that both sets of fans would receive both players with wide arms. Hence you wouldn't want to miss such beautiful reunion.
