Champions League draw – RECAP (2023)

Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller has posted a video on his Instagram addressed to Robert Lewandowski, who joined Barcelona from the Bundesliga club this summer.

The pair have been drawn together in Group C.

Former Spurs and England manager Glenn Hoddle has told BT Sport that Celtic could ‘genuinely’ win all three of their games at Parkhead in their Champions League group because they've proved in the past it can be a fortress.

They will. They’ll be genuinely be saying we can pip that. They won’t be looking at winning the group, but even Madrid they can beat. They can win the three home games.

They’ve turned other big clubs over up there and when that atmosphere is going there’s nothing like it. They’ll feel confident.

Most Celtic supporters were merely delighted just to be back among the biggest clubs in the world once again.

But it's ok to dream, of course, and Callum McGregor was saying what many Parkhead punters felt when he admitted the chance to face Real Madrid was his dream. There's been 10 appearances for Celtic in this iconic tournament since the rebrand but a dust-up with the Galacticos has evaded them....until NOW. Ange Postecoglou 's side will take on the 14-time reigning European champions, alongside RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk.

The task is tall, of that there is no doubt, however, there's a tangible sense Celtic can be competitive in a group which offers plenty of hope of positive results on the pitch. Celtic Park earned a reputation as among the best atmospheres in Europe and the Hoops punters will be aiming to break the sound record this time around. Most likely when Karim Benzema and Co rock up in Glasgow's east end.

READ MORE: Celtic to face Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk and here is everything you need to know

If you are going to return to the Champions League group stage after a 12 year absence then you might as well do it in style. And that is exactly what Rangers did. Group A is for Awesome.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst returned to Holland to secure his side's place in the competition with a victory over PSV Eindhoven and will be back across the North Sea again after drawing Dutch giants Ajax. But that isn't the most attractive of a mouthwatering set of fixtures as Rangers face a Battle of Britain and a clash with Liverpool for the first time in their history.

And Italian giants Napoli complete the section which will see Ibrox Stadium packed to the rafters for three of the biggest nights in their European history as they look to progress from the group stage.

READ MORE: Rangers to face Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli and here is everything you need to know

Spare a thought for Czech side Viktoria Plzen.

They have been drawn with three European powerhouses. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter Milan.

I'm sure their supporters will be looking forward to these sides coming to town but it will be far from an easy task.

No, Celtic fans. It wasn't all a dream. You will be up against the current Champions League holders...

Both Carlo Ancelotti and Karim Benzema picked up awards after the draw.

And Ancelotti has been full of praise for his star striker.

Karim is not only a striker, not only top scorer, he is a fantastic football player - he supports this with a great attitutde, day by day, this year he improved his knowledge, he knows really well the game, and his leadership.

He is a strong leader in the dressing room and a good friend of mine. We are lucky to have Karim.

TalkSPORT broadcaster Jim White has shared his verdict on the draw with the tie between Rangers and Liverpool the centre of attention.

It will be the first time the pair have met in European competition.

Due to the condensed schedule as a result of this winter's World Cup, the group stage begins in just 12 days time.

How exciting!

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas has won Uefa Women's Player of the Year. Putellas is the current Ballon d'Or holder and missed the Euros earlier this year after tearing her ACL.

While it's a clean sweep for Real Madrid in the men's awards. Karim Benzema is crowned Player of the Year after pipping Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne who were also nominated.

Reacting to winning Uefa Men's Coach of the Year, Carlo Ancelotti has hailed a special connection between staff and players at Real Madrid.

Last season was a special season. There was a special connection between the experienced and the young players, then a fantastic chemistry with the supporters in our stadium."

Celtic captain Callum McGregor was praying to have the opportunity to face Real Madrid prior to the draw.

And he's got his wish.

The sides last met in during a European Cup tie in 1980 and Real had to fightback from 2-0 down to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

This is certainly a game that tickets will be hard to come by when Benzema and Co visit Parkhead.

There are so many mouthwatering ties ahead for Celtic and Rangers.

You can't rule out anyone who reaches the group stage but Ange Postecoglou's men will fancy their chances in Group F having watched Rangers progress past RB Leipzig in last year's Europa League.

England's Euro 2022 winning manager Sarina Wiegman has been named the Uefa Women's Coach of the Year!

Meanwhile Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti picks up the Men's Coach of the Year. He guided the La Liga giants to a record 14th Champions League title last season.

We did say it didn't stop with the draw and we will have all the reaction to Celtic and Rangers finding out they will be facing the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid in the coming weeks.

But we will also keep you updated with all the winners of the awards. The UEFA men's and women's coach of the year trophies are away to be given out.

A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers

B: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Leverkusen, Club Brugge

C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzen

D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham, Sporting, Marseille

E: Milan, Chelsea, Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb

F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic

G: Man. City, Sevilla, Dortmund, Copenhagen

H: PSG, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa

Talk about glamour?

And a reunion with Calvin Bassey

A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli

B: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Leverkusen

C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan

D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham, Sporting

E: Milan, Chelsea, Salzburg

F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk

G: Man. City, Sevilla, Dortmund

H: PSG, Juventus, Benfica

F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic

The dream draw for many!

Lewandowski going back to Bayern?

Barcelona's new star is facing his old club who will be hell bent on teaching him a lesson.

A: Ajax, Liverpool

B: Porto, Atletico Madrid

C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona

D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham

E: Milan, Chelsea

F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig

G: Man. City, Sevilla

H: PSG, Juventus

Group A: Ajax

Group B: Porto

Group C: Bayern

Group D: Eintracht

Group E: AC Milan

Group F: Real Madrid

Group G: Manchester City

Group H: PSG

Yaya, is a dab hand and popping the balls and he's making good pace.

No doubt, too fast for his muckers at UEFA, who are going at their usual sedate pace!

I think punters would pay 20 quid to get this over with in five minutes.

Don't make us tap the window!

We jest, there is no window and we're delighted to tell you again.

Pot 1 - Real Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, PSG, Porto, Ajax

The big boys!

Eintracht Frankfurt are in the place Rangers came so close to landing before they came up short in the Europa League Final.

A mixture of penicl pushers and former stars to make the draw.

It's Champions League draw time, BAAAABBBYYY!

The Gazprom's are here

And Altintop has praised the "great people at UEFA who organise it" when asked about how excited he was for the tournament group stage draw commencing.

I'm not sure how valid that comment is considering how the last Champions League final turned out in Paris.

Liverpool vs Milan was a corker in 2005 and the host has missed out in 2020 and 2021 but the time is coming.

A lot of fun will be had but it's quite the journey.

Joking away with Altintop and Yaya Toure but no one will be smiling if this is still going on tomorrow morning!

We jest, but UEFA are the KIngs of time wasting and put the players to shame.

The legendary Milan coach is receiving a lifetime achievement award.

He was known for his coaching brilliance in both attack and defence and his fantastic team won the Champions League twice.

Along with the group stage draw we are all waiting patiently for there's also several awards up for grabs...

Those awards are UEFA Men's and Women's Player of the Year for 2021-22 and UEFA Men's and Women's Coach of the Year.

The nominees are as follows:

Men's Player of the Year - Karim Benzema, Thibaut Courtois & Kevin De Bruyne

Women's Player of the Year - Beth Mead, Lena Oberdorf & Alexia Putellas

Men's Coach of the Year - Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola & Jurgen Klopp

Women's Coach of the Year - Sonia Bompastor, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg & Sarina Wiegman

Aleksander Ceferin is here, the UEFA kingpin, and he's ready to blether!

Get the kettle on.

The master of time wasting has some recap clips to keep us all waiting for our dinner.

We know you're game!

Not a bad person to have cheering you on!

Max Verstappen has admitted it was “painful” to see his beloved PSV get knocked out of the Champions League by Rangers.

The Formula 1 world champion watched on as compatriot Gio van Bronckhors masterminded a 1-0 second leg win in the Philips Stadion to send the Ibrox club through to the lucrative group stage at the expense of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men. Antonio Colak ’s second half strike was enough after the sides played out a 2-2 draw in Govan last week. Many made PSV favourites to progress, but Rangers produced a fantastic display to ensure they joined city rivals Celtic in tonight’s group stage draw in Istanbul.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen is rooting for Rangers in Champions League due to Gio but he’s in pain for PSV

It's 15 years since both Celtic and Rangers were in the pots at the same time.

And it's five years since any Scottish team was in this competition.

But we're only five minutes from the start of the draw proper.

HERE WE GO!

But will he be back to enjoy the riches of the Champions League group stage?

El Bufalo is Rangers royalty in Europe but now faces a fight back to relevance in light blue.

Antonio Colak is the man with the shirt moving forward but Morelos is keen to mend fences quickly.

He is throwing his support behind his team-mates, in the wake of his glory night.

BT's Jake Humphrey says the draw "will be in 20 minutes"

He would be universally popular if that prediction comes through.

Stay with us for all the latest!

• Man City - 5/2

• Liverpool - 11/2

• PSG - 11/2

• Bayern Munich - 13/2

• Real Madrid - 10/1

• Barcelona - 14/1

• Chelsea - 16/1

• Tottenham - 20/1

• Barcelona - 40/1

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Here we go, the good stuff is coming (hopefully) soon!

Celtic and Rangers are about to find out their fate and we will be with you LIVE and direct from Istanbul.

Well, so say the public on UEFA's official website ahead of the draw.

Rangers sit on 33 per cent, one ahead of Marseille when it comes to the most dangerous side lurking in wait.

Celtic have plenty backing, ranked at 14 per cent - ahead of the five other sides hoping to make a telling impact despite their seeding disadvantage.

Good question, both teams are in Pot 4, so the same foes lie in wait.

Pot 1 - Real Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, PSG, Porto, Ajax.

Pot 2 - Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, RB Leipzig, Tottenham.

Pot 3 - Borussia Dortmund, RB Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan, Napoli, Sporting Lisbon, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica.

Pot 4 -Celtic, Club Brugge, Maccabi Haifa, Viktoria Plzen, Marseille, Copenhagen, Dinamo Zagreb, Rangers.