#UCLDRAW

2019/20 Champions League groups set; Van Dijk, Messi among UEFA Awards winners

Victor Araiza
Aug 29, 2019, 1:24 pm
Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus are among the contenders for the UEFA Champions League trophy. Credit: Adidas

The eight groups for the 2019/20 edition of the UEFA Champions League have been announced following Thursday's draw in Monaco. Teams will face each other home and away over the course of four months with the two group winners advancing to the Round of 16 stage in February.

The 2020 UEFA Champions League Final will take place on May 30 at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.

Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray

Group B: Bayern München, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympiacos, Crvena zvezda

Group C: Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta

Group D: Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moskva

Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, Salzburg, Genk

Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Internazionale Milano, Slavia Praha

Group G: Zenit, Benfica, Lyon, RB Leipzig

Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, LOSC Lille

UEFA Awards winners

A build up to the draw the announcement of the award winners for the previous season. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, champions after a win over Tottenham Hotspur in this past June, were among those taking home personal honors.

Men's Player of the Year - Virgil van Dijk
Forward of the Season - Leo Messi
Midfielder of the Season - Frenkie de Jong
Defender of the Season - Virgil van Dijk
Goalkeeper of the Season - Alisson Becker

Sights and sounds

Part of the glamour of the draw is how much of a star-studded affair it becomes, the highlight of this year's edition being the reunion of rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Of course, both were flown in via a private helicopter.


The "group of death" may be fitting for Group F where Barcelona, Dortmund and Inter Milan all have cases to advance as top of the group. Czech side Slavia Prague is, without question, the weakest link of the group and their staff know their odds to advance are small.

Manchester United Legend Eric Cantona was present to receive the President's Award, though you wouldn't guess it was him if you saw him walking down the street.

The UEFA Champions League group stage begins on September 17 and will be broadcast in the United States through the TNT / B/R Live in English and Univision / TUDN in Spanish.

uefa champions league cristiano ronaldo messi real madrid juventus fc barcelona chelsea manchester united manchester city bayern munich dortmund liverpool fc inter milan ajax #ucldraw soccer

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The Goal Scientist to H-Town

Houston Dynamo pick up former Liga MX star Darwin Quintero

Quintero had 21 goals and 20 assists in 57 MLS appearances with Minnesota United FC. Credit: Minnesota United FC

Colombian forward Carlos Darwin Quintero is on his way to the Houston Dynamo after a trade with Minnesota United FC, the club announced Wednesday. Quintero was one of Mexico's prime goalscorers during his time with Santos Laguna and Club America, winning a total of five club trophies, prior to his 2018 move to Major League Soccer.

Quintero made the jump across the border at the beginning of the 2018 MLS season, joining Minnesota for a reported $200,000 transfer fee. The 32-year-old forward commanded a salary of $1,750,000.08 in 2019, according figures published by the MLS Players Association.

"The Goal Scientist" announced his departure from Minnesota United FC via Twitter on Monday, despite reports that MNUFC held a club option on his contract.

The Athletic first reported details of the potential trade, citing that the clubs had come to terms pending a deal between the player and the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo also picked up Minnesota's third round draft pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for forward Marlon Hairston and a total of $600,000 in Allocation Money - $150,000 in TAM and $150,000 in GAM each in 2020 and 2021.

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