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Champions League: Tottenham meet holders Real Madrid in group stage

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments660

Real Madrid
Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 in June's Champions League final in Cardiff to lift the trophy for the 12th time - and for the third time in four seasons

Tottenham will face holders Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages.

Spurs were drawn in Group H alongside the Spanish giants, German side Borussia Dortmund and Apoel of Cyprus.

The draw pits the Premier League runners-up against Wales winger Gareth Bale, who left Spurs for Real in 2013.

Spurs start at Wembley against Dortmund, before travelling to Cyprus and Spain. They then host Real and visit Germany before ending the group stage of the competition against Apoel.

Scottish champions Celtic face a tough test in a group with Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Anderlecht.

Brendan Rodgers' side host PSG, then travel to Belgium, before a double header with Bayern. They then go to Paris before hosting Anderlecht in Group B.

Premier League champions Chelsea have been drawn to play Atletico Madrid, Roma and Qarabag in Group C - starting their campaign at home against the Azerbaijan champions.

And Europa League winners Manchester United face Benfica, Basel and CSKA Moscow in Group A, with their first match at home against the Swiss.

Manchester City, who finished third in the Premier League last season, are up against Shakhtar Donetsk, Napoli and Feyenoord in Group F - starting against the Dutch champions.

While Liverpool, who beat Hoffenheim in a play-off to secure their place in the draw in Monaco, will meet Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Maribor in Group E, with the Spanish side visiting Anfield first.

The group stages begin on 12-13 September.

Five English clubs are contesting the group stage of a Champions League campaign for the first time.

The last time six British teams qualified for the group stages was in 2007-08, when English sides Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were joined by Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers. The final saw Sir Alex Ferguson's United beat Avram Grant's Chelsea on penalties.

Groups at a glance

Group A: Benfica, Manchester United, Basel, CSKA Moscow

Group B: Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Anderlecht, Celtic

Group C: Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Qarabag

Group D: Juventus, Barcelona, Olympiakos, Sporting

Group E: Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, Liverpool, Maribor

Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City, Napoli, Feyenoord

Group G: Monaco, Porto, Besiktas, RB Leipzig

Group H: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, Apoel

When are the group stage match days?

Match day one: 12-13 September

Match day two: 26-27 September

Match day three: 17-18 October

Match day four: 31 October-1 November

Match day five: 21-22 November

Match day six: 5-6 December

Comments

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660 comments

  • Comment posted by Lorimer, at 18:19 24 Aug 2017

    I'm not saying Celtic are out of their depth, but they'll probably finish 5th in that group.

  • Comment posted by avp1982, at 18:12 24 Aug 2017

    As a Spurs fan I cannot wait. I have tickets for all the home group stage games.

    Playing teams like Real and Dortmund is what the CL should be all about!!

  • Comment posted by Itsonlymyopinion, at 18:16 24 Aug 2017

    Not a Spurs supporter, but boy would I love to see them turnover Real Madrid.

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 18:17 24 Aug 2017

    If you're a Scot and want Celtic to lose in europe or English and want an English team to crash out then you're pathetic. Celtic winning the European cup with a team all born in Glasgow, Liverpool dominating Europe in the 80's and SAF building Aberdeen into an European winning side,who beat R.Mad over 2 legs, with very little before making United one of the great side makes me proud to be British.

  • Comment posted by SamB, at 18:14 24 Aug 2017

    United should be embarrassed not to top that group

    Liverpool should qualify but face a battle with Sevilla for top spot

    Not an easy group for City but should come top

    Chelsea with a tough group but should qualify, maybe 2nd

    Enjoy europa league Spurs

  • Comment posted by The Citizen, at 18:14 24 Aug 2017

    Benfica have an fairly easy group, which includes a mid-table club that only got into the competition through the back door

  • Comment posted by AndyC_MK, at 19:01 24 Aug 2017

    To reply to all the p*ss takers on here - Celtic, Spurs- enjoy your big games.

    As a United fan, I'm jealous you're playing some of Europes best this early on; Wembley and Parkhead will be absolutely buzzing for the likes of PSG, Bayern, Real & Dortmund coming to town.

    Games against Basel & CSKA Moscow have nowhere near the same kind of glamour and glitz.

  • Comment posted by ArthurTwoSheds, at 18:19 24 Aug 2017

    23
    No such thing as an easy group,but bye bye Celtic thanks for coming.
    ----------------
    I love that people are so upset that Celtic qualified. Especially from glory hunters that support billionaire-owned clubs which somehow gives them some kind of superiority complex.

  • Comment posted by D1679499959019, at 18:11 24 Aug 2017

    How did Manchester United get such an easy draw?

  • Comment posted by RG_Dave2013, at 19:38 24 Aug 2017

    Nothing ever changes does it, Spurs get Real Madrid, Celtic get PSG, Man U get the Dog and duck,

  • Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 20:50 24 Aug 2017

    Best story of the night is to see little Ostersunds of Sweden, with English manager Graham Potter and ex-Hamilton Accies boss Billy Reid as assistant, come from 2 down to beat PAOK after seeing off Galatasaray in the last round. They are now in the group stages of the Europa League. Well done.

  • Comment posted by Paul, at 18:44 24 Aug 2017

    Man U with their customary piss-easy group!!

  • Comment posted by User0130358822, at 18:18 24 Aug 2017

    Who did Arsenal get ? ......oh,yeah.....

  • Comment posted by Olly, at 18:14 24 Aug 2017

    I don't remember the last time United got a difficult group. Luck or corruption?

  • Comment posted by D1710810867791, at 18:15 24 Aug 2017

    Spurs season and Champions League campaign will all depend on their home form. Fergie always said the Champions League especially the group stages was about winning your home games.

    Maybe Real is the gltiz part of the group stages but above and beyond this is beating BD home and away.

    I wish Spurs all the best, they have a great squad in what could be a tough season playing at Wembley.

  • Comment posted by Gazmatron, at 18:23 24 Aug 2017

    Sweet draw for Liverpool. Its just nice to be in the mix.

    Spurs vs Real at Wembley will be something! Bale against his old club

  • Comment posted by tatlock, at 21:00 24 Aug 2017

    @364, why is mocking Celtic anti-Irish?? All the other clubs get absolutely pelted on here, from opposition fans, its just football. Yet as soon as Celtic get a bit of stick, it is assumed to be political, racist or sectarian. What a sad state of affairs. Get it straight. Celtic are just a football club like all the others in Scotland, Rangers, Hearts, Dundee etc.

  • Comment posted by D1690815919454, at 18:57 24 Aug 2017

    At least Spurs got as far as the draw

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 18:16 24 Aug 2017

    Be funny if Man Utd blow it again as it practically a bye

  • Comment posted by Garlax, at 21:33 24 Aug 2017

    Spurs by far got harder group than any other English team. I think with Liverpool also being 3rd seeds their group is pretty good. Apart from Athletico Madrid being in same group as Chelsea I think the English clubs should all be pleased as they could have been tougher.

    Few tough games for Celtic. You'd expect them to battle for 3rd but they've had good results against big teams before so...

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