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    2021-22 UEFA Champions League draw, soccer odds: Betting favorites Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City in same group

    The draw for the 2021-22 Champions League was released on Thursday, and a Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo matchup appears in the cards for the group stage.
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    It is a massive day in the soccer world as not only did UEFA hold the 32-team draw for the 2021-22 Champions League campaign, but superstar Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly near leaving Italian club Juventus to join English Premier League side Manchester City in a seismic shift similar to Lionel Messi's recent move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. That French club (PSG) is the +275 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook to win the Champions League.

    The 32 teams were drawn from four different pots; the main "pot" was Pot 1, which was comprised of the defending Champions League winner in Chelsea, the Europa League champion (Villarreal) and the regular-season champions of leagues in England (Manchester City), France (Lille), Germany (Bayern Munich), Italy (Bayern Munich), Portugal (Sporting CP) and Spain (Atletico Madrid).

    For obvious reasons, UEFA wants those clubs in all separate groups so as to not create a "Group of Death," although there always ends up being one regardless. Frankly, though, Pot 2 was likely stronger this year: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund.

    The 32 teams, made up of 26 automatic qualifiers and six playoff winners, are split into eight groups, A through H. Each team plays six group-stage matches (one home, one away vs. other clubs in group) and the two top in each advance to the Round of 16. The final is at Saint Petersburg Stadium in Russia next May. It is the second time that Russia will be hosting the final final, after Manchester United beat Chelsea there in 2008.

    The big storyline immediately is PSG and Manchester City both in Group A – meaning Messi, a six-time world player of the year, against Ronaldo, a five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, assuming the Ronaldo move is finalized. The summer transfer window closes Aug. 31 so it must happen by then. Man City beat PSG in the 2021 semifinals. While PSG is 2021-22 tournament favorite, Man City is second at +350.

    The overseas media seems to believe that Group B with Atletico Madrid (+2500 to win tournament), Liverpool (+800), Porto (+10000) and AC Milan (+6600) is the deepest. That group features 15 Champions League winners and 25 final appearances between them.

    You can catch all the UEFA Champions League action on Paramount+, which now has two plans. The Essential Plan costs $4.99 per month to access Paramount's catalog of movies and TV shows with limited advertisements, plus your live local NFL games, international soccer and more. The Premium Plan is $9.99 per month and you can watch your local CBS live stream with no ads, on demand and the ability to download episodes for offline viewing. Both plans come with a free week to start, so sign up now here.  

    Champions League Groups

    • Group A: Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Club Brugge
    • Group B: Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, AC Milan
    • Group C: Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas
    • Group D: Internazionale, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sheriff Tiraspol
    • Group E: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv
    • Group F: Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys
    • Group G: Lille, Sevilla, Salzburg, Wolfsburg
    • Group H: Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit, Malmo

    Champions League Schedule

    • September 14-15: Group stage, Matchday 1
    • September 28-29: Group stage, Matchday 2
    • October 19-20: Group stage, Matchday 3
    • November 2-3: Group stage, Matchday 4
    • November 23-24: Group stage, Matchday 5
    • December 7-8: Group stage, Matchday 6
    • December 13: Round of 16 draw
    • February 15-16 & 22-23: Round of 16, first legs
    • March 8-9 & 15-16: Round of 16, second legs
    • March 18: Quarter-final & Semi-final draw
    • April 5-6: Quarter-finals, first legs
    • April 12-13: Quarter-finals, second legs
    • April 26-27: Semi-finals, first legs
    • May 3-4: Semi-finals, second legs
    • May 28: Final – Saint Petersburg Stadium (Russia)

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    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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