Champions League group stage draw: Newcastle get PSG, Dortmund and Milan – as it happened | Champions League

Report and groups in full

Right, this is where we bid you farewell for today’s Champions League draw blog. See the full draw in the pinned post above, and all the reaction – including those comments from Wiegman and Bonmati – below. Until next time!

Manchester United have got Bayern Munich again (don’t mention the 1999 final, don’t mention the 1999 final, don’t mention th-) and the aptly-named Duncan Edwards points out on email that in 1998/99 “Bayern, Man United, Barcelona, Brondby was not exactly a group of life” – which is true.

Rashy is excited, at least.

Some emails now – and it’s Group of Death/Newcastle chat:

Kári Tulinius: “I was discussing with a friend and we cannot remember a stronger group than PSG, Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle. Is this the all-time deathiest group of death?”

Stephen Mackie: “As a Toon fan returning to the Champions League after a such a long time I think I wanted either the easiest possible group to increase chances of getting to the knockouts, or the hardest possible group to make every game an occasion. Be careful what you wish for I guess!”

John Davis: “Dan Burn last min header at the San Siro, Elliot Anderson jinking run and finish at the Westfalenstadion and Sean Longstaff tracking back with Mbappe at the Parc des Princes, nicking the ball then running 70 yards and smashing it in from outside the area. I’ve seen the future and it’s beautiful”.”

Erling Haaland hits a rather lighter note. He admits “Pep can be scary” with a laugh and a smile as he accepts his award.

A rough translation of Bonmati’s speech:

These are not good times in Spanish football, there are things that we cannot let go of. As a society we should not allow the abuse of power, the lack of respect, we are with Jenni and with all the women who have gone through the same thing.

Here’s the latest on the Spanish football federation scandal, with another twist set to unfold.

The Uefa women’s player of the year is Aitana Bonmatí.

That is announced at the same time as the men’s player of the year, who is Erling Haaland.

Wiegman message on Spanish football scandal

Possibly the toughest group to call is Group D; the combination of Benfica, Inter, Salzburg and Sociedad seems well balanced. Celtic also have a shot in Group E alongside Feyenoord, Atleti and Lazio. We’ve got some lovely old school European Cup ties in that one.

“It’s very special what we’ve done, it’s all about quality,” parps Wiegman, who collects her award with trademark modesty.

Arsenal will be quietly happy with their draw, as they make a first Champions League group stage appearance since 2016/17. Sevilla are canny operators in Europe but PSV and Lens are well beatable.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has been named Uefa men’s coach of the year, inevitably. He cannot be present as he recovers from surgery. The women’s coach of the year is Sarina Wiegman – a second consecutive such prize for the Lionesses’ head honcho.

Back on stage, Miroslav Klose is presented with the Uefa President’s Award for fair play.

And breathe! Goodness me, Newcastle fans, a penny for your thoughts? Some of Europe’s biggest arenas will be on the Toon Army’s travel itineraries over the next few months, that’s for sure. From a football perspective, Eddie Howe’s men have their work cut out.

Of the English clubs, though, maybe fans of Manchester United have the best travel experience, with trips to Munich, Copenhagen and Istanbul in store.

Full draw summary

The last team out in the entire draw is Royal Antwerp, who go into Group H.

Lens are in Group B.

Celtic go into Group E.

Eeesh.

Young Boys find themselves in Group G.

Whipping Boys, more like.

Union Berlin are making their Champions League debut and get drawn in Group C.

Galatasaray go into Group A. Some big games in there. We’ll recap these two groups of death shortly.

Newcastle! They’re in Group F. Shocker for them. Groans around the room.

Back to the draw and Pot 4.

Real Sociedad go into Group D (Benfica, Inter, Salzburg).

An email answering that pesky Pot 3/4 question from earlier. Chris Francis says:

AC Milan won it in 2003 after starting in Pot 3. Apparently Mourinho has coached two Pot 2 teams to the trophy but never won it with a Pot 1 team. Likes the siege mentality!

Finally from the Pot 3 sides, it’s Braga of Portugal who slot into Group C with Napoli and Real Madrid.

Good to see Lazio in tonight’s draw, a welcome return to the Champions League for them. They’re in Group E. Copenhagen are also out of the hat and will be in Group A.

Salzburg go into Group D. Bit of a meh group so far.

(AC) Milan are in a HEAVYWEIGHT Group F with PSG and Dortmund. Woof.

PSV are in Arsenal and Sevilla’s Group.

Next out is Crvena Zvezda AKA Red Star Belgrade – with Joe Cole preferring to say the latter. They’ll play in Group G with City and Leipzig.