UEFA Champions League 2021-22: All that you need to know
What's the story
The UEFA Champions League 2021-22 season is all set to start from Tuesday onwards.
Matchday 1 promises several cracking matches with Barcelona facing 2019-20 champions Bayern Munich in Group E.
Six-time winners Liverpool will host seven-time champions AC Milan in Group B.
Meanwhile, Serie A champions Inter Milan are up against Real Madrid in Group D.
Here we bring you the key details.
Groups
A look at the UCL groups (A-F)
Group A: Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Club Brugge
Group B: Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, FC Porto, AC Milan
Group C: Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas
Group D: Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Sheriff Tiraspol
Group E: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kiev
Group F: Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys
Duo
Ronaldo and Messi to make new starts
Cristiano Ronaldo re-joined Manchester United from Juventus.
The former Real Madrid ace has scored the most UCL goals in the history of the competition (134).
Ronaldo had appeared in the UCL 2008-09 final for United against Barcelona.
Besides five-time UCL winner Ronaldo, the legendary Lionel Messi will start a new chapter with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi will want to taste European success once again.
Chelsea
Holders Chelsea will be the team to watch out for
Thomas Tuchel enjoyed success by helping Chelsea win the 2020-21 Champions League title.
The Blues beat Manchester City in the final.
Chelsea are a dominant force and added the UEFA Super Cup to the tally.
With the purchase of Romelu Lukaku and bolstering the mid-field by getting Saul Niguez, Chesea have gone one step ahead.
They face Zenit in the opening group fixture.
Players
Lewandowski eyes a superb feat, Muller nearing 50-goal mark
Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski has been in top form.
He has been sensational across the last two seasons and the start to 2021-22 is commendable.
Lewandowski has 73 UCL goals and will eye to become the third player with 75-plus goals in the competitions alongside Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who has 71.
Thomas Muller (48) is two shy of 50 UCL goals.
Information
UCL 2021-22: Live telecast in India
The UCL 2021-22 group stage draw fixtures will be telecast live on the Sony Network in India. The fixtures can also be streamed online on the Sony LIV app (paid subscription).