The UEFA Champions League 2022-23 group stage draw grabbed headlines after pitting FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in one group.

Barcelona, Inter and Bayern Munich have been clubbed with Viktoria Plzen in Group C, which is considered as the Group of Death for the upcoming UCL group stage.

It is worth noting that Barcelona and Bayern Munich were drawn together previously in Group E during the UEFA Champions League 2021-22 group stage. Bayern ended up beating the Blaugrana 3-0 in both group games and relegating the Catalans to the Europa League.

Robert Lewandowski, who scored 69 Champions League goals for Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2022, will face his former employers in the UCL 2022-23 group stage.

Inter Milan, who crashed out in the Round of 16, will fancy their opportunity to qualify for the knockout phase.

Another group that football fans must watch out for is Group G. Premier League champions Manchester City have been drawn with Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen.

Erling Haaland, who joined City from Dortmund earlier this year, couldn’t have asked for an earlier reunion with his former side. Having set the records for the youngest (20 years, 231 days) and the fastest player (14 matches) to score 20 UCL goals while at Borussia Dortmund, all eyes will be fixed on the Norwegian striker to see how he performs against Die Borussen.

Liverpool, who won UCL 2018�9, will play in Group A alongside Ajax, Napoli and Rangers while Chelsea have been drawn with AC Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb in Group E.

Group H features Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus while Atlético Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur will be the favourites to qualify from Group B and Group D respectively.

Meanwhile, defending champions Real Madrid will begin their quest for a 15th European crown while taking on the likes of RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic in Group F.

UEFA Champions League 2022-23 group stage draw

Group A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers

Group B: Porto, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Club Brugge

Group C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzeň

Group D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting CP, Marseille

Group E: AC Milan, Chelsea, RB Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb

Group F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic

Group G: Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, Copenhagen

Group H: Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa

Featured photo: AFP / OZAN KOSE

Liverpool host Benfica in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2021-22 quarter-final at Anfield in the early hours of Thursday, April 14. The match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST.

Jurgen Klopp’s men head into Thursday's fixture with a great advantage, having already beaten the Primeira Liga giants 3-1 in the first leg.

Liverpool have a fully-fit squad to work with, meaning that the likes of Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah will all retain their places for the second leg tie. 

Similarly, Benfica also have a majority of their first-team regulars available for the fixture. On top of that, veteran defender Jan Vertonghen will be available for selection and the former Tottenham man is most likely to line up alongside Nicolas Otamendi at the back.

Liverpool vs Benfica odds for UEFA Champions League 2021-22

Liverpool: 1.28

Benfica: 9.80

Draw: 5.90

Click here to check football betting odds.

Note: Odds are subject to change.

Liverpool vs Benfica recent form

Liverpool are coming on the back of a 2-2 away draw against Manchester City in the Premier League. Before that, the team won each of their last five games across all competitions.

Benfica, on the other hand, have lost two of their last three matches including their first leg home defeat. 

Liverpool: D, W, W, W, W

Benfica: W, L, L, W, W

Liverpool vs Benfica head-to-head

Since their first-ever meeting in March 1978, Liverpool and Benfica have played a total of 11 matches, with the Reds winning seven while Befinca have managed four victories. None of their 11 matches have been drawn.

Between 2006 to 2010, the two teams squared off on as many as four occasions. During this time, Benfica defeated Liverpool three times. Their last two meetings, however, have ended in Liverpool’s favour.

Liverpool vs Benfica tips and prediction for UEFA Champions League 2021-22

Since January 2022, Liverpool have lost just one home match across all competitions which justifies why odds are in their favour. As for Benfica, their form away from home has been a little shaky, with the team managing only two victories in their last 12 away matches in the competition.

Featured photo: AFP / Carlos Costa

The UEFA Champions League 2021-22 quarter-final and semi-final draw will be held at the UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, March 18.

Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Villareal and defending champions Chelsea are the eight teams that have qualified for the quarter-finals.

While six-time champions Bayern thrashed RB Salzburg 8-2 on aggregate over two rounds in their round of 16 clash, Premier League side Liverpool edged out Inter 2-1 on aggregate to secure their place in the last eight.

On the other hand, 13-time winners Real Madrid registered an epic comeback to stun star-studded Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-2 on aggregate over two legs to seal their spot in the quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City hammered Sporting 5-0 on aggregate while their city rivals Manchester United suffered a 1-2 defeat against Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid to be knocked out of the tournament.

Reigning champions Chelsea and La Liga side Villareal secured 4-1 victories on aggregate over Lille and Juventus respectively to book their place in the UCL 2021-22 quarter-final.

In another round of 16 clash, Benfica pipped Ajax 3-2 on aggregate over two legs to seal their place in the last eight.

As per the format of the draw, any team can face the other side in the final eight irrespective of their country’s origin or past fixtures in the ongoing season.

The matches will be played in home and away format in quarter-finals and semi-finals with no away goals rules a part of the competition anymore.

Where to watch UCL 2021-22 quarter-final and semi-final draw live in India?

The UEFA Champions League 2021-22 quarter-final and semi-final draw will be telecast live at 4:30 PM IST on Sony TEN 2 and their corresponding HD TV Channel on Friday, March 18.

Live streaming of UCL 2021-22 quarter-final and semi-final draw will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.

Featured photo: OZAN KOSE / AFP

Scottish giants Rangers and Northern Ireland’s Linfield share the record for most league titles by European club.

The Gers have won the Scottish Premiership a record 55 times, with their recent triumph coming under the tutelage of Steven Gerrard in the 2020-21 season.

Rangers�title triumph was their first in 10 years, and they went unbeaten in the entire campaign, matching the feat previously achieved by Brendan Rodgers' Celtic in 2016-17.

Linfield, on the other hand, matched Rangers�tally as they completed a hat-trick of league titles with the 2020-21 NIFL Premiership. It is also the second time the Blues registered a hat-trick of league crowns (2009�0, 2010�1, 2011�2).

While the Belfast-based club has 55 league championships in their trophy room, Linfield have won seven titles in the revised tournament.

The top five list further includes Celtic (51), Olympiacos (46) and Benfica (37).

Most league titles by European club

Team	Country	Titles	Last Title Win
Rangers	Scotland	55	2020-21
Linfield	Northern Ireland	55	2020-21
Celtic	Scotland	51	2019-20
Olympiacos	Greece	46	2020-21
Benfica	Portugal	37	2018-19

Most league titles by European club (Top five leagues)

Juventus holds the record for most league titles by European clubs in the top-five leagues - Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A.

The Bianconeri have lifted the Scudetto 36 times, with their last league success in the 2019-20 season. Juventus won the Serie A a record nine times between 2011-12 and 2019-20 before Inter Milan broke the streak in 2020-21.

Real Madrid are the next club in the list of most successful league teams among Europe’s best. The Los Blancos have won the La Liga a whopping 34 times while they were declared winners of the Spanish league last in 2019-20.

Bayern Munich comes in third with 30 league titles. The Bavarians have failed to win the Bundesliga just three times in the 21 century, having finished runners-up in 2003�4, 2008�9 and 2011�2. Since the 2012-13 campaign, Bayern have won every German championship.

Manchester United (20), Saint Etienne and Marseille (joint 10) complete the top-five list of most league titles by a European club across the top five leagues.

While Man Utd’s last title win came in the final managerial season of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2012-13, Marseille’s last Ligue 1 championship was back in 2009�0.

Based on the current standings in Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain are set to win a record-equalling 10th title by the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Most league titles by European club (Top five leagues)

Team	Country	Titles	Last Title Win
Juventus	Italy	36	2019-20
Real Madrid	Spain	34	2019-20
Bayern Munich	Germany	30	2020-21
Manchester United	England	20	2012-13
Saint Etienne, Marseille	France	10	1980-81 / 2009�0

Author: William Paul

The first leg schedule of the UEFA Champions League 2021-22 round of 16 will kick off with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hosting Real Madrid (RM) on Wednesday, February 16.

PSG, who finished second in Group A, will lock horns with Real Madrid in the round of 16 for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign. The first leg meeting will be played at the Parc des Princes. Watch live in India!

The next big game in the schedule is Liverpool’s hosting of Inter Milan. Six-time winners Liverpool were one of the three teams to have a 100 per cent winning record in the group stages and will entertain an Inter side that last won against the Merseysiders back in May 1965.

Defending champions Chelsea, recently crowned the FIFA Club World Cup champions, will face Ligue 1 side Lille OSC.

The last standout fixture in the first leg schedule of the UEFA Champions League 2021-22 round of 16 sees Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid take on Manchester United.

Both sides have had a topsy-turvy campaign so far in their respective domestic leagues, but, this fixture is surely one to not miss out on considering Cristiano Ronaldo returns to face one of his favourite opponents.

UEFA Champions League 2021-22 round of 16 first leg: Schedule, fixtures and India match times

All match times are in Indian Standard Time

Wednesday, February 16

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid - 1:30 AM IST

Sporting CP vs Manchester City - 1:30 AM IST

Thursday, February 17

Inter Milan vs Liverpool - 1:30 AM IST

RB Salzburg vs Bayern Munich - 1:30 AM IST

Wednesday, February 23

Chelsea vs Lille OSC - 1:30 AM IST

Villarreal vs Juventus - 1:30 AM IST

Thursday, February 24

Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United - 1:30 AM IST

Benfica vs Ajax - 1:30 AM IST

Where to watch UCL 2021-22 round of 16 first leg live in India?

The UEFA Champions League 2021-22 round of 16 first leg will be telecast live at 1:30 AM IST on the Sony TEN 1 and Sony TEN 2 SD and HD TV channels in India.

Live streaming of UCL 2021-22 round of 16 first leg will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.

Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates from the world of sports!

Interested in football betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.

Featured photo: AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS

It’s a long way to go for the Primeira Liga’s defending champions, FC Porto, as they sit 10 points adrift of the current league leaders Sporting CP, the former club of Manchester United’s midfield general Bruno Fernandes, as the league approaches its 24th matchweek.

Sporting CP are the only team in Portugal’s premier football competition who are yet to lose a game this season, winning 19 of the 23 matches so far. The last time they dropped points was against Porto, who knocked Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus out of the UEFA Champions League. 

As things stand, it’s been a tough competition for the second UCL spot, with both SC Braga and SL Benfica giving Porto a run for their money. A mere three points separate fourth-placed Benfica to Porto.

This fight could well and truly have its winner this weekend when Braga host Benfica at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. Apart from this big game, there is also a scrappy fight going on for the relegation strugglers, with only six points separating bottom-placed SC Farense to 10th placed B-SAD.

It’s been a refreshing change of guard for the fans of Primeira Liga; a league that has been dominated by Porto and Benfica since the 2002-03 season. It was in the 2001-02 season when a team apart from Porto and Benfica had won the title. Incidentally, Sporting won it back then.

Primeira Liga match week 24 schedule, fixtures and India match times

Date, Day	Match	Time (IST)
Saturday, March 20	Gil Vicente vs Nacional	2:00 AM
Saturday, March 20	Pacos Ferreira vs Moreirense	9:00 PM
Saturday, March 20	Santa Clara vs Tondela	9:00 PM
Saturday, March 20	Portimonense vs Porto	11:30 PM
Sunday, March 21	Sporting vs Vitoria SC	2:00 AM
Sunday, March 21	Rio Ave vs B-SAD	8:30 PM
Sunday, March 21	Boavista vs Farense	11:00 PM
Sunday, March 21	Maritimo vs Famalico	11:00 PM
Monday, March 22	Braga vs Benfica	1:30 AM

Portugal’s Primeira Liga will not be broadcast in India.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Miguel Riopa

The final draw for the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League 2019-2020 is out and the English teams might be in for a bumpy ride in the upcoming months. Manchester United are up against Club Brugge who have landed in the Europa League after bowing out at the group stage in the Champions League this season.  

Arsenal have a sturdy rival in Olympiacos and hopefully will be playing under Mikel Arteta who is currently in talks with the Arsenal executives for a move to North London. After some horrendous performances in the Premier League, the Gunners are surely expected to make Europa League their top priority going forward in this season.

"You are always going to get tough games as you head into the knockout stages. We are hoping to go through to the last 16."

The #MUFC manager's reaction to the #UELdraw

�Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 16, 2019

Another Premier League side who has emerged as serious contenders are Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves FC who are pitted against Spanish side Espanyol. Wolves have the upper hand after posting an impressive run in their domestic league while Espanyol lie in the relegation zone in La Liga.

Scottish champions, Celtic FC will play current Danish SuperLiga winners FC Copenhagen while Steven Gerrard’s Rangers FC will find it tough against Portuguese side SC Braga.  

Read | UCL draw: Liverpool face Atletico while Real Madrid plays Manchester City

After being drawn into the group of death in the Champions League this season, Inter Milan couldn’t cope up with the pace of Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund and failed to progress further. Their egress brought them to the Europa League where they will face Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad.  

However, the biggest fixture that emerged out of the draw is between Eintracht Frankfurt and Austrian side FC Salzburg. Frankfurt were last crowned champions of Europa League back in the 1979-1980 season and will be looking to enhance their good run of form.

Read | Fantasy Focus: Messi and Chhetri look to deliver something special this week

AS Roma play Gent while German side Wolfsburg will be hoping to edge past Swedish side Malmo. Below we bring you a list of all the matches that are scheduled to be played in the round of 32.

• Wolves vs Espanyol
• Sporting Lisbon vs Istanbul Basaksehir
• Getafe vs Ajax
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Porto
• FC Copenhagen vs Celtic 
• APOEL vs Basel 
• Cluj vs Sevilla
• Olympiakos vs Arsenal
• AZ Alkmaar vs LASK
• Club Brugge vs Manchester United 
• Ludogorets vs Inter Milan
• Eintracht Frankfurt vs Salzburg
• Shakhtar Donetsk vs Benfica
• Wolfsburg vs Malmo
• Roma vs Gent
• Rangers vs Braga

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Fabrice Coffrini