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The 5 Most Exciting Ties To Emerge From The Champions League Draw

Mikey Traynor
By Mikey Traynor
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The Champions League draw has just been completed and after being bored to tears by the suits at UEFA having their annual chat with Christian Karembeu or whatever footballer in their mid-40s that couldn't resist the free trip to Monaco, we now know who will play who.

Dundalk's conquerors Legia Warsaw were drawn in a group with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund... That would have been fun.

Premier League champions Leicester were given a favourable draw as they received Porto as their Pot 2 opponent, and Club Brugge from Pot 3, and of course we will all be looking forward to seeing how they cope at the biggest stage of club football.

Elsewhere, Arsenal will have to be happy enough with PSG bring top seeds, FC Basel and Ludogorets of Bulgaria, so it's going to be highly interesting to watch them look on the brink of elimination after poor early performances only to secure their progression to the last 16 where they will again be knocked out by a European super-club.

So having seen the eight groups drawn in full, here are the five fixtures that we can't wait to see.

#5 - Juve vs Sevilla

Just a fascinating tactical match between two teams set up to attack.

Sevilla won't be too upset if they get eliminated in the group stages and enter the Europa League, because they'll just win it again, but when they travel to Turin we are in for a real treat.

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#4 - PSG vs Arsenal

Will this be the year that Arsenal finally make it past the last 16? Probably not as they will undoubtedly get off to a slow start before pulling it together in time to finish second and draw a group winner.

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This one should be a cracker, PSG won't be sitting deep in either leg and will look to get at Arsenal, who will try to do the same thing. If Cavani finds his shooting boots in time it could be a tricky tie for Arsenal, but then again Wenger's men are capable of beating any side in Europe on their day. A great match-up.

#3 - Celtic vs Barcelona

Lionel Messi has got his wish. Having waxed lyrical about the atmosphere in Celtic park, Messi and his pals will be taking on Brendan Rodgers' men on the type of evening you just know is going to be incredible in terms of atmosphere.

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Everything suggests that Barca will steamroll Celtic when it really matters, but that's not how football works and you just know the men in green and white hoops are going to give absolutely everything with the crowd fully behind them.

Bring it on.

#2 - Barcelona vs Manchester City

Pep returns!

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After securing qualification for the group stages, Guardiola was asked how he would feel about the prospect of facing either Bayern or Barca, and while he laughed it off then you got the sense that it was inevitable.

Now we get to see how Mr.Barcelona sets up against Barcelona.

#1 - Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid

What a peach of a draw.

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While the Atletico official that the cameraman panned to wasn't too happy, both should easily advance from the groups but this clash for top spot will be incredible to watch.

The Champions League group stages get underway on the 13th and 14th of September.

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