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Champions League, Europa League group stage draws look pretty great
We couldn’t have hoped for much better.
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Everyone has learned their European fate ahead of next week’s transfer deadline and knows how big their need is to buy or sell. The Champions League draw produced a handful of great groups, headlined by Group D. The two matches between Juventus and Manchester City should be among the best of the group stage. We also get to see Bayern Munich play Arsenal, Real Madrid battle Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona compete with three very solid opponents.
In the Europa League draw, British sides got some mixed results. Tottenham Hotspur got an awful draw in quality opponents Anderlecht and Monaco, and they have to travel to Azerbaijan as well. Liverpool will be favorites to top their group, though they have to play Rubin Kazan. Celtic got it worst and will struggle to get out of a group with Ajax, Fenerbahce and Molde.
Goal of the day
In the news
Tottenham Hotspur have signed Son Heung-Min. (Tottenham Hotspur)
And Bayer Leverkusen have replaced him with Kevin Kampl. (Bayer 04)
Sunderland have added some punch to their attack, adding Ola Toivonen. (Sunderland AFC)
Roberto Martinez says John Stones is “at the perfect club.” (BBC)
Brendan Rodgers thinks a loan to Fenerbahce will help Lazar Markovic return to Liverpool ready to contribute. (Guardian)
Lionel Messi won the fake best player award no one cares about. The real one is awarded in January. (AS)
AC Milan have signed midfielder Juraj Kucka. (Football Italia)
The USMNT and Mexico will both be allocated 30 percent of tickets for their Confederations Cup playoff. (SI)
You should be reading
Alan Smith on the lessons Jack Grealish learned from Gaelic football. (Guardian)
Michael Cox on Manchester City struggling to fit their new signings in. (ESPN FC)
Andrew Flint on FC Krasnodar, Russia’s newest emerging power. (Futbolgrad)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously.
Manchester United are still demanding €40 million for David De Gea. (AS)
Chelsea aren’t giving up on John Stones or Paul Pogba. (Independent)
Ezequiel Lavezzi might move to Inter Milan. (Football Italia)
Besiktas want John Obi Mikel. (Mirror)
Manchester United are chasing Lazio’s Felipe Anderson. (TuttoMercatoWeb)
What to watch this weekend (click for listings, all times ET)
Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs. Schalke (Friday, 2:30 p.m.) - An important battle in the top four race.
EPL: Newcastle vs. Arsenal (Saturday, 7:45 a.m.) - One last chance for Arsenal to play poorly enough to convince Arsene Wenger to save their season on Monday.
EPL: Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace (Saturday, 10 a.m.) - Lots of average games involving big teams in this time slot, but this is the best of the bunch.
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Saturday, 12:30 p.m.) - The best game of the weekend, probably.
Serie A: Roma vs. Juventus (Sunday, 12 p.m.) - The other game of the weekend candidate, for those who prefer organization to chaos.
MLS: Sounders vs. Timbers (Sunday, 5 p.m.) - Seattle’s in need of a win in a tight west playoff race.
MLS: New York Red Bulls vs. DC United (Sunday, 7 p.m.) - They’re battling for top spot in the east, and to keep pace with Vancouver in the Supporters’ Shield race.
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