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Europe’s top four leagues guaranteed four places in Champions League group stage

Lionel Messi has told the Daily Record that no matter how many changes have been made to Celtic’s squad over the years, opposition teams must always expect the Hoops to show plenty of spirit and desire.

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Apart from the odd heavyweight clash, numerous groups look predictable, a criticism that has increasingly been levelled at the competition in recent years.

“All the other teams would have wanted us in the draw”.

Group A: PSG, Arsenal, Basel, Ludogorets. Italy, meanwhile, has two guaranteed places and an additional one in the play-off round under the current structure. Roma was eliminated this week by Porto, giving fifth-ranked Portugal three teams in the groups draw on Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur, who return to Europe’s elite for the first time since reaching the 2010-11 quarter-finals, will come up against Russian champions CSKA Moscow, Bayern Leverkusen and Monaco in Group E.

Moreover, prize money will be “increased significantly” for both the Champions League and Europa League.

– The top four clubs from the four top-ranked national associations will now qualify automatically for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

It was also understood that UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA) met and discussed a variety of options to ward off the threat of a Super League.

Juve’s Italian counterparts Napoli are in Group B with Benfica, Dynamo Kiev and Besiktas.

Currently, the highest-ranking divisions in Europe are Spain, Germany, England and Italy, meaning that the new rules will apply to clubs in those countries should they maintain their positions.

Bayern Munich (Germany), Atletico Madrid (Spain), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Rostov (Russia).

Holders Real Madrid begin their bid for a 12th European title in Group F alongside Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, Sporting and Legia Warsaw.

The Foxes will start as favourites to finish top of Group G after being paired with Porto, Belgium’s Club Brugge and FC Copenhagen of Denmark.

Juventus, Serie A victor for the last five seasons, faces Sevilla, Olympique Lyonnais and Dinamo Zagreb in Group H.

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