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      Bayern Munich chief Kahn spotted ‘smirking’ at Champions League draw sparking Barcelona press to slam lack of respect

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      BAYERN MUNICH chief Oliver Kahn was seen smirking after his side drew Barcelona in Champions League group C.There is plenty of recent history between the two sides with Bayern infamously beating Barca 8-2 just two years ago.
      Oliver Kahn was spotted smirking after Bayern Munich drew Barcelona
      Spanish outlet Sport accused Kahn of lacking respectCredit: Sport
      Robert Lewandowski is set to come up against his former club after signing for Barcelona this summerCredit: Getty
      The pair met last season too with Bayern winning both group matches 3-0.
      In fact, Barcelona have won just one of their last eight games against Bayern – which is perhaps what has prompted some sections of the Spanish press to react badly to Kahn’s smile.
      Catalan newspaper Sport accused the former goalkeeper of lacking respect – an accusation he has denied.
      In response Kahn said: “This interpretation is really completely out of thin air.”
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      Others have reacted more positively to the draw, such as Bayern star Thomas Muller who is looking forward to a showdown with former team-mate Robert Lewandowski after the striker moved to the Nou Camp this summer.
      Muller wrote on Instagram: “Mr Lewangoalski, see you soon in Munich. I’m looking forward to it.”
      Group C has been labelled the group of death as both teams will have to overcome Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen to progress.
      Meanwhile, there will be another high profile return in Germany as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has been drawn against former club Borussia Dortmund.
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      City will fancy their chances of winning a group that also contains Sevilla and Copenhagen.
      The three other English sides in the competition – Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham – will also be quietly confident.
      The Reds have been drawn against Ajax and Napoli and have a mouth-watering all-British tie against Rangers to look forward to.
      Chelsea also have favourable fixtures against AC Milan, RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb – but Tottenham arguably have the easiest opponents.
      Spurs will face Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon, Marseille – a draw some fans feel is so easy they have jokingly accused Tottenham youth coach Yaya Toure of fixing the draw. More

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      Karim Benzema and Carlo Ancelotti pick up top Uefa awards in Real Madrid domination after Champions League draw

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      KARIM BENZEMA and Carlo Ancelotti were honoured for their historic campaigns with Real Madrid last season.The pair scooped UEFA’s Player and Manager of the Year trophies at the governing body’s awards ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday.
      Karim Benzema bagged a whopping 15 Champions League goals last seasonCredit: Getty
      Carlo Ancelotti picked up his fourth Champions League trophy as a manager last seasonCredit: GETTY
      The pair scooped additional gongs for their exploitsCredit: EPA
      France international Benzema won the prestigious gong for his scintillating 2021/22 campaign, in which he scored 15 goals in Europe’s elite club competition.
      The Frenchman’s outstanding tally helped fire Real to their 14th European Cup and made Ancelotti the most successful manager in the tournament’s history.
      Real’s victory over Premier League big boys Liverpool in May handed the Italian his fourth Champions League trophy, two of which he won with AC Milan.
      After accepting the award, Ancelotti, 63, said: “The passion I have for the sport and the quality of the players.
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      “Last season there was a fantastic connection between the veterans and young ones, there was fantastic chemistry with the supporters that helped us reach an unbelievable achievement.”
      Ancelotti was quick to hail the man who made him the most successful manager in Champions League history.
      He said: “Karim is not just a fantastic striker and top scorer.
      “He’s a fantastic footballer, supported by a great attitude day by day.
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      “Compared to last year, this year he improved his knowledge, he knows the game really well, how to manage the game and he’s a strong leader in the dressing room and a good friend of mine.
      “We are lucky to have Karim.”
      Benzema and Ancelotti scooped their awards not long after Real learned their fate for the group stages of this year’s Champions League.
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      Los Blancos were drawn in Group F with RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic.
      The Spanish giants will kick off their defence of the trophy on September 6th or 7th.
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      Man City star Cole Palmer wanted on season-long loan transfer by Dortmund… but Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to lose him

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      COLE PALMER is wanted on a season-long loan by German giants Borussia Dortmund.Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has always been reluctant to send out the highly-rated England Under-21 star, who can operate on either wing or as a No 10.
      Manchester City youngster Cole Palmer has impressed many over the last 12 monthsCredit: Getty
      The 20-year-old’s displays have caught the eye of Borussia DortmundCredit: REX
      City boss Pep Guardiola is a big fan of PalmerCredit: AP
      But Dortmund – drawn in the same Champions League group as City – are one of several European clubs who have enquired about Palmer, 20, and are keen to strike a deal before next week’s deadline.
      Guardiola has stated that Palmer is part of his first-team squad but he has only made one Premier League start to date – against Everton last term – and has only had two minutes off the bench in City’s first three matches of the new campaign.
      There are suggestions that a loan move could now benefit Palmer, who needs more first-team game time, although boss Guardiola does not want to lose him.
      Palmer, 20, netted for City in the Champions League group stage last year but suffered an injury which sidelined him for three months late last season.
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      Dortmund have a track record of signing young English talent, with Jude Bellingham a key player at the club and Jadon Sancho a major star at the Westfalenstadion before his switch to Manchester United and they are now eyeing Palmer.
      Palmer – who scored in City’s 3-3 friendly draw with Barcelona on Wednesday – enjoyed a breakthrough season in the 21/22 campaign, making four Premier League appearances and also featuring in the Champions League.
      Guardiola is a big fan of the youngster, who could very well play a big role in the starting XI if Riyad Mahrez leaves the club next summer.
      He said of Palmer last year: “Cole has this special quality in front of the box, this talent that is difficult to find.
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      “When he has the ball there most of the time it finishes in the net, and it is not easy to find that.”
      Speaking after Palmer’s first goal for the club last year, Guardiola insisted he wouldn’t rush Palmer’s progression.
      He said: “Let’s be calm, be patient, like we have done with Phil [Foden].
      “The people in this world want things immediately.
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      “Everything needs time. You cannot cook a good dish if you do not spend time in the kitchen. So take time.”
      Palmer and his Manchester City team-mates will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Crystal Palace to the Etihad.
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      Fans all saying the same thing and claim Champions League draw was ‘fixed’ over Yaya Toure giving Tottenham easy group

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      FOOTY fans are all saying the same thing after jokingly claiming Yaya Toure “fixed” the Champions League group stage draw in Tottenham’s favour.The iconic former Premier League midfielder, 39, was on hand to dish out the balls at Thursday’s Uefa event in Istanbul.
      Fans jokingly reckon Yaya Toure fixed the Champions League group draw in Spurs’ favourCredit: Reuters
      Tottenahm got a favourable group in Thursday’s draw
      The former Barcelona and Man City star is now a youth coach with Antonio Conte’s Spurs.
      And the Londoners ended up with arguably the best group of the lot, drawing Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille.
      Meanwhile, rivals Chelsea were paired with Italian champions AC Milan.
      Man City got Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund, while Liverpool were given Napoli and Ajax – as well as a Battle of Britain against Rangers.
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      This prompted footy fans to flood Twitter with hilarious claims that Toure somehow wiggled the draw in Spurs’ favour – with even Tottenham fans revelling in their group.
      One said: “Yaya Toure staff employee of Tottenham drawing us the easiest possible group for Harry Kane to win his first Champions League trophy.”
      Another declared: “Yaya Toure already a Tottenham legend in my book.”
      One joked: “Didn’t Tottenham’s Yaya Toure do a superb job?”
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      The full Champions League group stage draw

      Another boomed: “Toure just rigged the UCL in front of the entire world. A Europa League group in the UCL.”
      One added: “Tottenham with Frankfurt, so so lucky. Yaya rigging the draw.”
      Toure certainly didn’t hold back from declaring his support for Tottenham before making the draw.
      Speaking on stage, the three-time Premier League winner said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tottenham. 
      “They are fantastic at the club. I feel like I belong in a family. 
      “It is immense what they have done for me.” More

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      Rangers travel down to Liverpool in tough Group A Champions League draw and will fight Napoli and Ajax to get through

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      RANGERS have been handed a brutal return to the Champions League – including a mouth-watering Battle of Britain.Gers are back in amongst the European heavyweights for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

      Rangers saw off PSV last night to book their place in the Champions League group stagesCredit: PA
      They secured their place in the group stages by edging past PSV Eindhoven last night in the play-off round.
      And their reward sees them take on six-time winners Liverpool and Dutch champions Ajax in the group stages.
      Rangers, who were in Pot 4 alongside Scottish champs Celtic, will also play Napoli in Group A.
      Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.
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      Those will be played on September 6/7 and 13/14, October 4/5 and 11/12 then October 25/26 and November 1/2.
      The final is on June 10 in Istanbul.
      Back in 2010, Rangers finished third in the group behind Manchester United and Valencia, slipping into the Europa League.
      There, they beat Sporting Lisbon on away goals before falling to PSV.
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      After finishing second in the league last term, they saw off Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise and then their Dutch rivals to qualify.
      Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s came within a penalty shootout of being in Pot 1 – but lost the Europa League final in May to Eintracht Frankfurt.
      Over the summer, he has added the likes of Ben Davies, Tom Lawrence, Antonio Colak and Ridvan Yilmaz to his squad to mount a challenge domestically and on the continent.
      Rangers will have to try and keep Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez quietCredit: Alamy More

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      Chelsea land easy Champions League group along with AC Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb in Group E draw

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      CHELSEA will take on seven-time champions AC Milan in a blockbuster Champions League showdown.But it is a routine Group E for Thomas Tuchel’s side who also face Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.

      Chelsea have discovered their Champions League group-stage opponentsCredit: EPA
      The Blues reached the quarter-finals as defending champions last season.
      However, despite a stunning comeback against Real Madrid, they were undone by the eventual champions in extra-time at the Bernabeu.
      Now Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori will return to Stamford Bridge as Serie A champions in Chelsea’s toughest home game of the group.
      Elsewhere, Liverpool got an interesting draw with Ajax, Napoli and Rangers.
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      Tottenham will play Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille in a brutal group.
      And Premier League champs Manchester City got Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen.
      Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.
      Those will be played on September 6/7 and 13/14, October 4/5 and 11/12 then October 25/26 and November 1/2.

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      Chelsea boss Tuchel has let a number of big names go this summer with Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Antonio Rudiger all out the exit door.
      However, new owner Todd Boehly wasted no time splashing the cash.
      Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei have arrived in mega-money deals.
      And Tuchel will be hoping his side can replicate their Champions League glory of 2021 by going all the way.
      But first, they must get through the group stages – which should be relatively straightforward.
      Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori will head back to Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
      Chelsea were knocked out by Real Madrid last seasonCredit: The Times More

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      Who is Reshmin Chowdhury, Champions League draw host and sports presenter?

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      RESHMIN CHOWDHURY has been a regular on TV screens for some years, and is now presenting the Champions League draw.Before this, she had joined talkSPORT in their new-look GameDay coverage, where she presented alongside the likes of ex-footballers Darren Bent, Trevor Sinclair and Glen Johnson.
      Reshmin Chowdhury reporting from the Champions League finalCredit: Instagram / @reshmintv

      Who is Reshmin Chowdhury?
      CHOWDHURY worked as talkSPORT’s new lead presenter for their GameDay coverage, and worked as part of BT Sport’s Champions League team.
      She originally worked away from sport, becoming a part of the team that travelled to Borneo for the ITV1 programme Survivor.
      Following four years at BBC Sport, she had a change of scenery again, joining BT Sport in 2014.

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      How old is Reshmin Chowdhury?
      THE television presenter was born on December 16, 1977, making her 44 years old.
      Chowdhury speaks four languages, including Bengali, Spanish and French, having used the latter during an interview with Karim Benzema while at Real Madrid.
      She is a Muslim with a Bangladeshi heritage and has two children.

      Is Reshmin Chowdhury presenting Champions League draw?
      CHOWDHURY has presented the Champions League draw since 2018.
      In it she presents alongside Pedro Pinto, the Uefa Chief of Press. More

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      Man City handed tough Champions League draw with Erling Haaland heading back to Borussia Dortmund in Group G

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      MANCHESTER CITY will be hopeful of reaching the Champions League knockouts after learning their group-stage opponents.Pep Guardiola’s side were pitted against Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen in Group G with Erling Haaland to return to Signal Iduna Park.

      Manchester City now know their Champions League group-stage opponentsCredit: Getty
      Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.
      Those will be played on September 6/7 and 13/14, October 4/5 and 11/12 then October 25/26 and November 1/2.
      The Citizens reached the final on 2021 but lost to Chelsea in a nervy final in Portugal.
      Last season, they looked destined to face Liverpool in the final.
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      However, their spectacular collapse in injury time at the Bernabeu saw Real Madrid force extra-time in their semi-final – before Karim Benzema sent Los Blancos through.
      Since then, City have brought in Real Madrid target Erling Haaland as their new No9 plus Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips.
      However, they sold Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal while Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea for a combined £122.5million.
      European glory still beckons for City, who have enjoyed domestic dominance in recent seasons under Guardiola.
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      But he, the players, the fans and the owners will desperately be hoping this season is the year they finally go all the way.
      And with the group they have been pitted in, they will be hoping of reaching the last-16. More