Champions League group stage took place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Goal.com's LIVE coverage of the event saw a host of intruiging matches drawn from the hat.

The pick of the ties sees Barcelona face Inter in Group F, where Samuel Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are set for immediate returns to their former clubs.

Elsewhere, Manchester United face some long away trips while AC Milan and Real Madrid will tangle in a glamour tie in Group A.

Arsenal may feel that they have a clear path to the next stage as they meet AZ, Olympiacos, and Standard, although it's worth nothing that Olympiacos were top seeds in Pot 3 and Standard a close second in Pot 4.

Below is the draw in full:

Group A


Bayern Munich
Juventus
Bordeaux
Maccabi Haifa

Group B

Manchester United
CSKA Moscow
Besiktas
VfL Wolfsburg

Group C


AC Milan
Real Madrid
Marseille
FC Zurich


Group D

Chelsea
FC Porto
Atletico Madrid
APOEL Nicosia

Group E


Liverpool
Lyon
Fiorentina
Debrecen

Group F

Barcelona
Inter
Dinamo Kiev
Rubin Kazan

Group G


Sevilla
Rangers
VfB Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni

Group H

Arsenal
AZ Alkmaar
Olympiakos
Standard Liege


Also announced at the draw ceremony was the European Club Footballer of the Year award, lifted by Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi is officially the best player in Europe, according to UEFA, who today named him as both the overall winner of the European Club Footballer of the Year award and as the Europea Club Forward of the Year for his exploits when his club, Barcelona, swept all before them.

The overall prize saw Messi shortlisted alongside the other three positional winners, who are revealed below, before he received the grand award.

The shortlists, as well as the final winners, were selected by sixteen of Europe's top coaches, namely those who led their sides to the First Knockout Round of last year's competition.

As expected, FC Barcelona dominated the nominations and ended up scooping two of the possible five accolades, while English sides such as Manchester United and Chelsea - not to mention Liverpool - were not far behind. Every single nominee came from one of these four clubs.

Here we offer a full examination of each winner, as well as a look at the players each one defeated to earn their prize (or, in the case of Messi, prizes.)

EUROPEAN CLUB FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Lionel Messi

Shortlisted: Edwin van der Sar, John Terry, Xavi


After the four awards below were given out, the respective winners gathered to hear which player out of these four cardinal positions was judged to be Europe's best.

In the end, and to the surprise of few, Messi garnered the award.

The young Argentine was asked to select his crowning moment from a memorable year, but in particularly bashful fashion he offered this response:

"It's really difficult to pick just one. It was an unbelievable year which gave me so much happiness and success."




EUROPEAN CLUB FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Winner: Lionel Messi

Shortlisted: Samuel Eto'o, Cristiano Ronaldo


The Argentine was up against some stiff competition for the best forward prize, in the shape of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached the final of the Champions League and won the Premier League with Manchester United, and his own former team-mate Samuel Eto'o, now in Italy at Inter.

All told, Messi hit nine Champions League goals last season, making him the most prolific player in the contest. He also provided five decisive assists for teammates.




EUROPEAN CLUB MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Xavi

Shortlisted: Andres Iniesta, Steven Gerrard


Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez was also confirmed as UEFA's club midfielder of the year at today's Champions League draw in Moncao, having beaten off competition from club colleague Andres Iniesta and Liverpool's talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard.

The Spaniard was a part of the smooth-passing, aesthetically pleasing Blaugrana side who attracted plenty of praise from neutrals as they collected an astonishing treble of trophies, with their European win supplementing victories in the Copa del Rey and La Liga.




EUROPEAN CLUB DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

Winner: John Terry
Shortlisted: Gerard Pique, Nemanja Vidic


Chelsea defender John Terry was earlier named as UEFA's club defender of the year, having emerged as the best from a trio of top contenders which was completed by Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Barcelona's Gerard Pique.

The lion-hearted Englishman was superb last season as the Blues won the FA Cup, once again showing all the leadership and commitment of a player who has now picked up this award three times.

"I think just to train hard every day, that's something I try and do myself," he revealed. "Especially for myself, not to get my hands on that trophy (the Champions League) is enough motivation for me. And that's something I'm aiming to do, to lift that trophy with Chelsea Football Club."



EUROPEAN CLUB GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Edwin van der Sar
Shortlisted: Victor Valdes, Petr Cech


Edwin van der Sar was today confirmed as UEFA's official club goalkeeper of the year, having been named as the continent's top glovesman ahead of the draw for the Champions League today in Monaco.

The Manchester United keeper fought off a challenge from Chelsea's Petr Cech, the winner of the award last year, and Barcelona's Victor Valdes, who of course won a treble with the Catalans last season.

Van der Sar enjoyed something of a renaissance last season, defying the critics who felt that he was too old at 38 to keep his place at Old Trafford to set a clutch of clean sheet records.

Johan Cruyff has hit out at Real Madrid's summer spending policy and suggested that the influx of new stars at Madrid will prove an ideal motivation for Barcelona, according to AS.

The former Barca player and coach said that Madrid president Florentino Perez knew more about business than football.

"He understands a lot about business but signing the best players doesn't mean you know football," said Cruyff.

He also suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo has it all to do to prove himself at the Bernabeu, saying Ronaldo hadn't "started" at Madrid yet.

"At Manchester [United], Ronaldo was a player who had everything. [Lionel] Messi is a great player with style, and part of a team [at Barcelona]. We need to see now if Cristiano will be this to Madrid," added Cruyff.

Interestingly, Cruyff also revealed that during his days as an Ajax player a move was made to sell him to Real Madrid, an opportunity he refused on principle.

"I did not like that this was done behind my back so I didn't go," he said, before adding that Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano was his idol during his youth.

Ahead of the superclasico between Argentina and Brazil in Rosario on September 5, Brazilian fans voted which team have superior players, with results ending up rather even.

Lancenet! provided fans with the most probable starting XI of both teams, with votes made for each of the 22 players in their respective positions. For instance, in the battle of the goalkeepers, Inter Milan's Julio Cesar proved much superior to Catania's Mariano Andujar with 63.4% of the votes, compared to 36.6% for his opposite number.

From the midfield up to the attack Brazil were clear victors, with five wins. Daniel Alves (55.1%) to Javier Zanetti, Juan (59.6%) to Gabriel Heinze, Lucio (61.2%) to Nicolas Burdisso and Andre Santos (56.1%) to Fabricio Coloccini.

Up front, Sevilla's Luis Fabiano (53.2%) beat Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero. But strangely enough, from then on the Argentines were victorious.

The most lopsided triumph was for Javier Mascherano (70.9%) against the unpopular Gilberto Silva. Maxi Rodriguez (52.4%) edged Felipe Melo, Jesus Datolo (54.7%) beat Elano and Carlos Tevez (57.2%) got the better of Robinho.

Finally, in the battle of the superstars Lionel Messi (55.6%) proved too strong for Kaka.

Brazilian football supporters are well-known for being very critical of their national team, especially since Dunga was appointed coach.

TAK bisa dilukiskan dengan kata-kata. Boleh jadi inilah yang kini dirasakan Victor Valdes. Kiper Barcelona ini baru saja resmi menjadi seorang ayah menyusul kelahiran anak pertamanya yang berjenis kelamin laki-laki.

Dylan, nama anak Valdes, lahir pada 20 Agustus pekan lalu. Demi bisa melihat kelahiran anak pertamanya, Valdes sampai harus mengorbankan absen latihan bersama Barcelona.

Dylan sendiri lahir di rumah sakit Dexeus dengan berat sebesar 3 kilogram. Dylan berada dalam kondisi baik dan sehat.

Nah, menariknya adalah Dylan lahir dari rahim seorang perempuan yang tidak memiliki hubungan apa-apa dengan Valdes. Usut punya usut, wanita yang dilaporkan bernama Yolanda Cardona ini, tidak berstatus istri apalagi kekasih dari Valdes.

Apapun itu, kelahiran Dylan tentu menjadi kabar yang sangat menggembirakan Valdes. Apalagi Dylan adalah anak pertama dari kiper yang berjasa mengantarkan El Barca meraih treble di musim lalu.

Barcelona look set to sign Ukraine central defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy from Shakhtar Donetsk.

"They have asked us for a great deal of money and negotiations are continuing," president Joan Laporta told the Catalan television broadcaster TV3. "I believe we'll find a solution."

Barcelona play UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar in the European Super Cup in Monaco on Friday.

Star striker Thierry Henry reckons new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be an instant hit with Barcelona - unlike himself.

Problems off the pitch as well as on it combined to give the Frenchman a debut season to forget in La Liga, but he more than made up for it by playing a pivotal role in clinching an unprecedented treble last season.

However, after closely observing Ibrahimovic since his arrival last month he believes that the Swede has the capability to make an instant impression at the Camp Nou.

Speaking to Sport the former Arsenal hitman sais "I do not believe he will have any problems.

"In my case I had to move from the centre of the field to the left, and it took me time to adapt.

"Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] plays in the central position of the number nine, and for that reason it will be easier for him."

Henry also discussed his own fitness as the new season approaches, and was rested in France's match against the Faroe Islands two weeks ago.

The 32-year old insists however he is now ready for action, after playing a part in last night's comfortable 3-0 Super Cup win over Athletic Bilbao.

He said, "I have been having pain for three weeks, particularly with my knee. I was forced to rest from the French match, because I did not want to return to action too fast.

"But tonight my joints felt ok, and once I warmed up I could run normally."

VIVAnews - Bila para pemain sebuah klub mendapat penghargaan dari UEFA, dijamin pelatihnya akan sangat berseri. Namun sikap kebalikan malah ditunjukkan pelatih Barcelona, Pep Guardiola.

Enam anak buahnya masuk dalam nominasi Pemain Terbaik UEFA, yaitu Víctor Valdés,Gerard Piqué, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, dan Lionel Messi. Yang membuatnya panik adalah pengumumam pemenang nominasi itu sangat mepet waktunya dengan Piala Super.

Kamis 27 Agustus 2009, UEFA baru akan memberi kepastian siapa pemain terbaik di tiap posisi di Monaco. Selang sehari kemudian, Barca akan menghadapi Shakhtar Donetsk di Piala Super juga di negara yang sama.

"Ini bukan situasi yang nyaman, kami datang ke Monaco untuk memenangi final. Bukannya untuk mengoleksi penghargaan," ujar Guardiola seperti dilansir Goal, Rabu 26 Agustus 2009.

"Tapi memang para pemain berhak meraihnya dan mudah-mudahan saja mereka menang," tambahnya.

Enam pemain Barca terpilih menilik prestasi mereka selama musim 2008-2009. Azulgrana sukses menelurkan tiga gelar sekaligus, La Liga, Copa del Rey, dan Liga Champions. Kemenangan di Liga Champions membuat Barca harus melakoni Piala Super melawan juara Piala UEFA.

Pemain Baru Barca

Bila enam pemain senior sudah meraih hasil kerja kerasnya, tidak demikian dengan Dmytro Chygrynskiy. Pemain asal Ukraina itu masih berusaha didatangkan Guardiola ke Nou Camp.

Guardiola bersikeras kalu pemain ini adalah yang dibutuhkan Barca. "Dia (Chygrynskiy) memiliki sesuatu di tengah pertahanan yang sulit ditemukan," ujar Guardiola.

"Dia tahu harus melakukan apa dengan bola di usia yang masih muda," tambahnya.

Guardiola menambahkan kalau membeli pria 22 tahun itu bukanlah kasus mudah. Masalahnya Presiden Shakhtar Donetsk sebagai pemilik resmi Chygrynskiy bersikeras tidak mau menjual pemainnya.

Negosiasi pembelian Chygrynskiy hingga saat ini masih berlangsung. Media Spanyol mengklaim kalau Barca memiliki kesempatan besar mendatangkan pemain bertahan itu ke Nou Camp.

Begiristain: Barca have options

Barcelona's director of football has suggested that the club are keeping their options open for a signing.

With the rumour mill abuzz that Shakhtar Donetsk's Dmytro Chygrynskiy is likely to make a move to Camp Nou, Txiki Begiristain believes that the Blaugrana has other names in mind.

It was previously reported that Barca coach Pep Guardiola has set his sights on Chygrynskiy as the player to fill the position at Camp Nou.

Begiristain, however, does not share Guardiola's enthusiasm.

"There are alternatives to Chygrynskiy," said Begiristain, according to El Mundo Deportivo.

"He is not the only option. We will see what is most feasible."

Even with the transfer window closing on him Barca's director of football is unruffled.

"At the moment we are trying to close an operation in the transfer market, we have until [August] 31," he said.

VIVAnews - Kesuksesan Barcelona memenangi Piala Super Spanyol jadi batu loncatan pertama untuk klub asal Catalunya itu. Kini saatnya Barca untuk menghadapi tantangan berikutnya, yaitu di kompetisi La Liga dan Liga Champions.

Hal ini disampaikan oleh gelandang Barca, Xavi Hernandez. Xavi merasa satu tantangan sudah dihadapi. Pria asal Spanyol itu berharap bisa melanjutkan kemenangan ini ke pertandingan berikutnya.

"Kami memulai dengan sangat baik dan sekarang kami ingin meneruskan segalanya di garis (kemenangan) ini," ujar Xavi seperti dilansir harian Marca, Senin 24 Agustus 2009.

Barca memastikan diri jadi jawara Piala Super Spanyol setelah membungkam Athletic Bilbao dengan skor 3-0 di leg 2, Minggu 23 Agustus 2009 (Senin dini hari WIB). Ini menjadikan agregat total menjadi 5-1 karena di leg 1 Barca sudah unggul 2-1.

Gol pertandingan dini hari tadi diciptakan Lionel Messi di menit 50 dan 68. Sedangkan gol penutup El Barca disumbang Bojan Krkic di menit 72.

"Tantangan pertama sudah diatasi. Selalu ada tekanan, tapi tahun ini kami ingin menunjukkan apa yang dimiliki tim ini," tambahnya.

Xavi dan kawan-kawan sudah dinanti dua pertandingan di depan mata. Jumat pekan ini tepatnya 28 Agustus mendatang mereka akan menghadapi Shakhtar Donetsk di kejuaraan UEFA Super Cup di Monako.

Berselang tiga hari, Sporting Gijon sudah menanti di partai perdana La Liga yang akan berlangsung di Nou Camp.

VIVAnews - Meski sudah mencetak satu gol di Liga Italia, Samuel Eto'o sepertinya masih teringat kepada mantan klubnya di Liga Spanyol. Eto'o memang pernah membela Barcelona selama lima musim dan baru dilepas pada Agustus 2009 ini.

Pria asal Kamerun itu merasa Barca tidak pernah coba mempertahankan dirinya. Bahkan, Barca tidak memberikan penjelasan apa pun hingga akhirnya Eto'o memutuskan untuk hengkang ke Inter Milan.

"Saya menanti mereka (Barca) menjelaskan kenapa membiarkan saya pergi. Tapi, penjelasan itu tak juga terjadi," ujar Eto'o seperti dilansir televisi Prancis, TF1, Senin 24 Agustus 2009.

"Saya tak pernah mendapatkan jawaban dan sekarang saya tak menantikannya lagi," tambah sang striker.

Ucapan Eto'o seperti menampik penjelasan Presiden Barca, Juan Laporta beberapa waktu lalu. Ketika Eto'o masih dalam tahap negosiasi, Laporta menjelaskan bahwa pemain keling itu tak bisa dihubungi.

Jangankan untuk berbicara, mengangkat telepon atau membalas pesan singkat (SMS) pun tidak mau dilakukan Eto'o. Dan kini, posisi pemain bertinggi 180 cm itu sudah digantikan Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Meski demikian, penampilan kedua pemain ini sangat bertolak belakang di debutnya. Ibra gagal mencetak gol bersama Barca, sedangkan Eto'o menyumbang satu gol di laga awal Inter melawan Bari.

Ini dianggap Eto'o karena pengaruh pelatih barunya Jose Mourinho. "Saya sudah dua atau tiga kali berbicara dengan Mourinho di telepon. Sehabis itu rasanya mudah saja memilih Inter," kata Eto'o.

Barcelona allow Messi to skip start of season

Lionel Messi will be allowed to skip Barcelona's first game of the league season to join up with Argentina for their World Cup qualifier against Brazil, coach Pep Guardiola said on Saturday.

Barcelona's Primera Liga opener at home to Sporting Gijon has been moved to Monday Aug. 31, because the European Super Cup against Shakhtar Donetsk is on Aug. 28.

If Messi had played, he would have been late to join Argentina's preparations for their home match against the South American group leaders on Sept. 5.

"The European Super Cup is on the Friday and at the end of the day it is the player who suffers in these situations," Guardiola told a news conference.

"He wants to play with Barcelona, but because of the FIFA regulations, he would have been cutting it fine to join up with his national team. I have given him permission."

Diego Maradona's Argentina hold the fourth and final automatic qualifying slot in the group, two points ahead of Ecuador.

Barcelona players dominate UEFA award nominees

Six players who helped Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in May's Champions League final were included in the list of nominees for UEFA's Club Footballer of the Year awards to be presented in Monte Carlo next week.
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes, defender Gerard Pique, midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta and forwards Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o, now with Inter Milan, were on the list released by UEFA on Monday.

The six other players come from either Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool.

The three United players are goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, defender Nemanja Vidic and forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has since joined Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee of £80m.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and defender John Terry and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard were also nominated.

The players were proposed by the coaches of the 16 teams that reached the Champions League knock-out phase, with votes cast for a winner in each position as well as the overall UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.

The announcement will be made during the Champions League group stage draw on August 27.

Nominations:

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Victor Valdes (Barcelona), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)

Defender: Gerard Pique (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

Midfielder: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta (both Barcelona)

Forward: Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi (both Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Trofeo Joan Gamper, Duet Pertama Messi & Ibra

Toto Pribadi

(AP/Luca Bruno)

VIVAnews - Fans Barcelona akan melihat duet dua pemain Blaugrana yang paling dinantikan. Pahlawannya Lionel Messi akan bermain bersama pemain anyarnya Zlatan Ibrahimovic untuk kali pertama.

Seperti yang dilansir Goal, Messidependencia dan Ibracadabra akan bermain bersama saat Barca meladeni tamunya Manchester City di ajang Trofeo Joan Gamper.

Ya, dua pemain bergaji tertinggi di Barcelona ini akan tampil di event pramusim guna menghormati salah satu pendiri klub Catalunya itu, Joan Gamper.

Pertandingan Barca kontra The Citizens ini akan digelar di Camp Nou, Rabu, 19 Agustus 2009. Baik Messi maupun Ibra dipastikan tampil setelah sama-sama mendapatkan lampu hijau dari tim dokter Barcelona.

Khusus buat Ibra ini akan menjadi laga pertama sejak ia bergabung ke Barcelona dari klub Italia, Internazionale Milan bulan lalu. Ibra bertugas menggantikan posisi Samuel Eto'o yang ditukar dengannya ke Inter.

Striker timnas Swedia ini memang gagal tampil di laga pramusim sebelumnya setelah memilih menjalani operasi di tangannya beberapa waktu lalu. Tapi kini Ibra siap menjalani debutnya.

Sedangkan Messi juga tak mampu tampil penuh bersama Barca saat melawat ke Amerika Serikat karena mengalami cedera otot paha. Cedera itu didapat saat latihan bersama timnas Argentina sebelum lawan Rusia, pekan lalu.