Thursday’s Champions League draw served up eight groups of varying difficulty. Some clubs will feel more apprehensive than others about their chances of reaching the knockout round. But UEFA itself can feel happy that there’s plenty of good television to come.

Here are the winners and losers from the day in Monaco:

Winner: Manchester United

The draw treated Manchester United well after a brief hiatus from the competition. As a result of winning last season’s Europa League title, the Red Devils landed a fortunate berth in Pot 2 to avoid, at the very least, the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

And fate dealt United a good hand. By far the favourite ahead of Benfica, FC Basel, and CSKA Moscow, Jose Mourinho’s side has a great chance to enter the Round of 16 as an all-important first-place finisher.

Loser: Tottenham

Related – Champions League group stage draw: PSG meets Bayern, Juve and Barca clash

Things don’t get any easier for Tottenham.

Wracked by a poor record at Wembley Stadium, Spurs now need to win as many points as possible at their temporary home ground to have any hope of advancing to the knockout stage. Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have significant experience in this tournament, and even APOEL Nicosia reached the latter part of the Champions League in recent years.

Tottenham’s progress as a club will be measured by its performances in the Champions League. With a new stadium being built, Spurs have promised the start of a new era. This is their chance to show everyone where they are as a team – or how far they still have to go.

To compound the misery, Mauricio Pochettino’s men must prepare for a daunting two-week stretch at the end of October in which they face Madrid twice, Liverpool, and United.

Winner: Russia

Considering all the available outcomes, Russian sides Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow should feel relatively pleased. As the winner of the Russian Premier League, Massimo Carrera’s Spartak side had the luxury of being a top seed, but Pot 2 and 3 still could’ve offered significant obstacles. Against Sevilla, Liverpool, and Maribor in Group D, Spartak can now expect to challenge for at least third place and direct entry into the Europa League’s Round of 32.

For CSKA, the minefield of possibilities was even tougher to navigate. Although they’ve been pitted against United, the Army Men should feel optimistic about taking points at home versus Benfica and Basel. CSKA has lost just two of its past 12 Champions League outings at the Arena Khimki.

Loser: Francesco Totti

The recipient of UEFA’s President Award, Francesco Totti was responsible for selecting the teams for the draw.

Unfortunately for the 40-year-old, he couldn’t bring former club Roma any luck.

The Giallorossi find themselves stuck in one of the proverbial groups of death with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and faraway Qarabag. On a competitive level, it’s difficult, and even the patsy of the four, Azerbaijani club Qarabag, isn’t necessarily an easy go. Located more than 3,000 kilometres away from Rome, the Baku-based side could surprise Roma, which hasn’t won any of its past seven away matches in the Champions League.

Winner: Liverpool

Liverpool was rewarded for its evisceration of Hoffenheim in the previous play-off round, drawing Spartak, Sevilla, and Maribor. That’s a manageable group for the Anfield outfit, which last booked a ticket to the knockout round in 2009.

Success in the Champions League is vital this season. For the past few years, Liverpool has fought to reclaim its credentials as a top club and attractive destination for elite footballers. The Reds now have an opportunity to make a deep run in the sport’s most prestigious showcase event and boost revenue.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been ruled out of Saturday night’s preseason game in Baltimore with a concussion.

Taylor had entered the concussion protocol after being taken to the locker room during the first quarter.

The QB appeared to fall hard on the back of his head on a third-down sack by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon. Taylor remained on the ground for several moments before coming to his feet and being met by trainers on the field.

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  Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has been sent home from Baltimore for violating an unspecified team rule, the team confirmed Saturday.

As the balls were pulled from the pots at the draw for the Champions League’s group stage, 32 roads were constructed, one for each of the clubs competing in European football’s most prestigious tournament. Some were presented with a freeway, while others were given a pothole-filled path on the edge of a cliff.

As the clubs travel down their assigned roads, there will be no shortage of plot lines to follow. Tottenham Hotspur will invade two of Europe’s iconic stadiums in an attempt to improve on a group-stage exit, Juventus will face Barcelona in a rematch of the 2014-15 final, and Manchester United will experience a sense of deja vu.

Here are the five most intriguing storylines to emerge from the draw:

Tottenham’s second roll of the dice

The reigning champion, a German machine, and a Cypriot minnow that knows how to punch above its weight.

Tottenham was dealt the worst hand for its return to the Champions League, as they’re pitted with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and APOEL in the Group of Death, which boasts a combined UEFA coefficient that is higher than any other group. Given that the English club was unable to overcome the likes of AS Monaco, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and CSKA Moscow in 2016-17, and taking into account its horrendous record at Wembley Stadium, the frustration in north London is understandable.

It doesn’t get much more difficult that Tottenham’s group, but that isn’t stopping Harry Kane from staying positive, and it will be fascinating to see if Spurs can reach the knockout phase at the expense of a European behemoth.

Another round between Juventus, Barcelona

Juventus’ supporters can thank Francesco Totti, who pulled Barcelona’s name out of the pot, for reuniting the two clubs.

For the third time since 2015, Juventus will battle Barcelona in the Champions League. The Old Lady fell to the Blaugrana in the 2014-15 final, but carried out revenge in 2016-17, beating the Catalan club 3-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals by virtue of a defensive masterclass.

This time around, there will be no equalisers from Alvaro Morata, no stoppage-time goals from Neymar, and no brick walls built by Leonardo Bonucci. There will be no risk of elimination for the losing club barring a disastrous group-stage performance. Nonetheless, it will be nothing short of entertaining to see who gets the best of who.

Flashbacks for United

Did United receive another favourable draw? Yes. Yes, they did. But a glance at the 2011-12 Champions League should be enough to temper expectations.

Back then, United was drawn in the same group as SL Benfica, FC Basel 1893, and Otelul Galati in the 2011-12 Champions League’s group stage. It looked like the Red Devils would stroll into the knockout phase, but they came third – only finishing above the Romanian club – and were dumped into the Europa League, where further embarrassment awaited them.

Of course, it’s unlikely that United suffers the same fate, and the group they drew this year will be welcomed by a club that landed sixth in the Premier League last season.

A bumpy ride for Celtic

It’s never smooth sailing when it comes to Celtic and the Champions League, but the Hoops are in for one of their shakiest rides yet after being drawn next to Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and RSC Anderlecht.

European nights in Scotland are often referred to as magical, largely because of the atmosphere produced at Celtic Park when the Champions League rolls through Glasgow. Unfortunately, magic alone won’t be enough for the Bhoys. It will take everything in their power to take down Bayern and PSG, the latter of whom boasts the planet’s most expensive footballer.

Despite the difficult draw, Celtic will surely embrace the challenge.

Azerbaijani football’s group-stage debut

For the first time in history, a club from Azerbaijan will play in the Champions League’s group stage.

Qarabag FK, who defeated FC Copenhagen on away goals in the play-offs, will take the pitch alongside Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and AS Roma in a historic moment for Azerbaijani football. While not much will be expected from them – particularly given the tough draw they received – any favourable result they can manufacture will be celebrated in the country.

First up for Qarabag will be a continent-crossing trip to Stamford Bridge.

DETROIT — New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman left Friday night’s game against the Lions on the first drive with a knee injury.

He is questionable to return.

The injury occurred less than two minutes into the game. Edelman was running an in-breaking route, beat linebacker Jarrad Davis and caught the ball at Detroit’s 29-yard line. Edelman then turned up the field and planted his right foot into the turf at the 17 to avoid safety Tavon Wilson and lunged forward. He immediately reached to the back of his right knee.

After a few minutes of being looked at in a makeshift tent, Edelman was taken by cart to the locker room.

Edelman had three catches for 52 yards before the injury. The Patriots used Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan and Danny Amendola with Edelman out of the game.