Twitter Reacts to the 2015-16 Champions League Group-Stage Draw

On Thursday evening, football fans around Europe focused their attention on the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco to watch UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino conduct the infuriatingly lengthy spectacle of the 2015-16 Champions League group-stage draw.

Before the balls were tossed into bowls, Twitter was full of speculation, fears of a 12,000-mile round trip to face Astana in Kazakhstan and, of course, banter: 

"

One thing is certain in today's #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/vEwzJ6JXrw

— Ririn_United (@Ririn_United) August 27, 2015"

"

Liverpool got it easy piece of cake #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/aeeXrUGrqm

— Mikey MUFC (@MikeyMufc) August 27, 2015"

The fans who made the rookie error of tuning in to see the draw at the advertised start time were treated to UEFA's traditionally bloated ceremony:

After around 20 minutes of dithering, the draw finally got underway. And so began the customary struggle to actually get the names out of their tiny spherical prisons: 

"

Those balls look tricky. They could do with one of these! #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/qj8UYQXfwB

— BeanBagSports (@BeanBagSports) August 27, 2015"

"

Righty tighty, lefty loosey! How do they not get this! Every year!  #UCLdraw

— Abdullah Moallim (@El_Abdullah88) August 27, 2015"

After a further 20 minutes of frantic ball-twisting (careful), the draw was complete:

One of the biggest talking points on Twitter was Arsenal's competition in Group F. Arsene Wenger's men will face yet another pair of clashes with Bayern Munich and Olympiacos, while Dinamo Zagreb rounded out the group. This familiar set of circumstances did not sit well with the Emirates faithful, but it did encourage a little schadenfreude:

"

Mourinho watching Arsenal's group unfold like... #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/gGYFuxx1uD

— Copa90 (@Copa90) August 27, 2015"

"

Bayern players react to drawing Arsenal http://t.co/4cJeujxILX

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) August 27, 2015"

"

Scenes when it's 1-1 in the 92nd minute against Bayern & Welbz scores an overhead kick to win us the game

— Joey Gemini (@Jay_SaidIt) August 27, 2015"

"

VIDAL IS COMING TO EMIRATES BUT WITH BAYERN

— King Wazza (@onelovemanutd_) August 27, 2015"

Manchester United have a reputation for landing "easy" groups, and this tradition seemed to continue in Group B, where they were pitted against Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow:

"

Man United fans watching the #UCLdraw like... https://t.co/GLPScw6ZxD

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) August 27, 2015"

United's noisy neighbours City, on the other hand, didn't have it quite so easy. Manuel Pellegrini's men will face last year's finalists Juventus, Europa League champs Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach in what is being called the "Group of Death":

"

Group of death! pic.twitter.com/JtaVSGo4Wf

— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) August 27, 2015"

Jose Mourinho might look fondly on the draw. Not only will he return to his old stomping ground Porto in Group G, but Chelsea will also face Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel Aviv: 

"

Chelsea fans loving their group #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/xnEWAROLaM

— Copa90 (@Copa90) August 27, 2015"

"

#Chelsea got a cake walk draw in #ChampionsLeague

— Mark (@IamMuskyHunter) August 27, 2015"

If City were drawn into the Group of Death, then Group H—featuring Zenit St. Petersburg, Valencia, Lyon and Gent—is being perceived as the Group of Life:

The draw is ostensibly random, but that hasn't helped some from expressing their distrust in football's governing bodies—with varying levels of credibility:

"

Still a fix #ChampionsLeague

— Debi Walker (@debijwalker) August 27, 2015"

"

Why couldn't Man City get Barcelona? Fix? #UCLdraw #ChampionsLeague

— JONATHAN (@jjblasvegas) August 27, 2015"

Despite the protestations, surprisingly familiar groups and typically dull draw process, the event gave us an image that we may all savour for the ages. Behold: