Viktoria Plzen players and staff react to being drawn into Champions League 'group of death'
The moment Viktoria Plzen players and staff found out they had been pitted in this season's Champions League 'group of death' was captured on camera. You can watch that dressing room footage below.
The Czech first division champions qualified for the Champions League group stages for the fourth time in their history on Tuesday night after beating Azerbaijani side Qarabag.
Goals from Jan Kopic and Jan Kliment sealed their place in Europe's elite competition, but Michal Bílek's men will need a minor miracle to reach the next stage.
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Plzen will come up against Spanish giants Barcelona, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and a very strong Inter Milan side in Group C.
Bring it on! 👊#UCL || #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/z9IBs4zdUA
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 25, 2022
It may be the toughest draw in town but the Czech outfit should be excited by the prospect of playing against the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane and Lautaro Martinez.
Some of the world's best will visit the Doosan Arena; an arena that hosted a live watchalong of the Champions League draw on Thursday afternoon.
Inside the Plzen dressing room, players and staff gathered in front of the TV to watch Yaya Toure conduct this season's draw, and their reaction to being dropped in the so-called 'group of death' was priceless.
There was definitely a mixture of excitement, nerves and intimidation as the camera panned around their dressing room.
But this isn't the first time Plzen have come up against some of world football's biggest hitters. In fact, they faced upcoming opponents Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League.
A week after the Catalan giants recorded a 2-0 win at the Camp Nou, Lionel Messi went on to bag a hat-trick in the Czech Republic as Barca progressed into the last 16 with ease.
#OnThisDay in 2011, Messi scores 200, 201 and 202 official goals as Barcelona player in a 4-0 away win over Plzen. pic.twitter.com/WBjUQJcmx0
— Barça OTD (@barcaotd) November 1, 2015
Michal Bílek's hardworking side will do well to pick up any points in Group C but then again, stranger things have happened.
Topics: Barcelona, Inter Milan
Jack Kenmare