Barcelona up against 'powerful group' in Champions League - Ernesto Valverde

ESPN FC's Paul Mariner sifts through the Champions League draw and determines who has the best path to the knockout stage and who may struggle.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde says his side are up against a "powerful group" after drawing Tottenham, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven in Thursday's Champions League draw in Monaco.

Barca, five-time winners of Europe's top club competition, are looking for their first triumph since 2015 after crashing out at the quarterfinal stage last season. And Valverde highlighted the different challenges his side will face in order to qualify for the knockout stage this term. 

"It's a powerful group, they always are at this stage of the competition," Valverde said. "It's a nice group, too, with teams with different styles of play and four really competitive clubs.

The official result of the #UCLdraw! 🤩

Toughest group? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/G6rPKtQuU8

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)August 30, 2018

"Inter are back in the Champions League and they'll be desperate to do well. PSV have [former Barcelona midfielder Mark] van Bommel in charge, someone we know really well.

"And [Mauricio] Pochettino's Tottenham have very good players. It's a group which is going to be really well disputed.

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti echoed Valverde's sentiments regarding Group B's strength.

His side squeaked into the competition in the final round of the Serie A season last term. And the Argentine admitted he was expecting an easier road.

"We are in a difficult group; we were not expecting it to be so difficult, but we will have all the time we need to prepare every game in the best possible way," Zanetti said.

"Barcelona are not all about Messi: They have plenty of players who can change a game all in a sudden just with a piece of skill. Facing teams like this, however, can only help us to improve and raise our standards."