Arsenal have been handed a daunting Champions League league-phase draw, with the Premier League champions set to face 15-time winners Real Madrid and German giants Bayern Munich.
Mikel Arteta’s side, who were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on penalties in last season’s semi-final, will host Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium and travel to Munich to face Bayern.
Arsenal will also meet Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Azerbaijan champions Sabah and Slavia Prague as they attempt to secure a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the round of 16.
The draw has also produced a blockbuster clash between reigning champions PSG and Premier League sides Manchester City and Aston Villa.
City set for PSG, Barcelona reunions
Manchester City will host PSG at the Etihad Stadium and travel to Barcelona in what will be a reunion with former midfielder Rodri, who joined the Spanish giants in a £65 million deal this summer.
Enzo Maresca’s side will also face former City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne when Napoli visit Manchester.
City’s other league-phase opponents are Sporting CP, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens.
PSG will also travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa in a repeat of the recent UEFA Super Cup, which the French champions won 2-1 in Salzburg.
The European champions will also host Barcelona at the Parc des Princes, while their other fixtures include away games against Manchester City and Villa.
Villa return with tough draw
Europa League winners Aston Villa are returning to the Champions League after a season away and have been handed a difficult schedule.
Unai Emery’s side will host PSG and Borussia Dortmund while travelling to Barcelona and Galatasaray.
Villa will also face Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking and Slavia Prague as they seek to progress to the knockout stages.
Man United face Bayern
Manchester United will return to the Champions League after a two-year absence and have also been handed a challenging draw.
The Premier League side will face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Sporting CP, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah and Como.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens while travelling to Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK.
Champions League format
The first round of league-phase matches will be played from September 8 to 10, with the first six rounds scheduled to take place before the end of December.
The league phase will resume in January, with the eighth and final round scheduled for January 27.
The top eight teams in the final standings will qualify automatically for the round of 16 in March.
Teams finishing ninth to 24th will enter the knockout play-offs in February, with the winners joining the top eight in the round of 16.
Teams finishing between 25th and 36th will be eliminated from the competition.
The Champions League final will be played in Madrid on June 5, setting the stage for another season of high-profile European clashes.
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.
Comments
Start the conversation about this story.