Liverpool and Manchester City have both been paired with Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face one of the toughest routes with fixtures against Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The draw, announced on Thursday, sets up a thrilling league phase under UEFA’s expanded format.
Which Teams Will Liverpool Face in the Champions League?
Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who topped the league phase last season but were eliminated by PSG in the round of 16, have a demanding schedule. The Reds will meet Real Madrid at Anfield in one of the competition’s biggest fixtures. They also host Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, and Qarabag of Azerbaijan. Away matches will take them to Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, and Turkish champions Galatasaray.
Who Are Manchester City’s Opponents?
Manchester City, winners of the 2023 Champions League, also face Real Madrid, but this time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Pep Guardiola’s side will host Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, and Galatasaray at the Etihad. Their away trips include Villarreal, Monaco, and debutants Bodo/Glimt from Norway.
Why Is PSG’s Draw Considered the Toughest?
Luis Enrique’s PSG, who lifted the trophy last season, will entertain Bayern Munich in Paris and travel to Barcelona in another heavyweight clash. They also meet Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, alongside Atalanta, Leverkusen, Sporting Lisbon, and Athletic Bilbao. With no easy games, PSG face another demanding campaign.
This season marks the second year of UEFA’s new 36-club league format. Each team plays eight different opponents, with the top eight advancing directly to the last 16. Clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter play-offs, while the bottom 12 are eliminated.
Other notable ties include Barcelona traveling to Chelsea and Newcastle, while Arsenal face Bayern and Atletico at home before visiting Inter Milan and Bilbao. Tournament newcomers Kairat Almaty will host Real Madrid and visit Arsenal, while Pafos of Cyprus will meet Chelsea and Bayern.
The competition begins on September 16, with the final set for May 30 in Budapest. For the first time, the Champions League final will kick off at 6:00 pm local time instead of the traditional 9:00 pm start.
By Yockshard Enyendi