Arsenal face mouthwatering assignments against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as they bid to go one better than last season’s agonising near miss and win a first Champions League title. Mikel Arteta’s side were pipped on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain in the final three months ago and will be expected to cruise through this season’s league phase. The bulk of their draw appears kind but they are tasked with a visit to the Allianz Arena to play Bayern, who they beat 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium last November, and host Real, who are once again under the charge of José Mourinho.
Two seasons ago, Arsenal beat the Spanish giants 3-0 at home in a quarter-final first leg, Declan Rice scoring two memorable free-kicks. Arsenal will also welcome Borussia Dortmund, Lille and the Azerbaijani debutants Sabah to north London. Their other away fixtures involve trips to Napoli, Slavia Prague and a reunion with their ex-player Hector Bellerin at Real Betis.
Manchester City will swiftly renew acquaintances with Rodri when they visit Barcelona during Enzo Maresca’s first Champions League campaign in charge. They will greet Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli at the Etihad Stadium, just as they did last season in cruising to a 2-0 win. Their other home ties bring an enticing meeting with the reigning champions PSG, a tie against Sporting and a visit by AEK Athens.
Trips to Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens will round off their schedule. The return of Manchester United to Europe’s elite competition throws up home games with Bayern, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah. Michael Carrick’s team will travel to Como, who are managed by Cesc Fàbregas, along with Atlético Madrid, Sporting and Villarreal.
Liverpool will host Atlético, Porto, Villarreal and Lens. They visit Lask, the newcomers who sensationally defeated Celtic on Tuesday, along with Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Inter in a relatively kind-looking set of games. Aston Villa, decimated in recent weeks by the departures of key players, will hope to have strengthened sufficiently for a home tie with PSG and a visit to Barcelona.
They will be heartened by a stirring performance in their recent Super Cup defeat to Luis Enrique’s side in Salzburg. Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahce and the Norwegian new boys Viking Stavanger will also visit Villa Park. Unai Emery will also take his team to Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague.
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