Back-to-back Champions League winners Paris St-Germain are locked into a league phase draw that looks absolutely *bonkers*, pulling Premier League heavyweights Manchester City and Aston Villa, plus five-time champs Barcelona. This is not going to be a walk in the Parc des Princes for PSG, no sir.
The European Champs’ Gauntlet and Wild Reunions
PSG is hosting Barcelona at Parc des Princes, which is a classic matchup right there. They’ve also got trips to Villa Park and Manchester on the schedule for the league phase. But let’s talk about Manchester City’s draw for a sec, because that’s where things get wild. Enzo Maresca’s City squad will welcome PSG to Etihad Stadium, which is already a high-stakes clash. Then they’re traveling to Barcelona for a reunion with Spanish World Cup winner Rodri, who just bolted for the Nou Camp in a massive £65m deal this summer. Talk about awkward! As if that wasn’t enough, City will also be up against another former midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne, when Napoli rolls into Manchester. On top of those headliners, City also faces Sporting, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens, and Lens in the league phase. That’s a brutal run of games, man.
Premier League Squads Facing Serious Tests
Aston Villa, the Europa League winners, are back in the Champions League after a season away, and they’re getting thrown straight into the deep end. Unai Emery’s side gets to host PSG and Borussia Dortmund at home, but they’ve also got tough road trips to Barcelona and Galatasaray. Their other opponents include Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking, and Slavia Prague. Premier League champions Arsenal are also in for a test, hosting 15-time winners Real Madrid at Emirates Stadium and taking a trip to Bayern Munich. Mikel Arteta’s squad, who actually lost to PSG on penalties in last season’s final, will also battle Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Azerbaijan champions Sabah, and Slavia Prague. Manchester United is back after a two-year hiatus, and they’ll be meeting Bayern, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Sporting, Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah, and Como. Finally, Liverpool will host Atletico, Porto, Villarreal, and Lens, while hitting the road to face Inter Milan, Brugge, Fenerbahce, and LASK.
The first league-phase matches kick off on Tuesday, September 8. You’ll need to mark your calendars because the last round of games isn’t until January 27, 2027. The exact schedule is dropping this Saturday, so keep an eye out. And for the grand finale, this season’s Champions League final is set for June 5 in Madrid. Can’t wait to see who makes it there!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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