The UEFA Champions League draw has thrown up blockbuster ties, with Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain all facing heavyweight opposition.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will return to Anfield for the first time since joining Real Madrid, as Xabi Alonso’s men visit Liverpool in the new format.
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Liverpool, Premier League champions last season, also face Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Qarabag, Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, and Turkish champions Galatasaray in a tough schedule ahead.
Arne Slot’s side impressed in last year’s league phase but fell in the last-16 against eventual winners PSG, who now face another difficult campaign.
Tough Draws For Europe’s Elite
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will take on Barcelona and Bayern Munich, alongside fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, and Athletic Bilbao.
Manchester City, meanwhile, have been paired with Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Galatasaray, Villarreal, Monaco, and Norwegian debutants Bodo/Glimt, promising a truly competitive group of fixtures.
Kevin De Bruyne’s return to Manchester with Napoli adds extra intrigue, as he faces his former club City after leaving the Etihad in June, reports First Post.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi described the challenge as motivating, insisting that despite being champions, “everybody wants to be the champions,” highlighting the competition’s fierce unpredictability.
The revamped format ensures every side plays eight different opponents, with the top eight progressing directly to the round of 16 in Europe’s elite stage.
With Alexander-Arnold’s emotional Anfield return and PSG’s daunting path, this season’s Champions League promises drama, intensity, and unforgettable nights under the lights.
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