PSG face Barcelona and Man City as Champions League title defence draw is made

Paris Saint-Germain will open their Champions League title defence against two of Europe’s heavyweights, facing Barcelona away and hosting Manchester City in the main phase, following Thursday’s 36-team draw.

PSG arrive at the Camp Nou with a strong recent record against their Spanish rivals, winning all three visits since the infamous 6-1 “Remontada” defeat in March 2017. Their most recent trip produced a 2-1 victory in the league phase last October. The French champions will also face Aston Villa — whom they beat in the Super Cup earlier this month — and travel to Champions League newcomers Como, coached by former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas.

Real Madrid face a demanding slate of their own, hosting Inter Milan and making two trips to London: one to face Arsenal and another against Shakhtar Donetsk, who are playing their home games at Stamford Bridge. The Ukrainian side’s temporary home carries particular resonance for Madrid’s returning coach José Mourinho, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea.

Barcelona will host Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Como, while also travelling to Azerbaijani debutants Sabah in Baku. Arsenal, beaten finalists last season, host Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Sabah, and make the trip to Bayern Munich.

Bayern’s draw includes a visit to Manchester United and two Norwegian opponents — hosting Bodø/Glimt and travelling to Viking. They will also face Atlético Madrid, whose Metropolitano Stadium is set to host the final next May.

Liverpool drew what appeared one of the more manageable groups, with away fixtures at Inter Milan and Fenerbahçe. Atlético will visit Anfield, where Liverpool beat them 3-2 last September.

Four clubs make their Champions League debuts this season: Como, Austrian side LASK, Norwegian club Viking, and Sabah of Azerbaijan, a club founded as recently as 2017. Sabah coach Valdas Dambrauskas has already attracted attention for an unusual backstory — prize money won on the Lithuanian edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire helped fund his coaching education in England.

The draw also marks another historic first: former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré has guided Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava into the main phase, becoming the first African coach to take a side into this stage of the competition.