The UEFA Champions League draw was made at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, on Aug. 31, and Spanish clubs have been handed easy draws on paper.
Real Madrid, who are fourteen-time champions of the competition, were knocked out in the semi-final of the competition last season by eventual winners Manchester City, but after finishing second in La Liga behind Barcelona, they secured Champions League football.
The Los Blancos were placed in Group C with Italian Serie A Champions Napoli, Braga, and debutants Union Berlin. UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla returned to the UEFA Champions League by virtue of the win against AS Roma in the final in Budapest in May. They have now been put in another easy group against Arsenal, who are returning after six years of absence.
Group C, housing the UEFA Europa League winners, and the North Londoners, is completed by French side RC Lens and Dutch club PSV.
La Liga champions Barcelona didn’t go past the group stage last season in the UEFA Champions League; they will hope to do better than that this time around. This should be easier this time around with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Porto, and Belgian side Royal Antwerp.
The group stages will run from Sept. 19 to Dec. 13, with the final at Wembley on Jun. 1. Meanwhile, Barcelona will travel to Osasuna on matchday of the La Liga this weekend, while Real Madrid will host Getafe.
Group stage draw in full:
Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, Galatasaray
Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RC Lens
Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin
Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, Salzburg, Real Sociedad
Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic
Group F: Paris St-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle
Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys
Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
After a season-ending 113-98 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern… Read More
With the build-up to this summer’s European Championship heating up, Germany and France have revealed… Read More
Ahead of their opening group stage game against Poland in the Euro 2024 in Germany… Read More
Ahead of their opening game for Euro 2024 in Germany against Austria in Stuttgart on… Read More
The heavyweight division is about to witness one of its most prolific matchups in a… Read More
Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson will miss out on the team's final League game of… Read More