UEFA proceeded on Thursday in Istanbul (Turkey) to the draw for the group stage of the Champions League 2022-2023. Composed of Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Inter and Viktoria Plzen, group C will undoubtedly be the attraction of this first round. See you on September 6 and 7 for the first day.
Will Real Madrid manage to do it again for the 15th time in its history? Winners of the last edition (their 14th title in the competition) after a run as exceptional as it was crazy, the White House is putting its title on the line again for the 2022-2023 season. And the teammates of Karim Benzema, scorer of 15 goals in the last campaign, including a hat-trick against PSG in the round of 16 and another against Chelsea in the quarter-finals, know their opponents for the group stage.
Placed in group F with Celtic (Scotland), Shaktar Donestsk (Ukraine) and RB Leipzig (Germany), Carlo Ancelotti's men have been given a small selection. And they won't need to play any crazy games during the first round to get their ticket to the last eight.
On the other hand, the unfortunate finalist of the last edition, Liverpool, is placed in group A with Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands), Napoli (Italy) and Rangers (Scotland). If the group seems affordable, the Reds, in difficulty at the beginning of the season in the Premier League (2 points in 3 games), will have to quickly digest the departure of Sadio Mané this summer to Bayern, and get their head in the right place to hope to see the second round.
Reunion between Robert Lewandowski and his former club Bayern
Having entered a new cycle with a number of new recruits this summer, including former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona will be eagerly awaited in this new campaign. Xavi Hernandez's men will want to do better than last year's edition, when they were eliminated in the group stage.
But it must be said that the Spanish club, which has lost its superb since the departure of Messi last summer, has not been varnished by the draw. They are in the group of death with Bayern Munich (Germany), former club of the Polish star Lewandowski, Inter Milan (Italy) and Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic), the weakest team of this group C. It promises to be a fiery match.
The first day will be played on September 6 and 7.
Champions League draw pots ✅
🤔 What's the toughest group you can make? #UCLdraw || #UCL pic.twitter.com/UVeUmApBWI— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 25, 2022
The complete draw of the group stage
Group A
Ajax Amsterdam (HOL)
Liverpool (ANG)
Napoli (ITA)
Rangers (ECO)
Group B
Porto (POR)
Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Club Brugge (BEL)
Group C
Bayern Munich (GER)
FC Barcelona (ESP)
Inter Milan (ITA)
Viktoria Plzen (RTC)
Group D
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
Tottenham (ENG)
Sporting Portugal (POR)
Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
Group E
AC Milan (ITA)
Chelsea (ENG)
Salzburg (AUT)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Group F
Real Madrid (ESP)
RB Leipzig (GER)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Celtic Glasgow (ECO)
Group G
Manchester City (ENG)
Sevilla FC (ESP)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Copenhagen (DAN)
Group H
PSG (FRA)
Juventus (ITA)
Benfica (POR)
Maccabi Haifa (ISR)
