The UEFA Champions League might have a brand new format however the luck of the draw is a continuing, as Thursday’s first-of-its-kind league section draw proved for the 36 groups collaborating on this season’s competitors.
The brand new format means each workforce can have at the very least one marquee matchup through the league section however even then, some groups got here out of the draw happier than others. A handful of European heavyweights got here out of the draw pretty unscathed, together with two groups who arguably didn’t want the assistance — Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis, the favorites to win this season’s competitors.
For many, although, the draw supplied up a mix of must-win video games and ones wherein the chances are stacked towards them, the steadiness extra harsh for some than others. That features Paris Saint-Germain, who drew a number of the finest groups in each Pot 1 and Pot 2 and can have a lot to show as they start to chart life after Kylian Mbappe.
As the beginning of the league section nears, right here’s a rating of every workforce’s path to the Champions League knockout levels.
Piece of cake
- Arsenal
- Barcelona
- Juventus
- Manchester Metropolis
- Actual Madrid
These groups are poised to be the oddsmakers’ favorites in every of their video games, which comes much less as a shock for Metropolis and Actual Madrid and extra so for the remaining for the reason that new format makes a troublesome schedule an actual risk for each workforce within the competitors. Actual Madrid’s conflict with Liverpool will draw loads of consideration however it’s nonetheless the reigning champions’ sport to lose. As for Arsenal, their video games towards PSG and Inter may pose some challenges however they need to have the ability to deal with them, whereas Barcelona will probably be grateful their hardest match might come towards a Bayern Munich workforce underneath new management. Juventus return to the Champions League with a faceoff towards Metropolis however in any other case have some very winnable video games.
May break a sweat
- Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund
- Liverpool
This trio will largely be pleased with their attracts, however a few powerful video games might complicate issues as they eye a spot within the knockouts. Bayern’s hardest matches will come towards PSG and Barcelona, which is able to mark severe checks of Vincent Kompany’s managerial talents in his first high-profile job. Liverpool are in comparable terrain — a matchup with Actual Madrid will probably be powerful whereas a lot of the different video games are winnable, however a conflict towards Bayer Leverkusen might function a significant evaluation of Arne Slot’s managerial expertise. Borussia Dortmund can even be pleased with nearly all of their schedule, however their video games towards Barcelona and Actual Madrid will provide some challenges.
Toss-up central
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Inter
- RB Leipzig
These groups completely have the flexibility to crack the highest 24 spots within the league section, however they have been drawn into video games that would go both method and will probably be actual showcases of their present type. What’s distinctive about this group of groups, too, is that they must take factors off each other — most of them play two groups on this class, whereas Leverkusen must play three. Leverkusen’s schedule particularly will function a litmus check after their record-breaking season, however every workforce on this group will probably be keen to interrupt into the elites slightly than being labeled a midtable Champions League workforce.
Time to fret
- AC Milan
- Atalana
- Benfica
- Membership Brugge
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Shakhtar Donetsk
These groups land right here although a mix of questions on their very own qualities, in addition to the tough attracts they have been handed. PSG will little question really feel probably the most onerous completed by after the draw, which reads extra like a listing of Champions League hopefuls than early stage clashes — Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. AC Milan, in the meantime, would be the underdogs towards Actual Madrid and Liverpool however amidst a poor begin to the season, they might want to show they’ve what it takes towards the likes of Leverkusen and Girona. The opposite 4 merely might not have sufficient to advance, particularly since their schedules embrace video games towards three of Europe’s prime groups.
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