The 2022-23 UEFA Champions League (UCL) draw in Istanbul Turkey on Thursday has thrown up a mouth-watering group, containing 3 teams that have won the Competition at least once in the past 15 years.
Group C of this year’s UCL will host three European giants; Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Inter Milan with 14 Champions League trophies between them, and the champions of Czech First League, Viktoria Plzeň.
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A return of Robert Lewanoski to Bayern Munich with his new club, F.C Barcelona promises to be an intriguing fixture for fans around the world. Lewandoski scored over 300 career goals for the Bundesliga powerhouse between 2014 and 2022.
Reigning UCL champions, Real Madrid will begin their title defence at RB Leipzig, before going on to play Shakhtar Donesk and Celtic in Group F.
Last season’s finalist, Liverpool FC will lock horns with Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in Group A.
Champions League royalty AC Milan, fresh from winning the Italian Seria A will square-off against Chelsea, F.C Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb in Group E.
Manchester City FC, yet again a favourite to win the UEFA Champions League, a trophy that has so far eluded them, will face Spain’s Sevilla, Germany’s Borrussia Dortmund and Denmark’s FC Copenhagen in Group G. The return of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland to face his former club Borrussia Dortmund promises another exciting encounter.
Paris Saint-Germain face Italian and Portuguese giants Juventus and Benfica respectively in Group H, alongside Israel’s Maccabi Haifa.
Tottenham faces Europa League winners Eintrach Frankfurt, as well as Sporting Lisbon and Marseille in Group D.
Atletico Madrid, FC Porto, Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge will compete for the two Knock out tickets in Group B.
The UEFA Champions League group stage matches will start on 6th September 2022.
The final will take place at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, home of the Turkish national team. The venue famously hosted the 2005 decider, when Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan in the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
