Thomas Mueller (C) of Bayern Munich in action during their Champions League clash with Barcelona at Stadium Munich Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, December 8, 2021. /CFP
Three former winners will slug it out in mouth-watering blockbuster showdowns as German giants Bayern Munich, Spanish powerhouse Barcelona and Italian behemoth Inter Milan were drawn into the same group of this season's Champions League campaign.
Bayern last won the ultimate prize in club football two years ago, Barca last reached the summit in 2015 and Inter last clinched the trophy in 2010. The three titans boasts 14 European titles between them and it will be heart-rending for fans to see one of them miss out in Group C.
After making huge investment in the summer transfer window, Barcelona will set out to exact revenge against old rivals Bayern, who beat them twice in last season's group stage and inflicted a humiliating 8-2 drubbing of them in the 2020 quarterfinal.
Barca's new statement signing Robert Lewandowski will be up against Bayern for the first time since leaving the club and there is no doubt he will be keen to make an impression in the so-called Group of Death.
Robert Lewandowski (L) celebrates with Bayern Munich teammates after their win over Barcelona at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, September 14, 2021. /CFP
Inter famously overwhelmed Barca and Bayern on their way to the 2010 title, but it will be tremendously difficult to replicate the heroics this time around considering their relatively inexperienced squad.
In sharp contrast, holders Real Madrid were handed a comfortable draw as the record 14-time champions will face RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic in the Group F. German outfit Leipzig have had a difficult start to the new Budesliga season, taking only two points from three games. Shakhtar and Celtic might have a greater chance a spring a surprise.
Last season's runners-up Liverpool will take on Ajax, Napoli and Rangers, who return to the European top table for the first time in 12 years. English champions Manchester City are grouped with Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and FC Copenhagen.
Erling Haaland, who has scored three goals in his opening three Premier League matches after moving to City this summer, will be hoping to have a happy reunion with his former club Dortmund, who were still reeling from their stunning 3-2 defeat to newly promoted Werder Bremen last weekend.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City during their friendly match against Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, August 24, 2022. /CFP
Elsewhere, Tottenham will fancy their chances of making progress after being drawn with Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting and Marseille, while two-time winners Chelsea will also hope to advance to the knockout stage with relative ease in a group featuring AC Milan, RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
Meanwhile, PSG's fearsome attacking trio Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, will try their utmost to bring a first ever European title to Paris Saint-Germain, who were paired with two-time winner Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa.
PSG's Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar (L-R) celebrate during their clash with Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Asq, France, August 21, 2022. /CFP
Group stage draw in full
Group A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers
Group B: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Club Bruges
Group C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzen
Group D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham, Sporting Lisbon, Marseille
Group E: AC Milan, Chelsea, RB Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb
Group F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic
Group G: Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, FC Copenhagen
Group H: Paris St-Germain, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa
A general view of the stage during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 Group Stage Draw at Halic Congress Centre in Istanbul, Türkiye, August 25, 2022. /CFP
Match Calendars
Group stage
Matchday 1: September 6–7, 2022
Matchday 2: September 13–14, 2022
Matchday 3: October 4–5, 2022
Matchday 4: October 11–12, 2022
Matchday 5: October 25–26, 2022
Matchday 6: November 1–2, 2022
Knockout phase
Round of 16: February 14/15/21/22 and March 7/8/14/15, 2023
Quarter-finals: April 11–12 and 18–19, 2023
Semi-finals: May 9–10 and 16–17, 2023
Final: June 10, 2023