The UCL impromptu matches assembly has drawn up tempting clashes for the upcoming season, understandably setting Liverpool and Manchester City on a collision course with the one and only 15-times champions – Real Madrid. Whereas the reigning champions PSG are yet again drawn for another mammoth meeting with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Firstly, two of the new league-phase structure’s showpiece events will be Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid visiting Anfield to meet Arne Slot’s Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s City hosting the Blancos at the Santiago Bernabéu. Last season’s league-phase leaders before being knocked out at the last 16 stage by PSG, Liverpool, will see Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, and Qarabag in their stadium.
Their journeys to Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray are out of the question.
A similar ordeal City, winners in 2023 face, is not far away. Alongside the dream boys, they will be approaching Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli and Galatasaray, while at the same time checking out Villarreal, Monaco and Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt.
PSG have a precarious itinerary under Luis Enrique. They are to drop in on Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur, while supposed to get uncomfortable at Barcelona, Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Athletic Club. Last season, PSG just managed to scrape through the league phase before triumphing in the final, and this year seems no less challenging.
Besides these, there are several matches to keep an eye on. These include Barcelona visiting Chelsea and Newcastle, while Arsenal first match Bayern and Atletico Madrid at home before going to Inter Milan and Athletic Bilbao. Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, who are debutants in the tournament, will come up against Arsenal and Real Madrid, while Pafos from Cyprus will face Chelsea and Bayern.
The new UEFA system provides each of the 36 teams to have eight games against different rivals. Those eight best teams will qualify straight for the last 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th will be allowed play-offs. On May 30, the final will be held in Budapest, but with a different start time at 18:00 local time.
