Having made it through two qualifying rounds after losing in last season’s Europa League final, the reward for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side is a tough group that also includes Dutch champions Ajax and Napoli, who lead Serie A at the top. after two matches. However, it could have been even worse for Rangers if former Bayern Munich and Turkey midfielder Hamit Altintop had drawn them into a group that included Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Internazionale. Instead, Czech champions Viktoria Plzen have the unenviable task of trying to find a way past three teams who have won the competition 14 times between them. Liverpool have never played Rangers in a competitive match before, although they have met in friendlies most recently in October 2011 when the Scottish side won 1-0 at Ibrox. Klopp was in no doubt about the task ahead and stated: “The first thing I have to say is that this is a proper, proper challenge. The difference this year is that the group stage will be shorter than usual, so we will have to be ready not only for the quality of the opposition but also for the different demands and pace.” “Just a couple of years ago we played two really tough games against Ajax and we draw against Napoli quite regularly so we know a lot about both of them and they know a lot about us. I know there will also be some new lessons to be learned,” he added. “Rangers are a new opponent for us, but we know them too. Their story over the last few years has been very interesting and they have done very, very well to qualify for the group stage given the teams they have faced in the qualifiers.” Elsewhere, Tottenham will be in with a chance of progressing to their first Champions League season since 2019/20 after drawing with Eintracht Frankfurt – who beat Rangers in the Europa League final to qualify for this season’s competition – Sporting and Marseille in Group D. “We have some very tough games but everyone knows each other in European football now and we have a squad that I think could be a force to be reckoned with,” said Tottenham ambassador and former captain Gary Mabbutt. “We’re playing against Europe’s elite and we’re really looking forward to it.” Chelsea face AC Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb in a welcome draw for Thomas Tuchel’s side in Group E, while Norwegian striker Haaland will be reunited with his former team-mates at Dortmund following his £53m summer move. the German side, Sevilla and FC Copenhagen in Group G. Quick guide
Champions League group stage draw and dates
projection Group A Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, RangersGroup B Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, BrugesGroup C Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Internacional, Viktoria PlzenGroup D Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham, Sporting, MarseilleGroup E Milan, Chelsea, Salzburg, Dinamo ZagrebGroup F Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, CelticGroup C Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, CopenhagenGroup H Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa 1st matchday September 6-7Second matchday September 13-14Third matchday October 4-5Fourth matchday October 11-12Competitive Thursday October 25-266th matchday November 1-2 Thanks for your response. “It will be a special game, especially for Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gundogan,” said City chief executive Ferran Soriano. “I think they’ll both enjoy it. It’s a fantastic stadium – the last time we went there it was empty because of Covid, so it’s going to be a really great experience for our fans, both in Dortmund and in Manchester.” Asked if winning the Champions League for the first time was City’s priority this season after being knocked out by Madrid in the semi-finals last season after losing to Chelsea in the 2021 final, Soriano added: “No, it never is . Our priority is always the Premier League – that’s what we work hard for every week and it’s our bread and butter. The Champions League is of course an ambition, but it is not an obsession. We’ll win it, I’m sure.” Celtic face a tough challenge against holders Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk. Ange Postecoglou’s side last met 14 winners in 1980 – a European Cup tie which saw the Spanish side eventually prevail after trailing 2-0 at one stage. Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge make up Group B, with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Benfica and Maccabi Haifa in Group H. England’s Euro 2022-winning manager Sarina Wiegman was also named UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year, with Beth Mead beating Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas to the Women’s Player of the Year award. “It’s great to receive this great award, I’m honored and humbled,” Weigman said. “This award is really for everyone involved with the England team, the FA, the staff and most importantly the players. Our fans have been really good too, so thank you for supporting us so much. Hopefully we will qualify for the World Cup and enjoy the game.” Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won the men’s award, with Karim Benzema emerging as the men’s player of the year.
