Lewandowski set for Bayern return as UCL draw sets up Barca rematch

August 26 - If there weren't quite a bunch of deaths as such, there were certainly some tantalizing heavyweight clashes when the League group stage draw of this season's champions was performed on Thursday.

Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter Milan have all been placed in the same group, with the added spice of striker Robert Lewandowski returning to Bayern just weeks after joining Barca.

Only two years ago, the Catalan giants beat Bayern by an epic 8-2 scoreline in the quarter-finals. Then, last season, Barça suffered two 3-0 defeats against the Germans in the group stage.

Xavi Hernández's Barca will be desperate to avoid a second straight group stage exit but look certain they will need to finish above Bayern or Inter to do so in a group that has a combined 14 Cup titles of Europe or in the Champions League. Viktoria Plzeň of the Czech Republic is the underdog of the rank group.

"What a great story that we are going to meet Barcelona with Robert Lewandowski," said Bayern striker Thomas Müller, who played alongside the Poland international for eight years.

Manchester City's Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland, whose team was paired with Borussia Dortmund, is also making an immediate return to his former club. "We are as much looking forward to it as we are to reuniting with Erling Haaland," said Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus.

The Premier League champions are still in the hunt for their first Champions League crown, but City chief executive Ferran Soriano has played down any sign of desperation.

"The priority is always the Premier League, it's our bread and butter," he said. "The Champions League is an aspiration, not an obsession. We will win it, I'm sure."

Qatar-owned Paris St Germain, like City still in the hunt for their first Champions League trophy, are paired in Group H with Juventus while Group A looks singularly tasty with the Champions League runner-up. last season, Liverpool, facing Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in the final battle. of Great Britain.

"The first thing to say is that it's a real challenge," Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp told the club's website. "All the clubs have quality, they all have pedigree and I would say they all have a chance."

Reigning champions Real Madrid are in one of the more manageable groups with Leipzig, Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk - who will have to play their matches in Poland - and Celtic.

With the 32 teams sharing around €2 billion in prize money, the group stage starts earlier than usual on September 6 and ends before this year's World Cup final in Qatar. The knockout stage then begins in February, with the final taking place at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on June 10.

Complete group stage draw

Group A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers

Group B: Porto, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Club Brugge

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

Contact the author of this story at moc.l1661585897labto1661585897ofdlr1661585897owedi1661585897sni@w1661585897ahsra1661585897w.wer1661585897dna1661585897