The polls at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo have delivered their verdict. Under the watchful eye of Thierry Henry and David Villa, guarantors of a draw now entrusted to the precision of software, the four representatives of Italian football learned their eight opponents who will characterize the first phase of the tournament (a single group of 36 teams).
The first matchday will kick off between September 8th and 10th, culminating in the eighth round on January 27th. The top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 8, while the teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in the playoffs. The final goal has a specific date and location: June 5th, at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
Napoli: The Premier League Nightmare and the Scandinavian Trap
A journey fit for true giants. Napoli finds itself facing a group that feels like a pre-season finale, where the Neapolitans' ambitions will be immediately put to the test by English football.
The Arsenal boys will arrive at the Maradona on a summer night that promises to be a fiery one, but the real mountain to climb will be the trip to the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City. A matchup that has become a classic in modern European football. The draw then featured a tricky away game in Portugal against Porto and a home match against the quality of Club Brugge. The final matchup was the climatic and tactical challenges of Bodo/Glimt, Villarreal, Viking, and Sabah.
Napoli's opponents:
At home (H): Arsenal, Bruges, Bodo/Glimt, Viking
Away (A): Manchester City, Porto, Villarreal, Sabah
Inter: Mourinho's charm and the night at Anfield
Inter start as top seeds but inherit a draw of pure fascination and suffering. The Nerazzurri's attacking frontrunners will first have to contend with history: Liverpool arrive at San Siro in a timeless classic, while the trip to the Santiago Bernabéu against José Mourinho's Real Madrid promises sparks and a huge emotional charge.
The pitfalls don't end there: the trip to the "Yellow Wall" against Borussia Dortmund will test the team's character, rounded off by matches against Bruges, Shakhtar, Feyenoord, Stuttgart and Slovan Bratislava.
Inter's opponents:
At home (H): Liverpool, Bruges, Shakhtar, Stuttgart
Away (A): Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord, Slovan Bratislava
Rome: The former Special One and the Parco dei Principi test
Roma are treating themselves to memorable Champions League nights. The Olimpico is preparing to welcome back former great José Mourinho, this time as an opponent on the bench of his Real Madrid, for a match that will shake the capital.
Away from home, the Giallorossi face Paris Saint-Germain under the lights of the Parc des Princes, in addition to a fascinating trip to Old Trafford against Manchester United. The Roman road trip also features Sporting Lisbon, the French threat of Lille, the fiery Fenerbahce, and the matches against Slovan Bratislava and AEK Athens.
Roma's opponents:
At home (H): Real Madrid, Sporting Lisbon, Lille, Slovan Bratislava
Away (A): Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Fenerbahce, AEK Athens
Como: The European dream begins among the giants
A spine-chilling baptism of fire for Como, who returns to the continental stage and challenges the dynasties of world football. The Larians will host Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United at the Sinigaglia Stadium, bringing some of the brightest stars in world football to the lake.
The highlight of their campaign will undoubtedly be the trip to Camp Nou against Barcelona. A fascinating and challenging journey that will also see Como face Real Betis, Leipzig, Feyenoord, AEK Athens, and Lens.
Como's opponents:
At home (H): Paris Saint Germain, Manchester United, Leipzig, AEK Athens
Away (A): Barcelona, Real Betis, Feyenoord, Lens
Key points on the Champions League draw
Here is a summary of the main points that emerged from the Champions League draw for Italian teams.
- Single round: The group stage consists of a single group with 36 teams.
- Important dates: The first round will take place between September 8th and 10th, with the eighth round scheduled for January 27th.
- Goals: The top 8 teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while the teams ranked 9th to 24th will participate in the playoffs.
- Napoli's opponents: Napoli will face Arsenal, Manchester City, Porto, Bruges, Bodo/Glimt, Villarreal, Viking and Sabah.
- Opponents of the other Italians: Inter, Roma, and Como will have high-level matches against teams like Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
