Champions League draw: Alexander-Arnold primed for swift Liverpool reunion | Champions League

Trent Alexander-Arnold will make a swift return to Anfield after his new membership, Actual Madrid, had been drawn to face Liverpool once more on this season’s Champions League.

The correct-back will meet his former teammates months after his controversial transfer to the Bernabéu, which drew vocal disapproval from sections of the Liverpool assist in the direction of the top of final season. Alexander-Arnold, an academy product who spent twenty years on the membership’s books, was booed on the match towards Arsenal in Might after saying that he would depart upon the expiry of his contract.

Reunions had been a working theme within the now customary sprawling draw, which paired every of the 36 contenders with eight league part opponents and included a report six Premier League golf equipment. Kevin De Bruyne ought to obtain a heat welcome to the Etihad when he comes again with Napoli; the Serie A winners can even host Chelsea in a tie that pits Antonio Conte towards one in all his former golf equipment. Arsenal will prime themselves for the most recent look of Harry Kane, a long-time nemesis whereas at Spurs, in Bayern Munich colors on the Emirates.

The Manchester Metropolis director of soccer, Hugo Viana, hailed De Bruyne’s imminent return. The Belgian departed in the course of the summer season after profitable 16 main trophies in a glittering 10 years at Metropolis. “I believe Pep [Guardiola] and all of his colleagues shall be actually blissful to obtain him and our followers shall be additionally,” he stated. “It will likely be very thrilling and we shall be very blissful to see him once more.”

Liverpool will deliver up a Madrid double, with Actual’s metropolis rivals Atlético additionally travelling to Merseyside. Softer-looking duties towards PSV and Qarabag, the champions of Azerbaijan, full their house schedule; they may journey to Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray. Arne Slot’s aspect beat Actual 2-0 a the identical stage final November and the supervisor known as their imminent rematch “a fixture that the entire world shall be ”.

Metropolis will renew acquaintances with Actual, who they’ve confronted 10 occasions prior to now 5 and a half years. Actual most not too long ago defeated them 6-3 on combination in February’s knock out playoff spherical and can host this tie. Metropolis can even go to newcomers Bodø/Glimt, Villarreal and Monaco; Guardiola’s aspect will host Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Galarasaray together with Napoli.

Arsenal will look to banish the reminiscence of a Kane penalty on the Emirates in April 2024 that contributed to Bayern’s victory in that season’s quarter-finals. Atlético, Olympiacos and the Kazakhstani debutants Kairat Almaty can even go to north London; Arsenal, semi-finalists in 2024-25, will go to Inter, Membership Brugge, Slavia Prague and Athletic Bilbao. “For me, it’s a second the place Arsenal may be aggressive once more and simply go that one step additional,” stated Theo Walcott, current on the ceremony in Monte Carlo in his capability as a membership ambassador.

Chelsea stay aglow from their Convention League and Membership World Cup successes however face a comparatively tough-looking path by means of the league part. They are going to meet Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax and the Cypriot first-timers Pafos at Stamford Bridge, enjoying away ties with Bayern, Atalanta, Qarabag and Conte’s spectacular Napoli.

The vogue for reigniting previous relationships continues with Tottenham’s journey contained in the arctic circle to satisfy Bodø/Glimt, with their victory over the Norwegian membership in Might’s Europa League semi-finals nonetheless a contented reminiscence. Spurs additionally face the reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, who edged them out on penalties within the Tremendous Cup a fortnight in the past, at Parc des Princes. Their assignments on the street additionally embody Eintracht, one other opponent from 2024-25, and Monaco. Thomas Frank’s group host Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and FC Copenhagen from his homeland.

There shall be few straightforward assignments for Newcastle, significantly in the event that they discover themselves shorn of Alexander Isak. St James’ Park will play host to Barcelona, Benfica, PSV and Athletic; their followers will await journeys to PSG, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille and Union Saint-Gilloise. They defeated PSG 4-1 at house and drew 1-1 away within the 2023-24 group stage.

Different noteworthy clashes embody a rerun of the 2021 ultimate between PSG and Bayern, together with an epic journey to the Kazakh capital for Actual after they face Kairat.

The primary set of video games will happen between 16 and 18 September; 5 subsequent rounds are scheduled earlier than mid-December, with two extra lined up for January. The order of the fixtures, together with dates and kick-off occasions, shall be launched on Saturday.