Talk about drama! The Champions League draw has thrown up some incredible reunions. Trent Alexander-Arnold is heading back to Anfield with Real Madrid, and Kevin De Bruyne gets a hero’s welcome at the Etihad. Which matchup are you most excited to see, and will Alexander-Arnold get the last laugh?
The UEFA Champions League draw has once again delivered a captivating set of fixtures, highlighted by two highly anticipated reunions that promise both drama and emotional returns for former club heroes.
One of the most intriguing matchups will see Trent Alexander-Arnold, now a Real Madrid star, make an emotional return to Anfield to face his boyhood club, Liverpool. This reunion is particularly charged given his departure earlier this summer, a move that saw him initially agree to a free transfer before Real Madrid paid £8.5 million to accelerate the deal ahead of the Club World Cup.
Many Liverpool supporters expressed their disappointment over the 26-year-old allowing his contract to expire, leading to a somewhat frosty reception from sections of the crowd during his final appearances for the club. Alexander-Arnold, who enjoyed significant success at Liverpool with two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup, now finds himself battling for a starting spot at Real Madrid under former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Across England, Kevin De Bruyne is poised for a very different welcome, as he returns to the Etihad Stadium with Napoli. His departure from Manchester City in June marked the end of a remarkable 10-year tenure that yielded 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the coveted Champions League crown in the 2022-23 season, ensuring a hero’s welcome from the City faithful.
Beyond the De Bruyne reunion, Manchester City’s formidable Champions League campaign will also involve challenging encounters against Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, Galatasaray, Monaco, and Villarreal in the league phase. Furthermore, the reigning champions will renew their recent fierce rivalry with Real Madrid, including a highly anticipated trip to the iconic Bernabeu.
Liverpool’s home fixtures include clashes with Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, and Qarabag, alongside away trips to Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, and Galatasaray. Meanwhile, Arsenal faces a tough draw, hosting Bayern Munich and former Tottenham captain Harry Kane, as well as Atletico Madrid, Olympiacos, and Kairat Almaty, with challenging away games against Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, and Athletic Bilbao.
The Premier League boasts a record six teams in this season’s Champions League, with Newcastle United securing qualification from a fifth-place finish due to the European Performance Spots, and Tottenham Hotspur entering as Europa League winners. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle faces formidable opponents, traveling to defending champions Paris St-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, and Union SG, while welcoming Barcelona, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, and Athletic Bilbao to St James’ Park.
The increased representation of English clubs underscores the Premier League’s dominance in European football, setting the stage for an enthralling tournament. UEFA is expected to announce the full fixture dates on Saturday, igniting the countdown for clubs embarking on their journey towards the final in Budapest on May 30 next year.
