Five of the English game’s established powers – Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool – denied they were involved in discussions for such a tournament earlier this year.
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City and Barca are joined in Group C by Borussia Monchengladbach and Scottish champions Celtic.
Cristiano Ronaldo also returns to his first club as holder Real Madrid has been drawn against Sporting Lisbon.
Jack Kelly, head of external affairs at the airport, said: “We’re delighted that Leicester City fans will be able to fly from East Midlands Airport directly to two of the three countries within the Champions League group”.
The changes came after Europe’s top clubs discussed the possibility of forming a Super League, possibly without Uefa’s authorisation.
“Celtic are a team we have got to know well in Europe and after seasons without Champions League football they will have a point to prove”, he told the Record.
Sevilla qualified by virtue of having won last season’s Europa League. Plus reigning champions Leicester City will be looking to compete again.
After leaving the Nou Camp, the former Spain midfielder took charge of German side Bayern Munich and lost to his former side in the 2014-15 Champions League semi-finals.
“Last season was wonderful, but now I want more”.
There appears to be no possibility of that happening in the near future after European football’s governing body announced the new formats for the Champions League and Europa League for the three year commercial cycle starting in the 2018/19 season.
Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are the two clear favourites to progress from Group A ahead of Basel and Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets, with Arsene Wenger’s side preparing for a 19th successive appearance in the competition.
The group stage begins on September 13 and 14 and continues to December 6 and 7.
Bayern Munich has been handed a chance at revenge against Atletico Madrid in Group D, which also has Dutch heavyweights PSV Eindhoven and Russian outfit Rostov. “It is a delightful group, equally hard and attractive”.
Matches between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are swift becoming classics.
“We know very well that Russian Federation is always hard and CSKA are sure to have a very good team”, said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.
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Juve’s Italian counterparts Napoli are in Group B with Benfica, Dynamo Kiev and Besiktas.
