PSG To Start Champions League Title Defense Against Barcelona, Man City
Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League schedule has been set, featuring high-profile matches against Manchester City and Barcelona. The draw includes a variety of European clubs, with several teams facing travel to remote locations like the Arctic Circle.
Why it matters
The Champions League is a premier global sporting event, and these matchups significantly impact the competitive landscape of European club football.
Two-time defending champion Paris Saint-Germain will host Manchester City and travel to Barcelona in the Champions League main phase this season, after the 36-team draw was made Thursday. PSG has won three straight visits to Barcelona — including a 2-1 win in the league phase last October — since imploding in the famous 6-1 loss in March 2017 that is known as the "Remontada" game. The French champion again plays Aston Villa, after a Super Cup win this month, and goes to Champions League newcomer Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, in an eight-game slate that starts in two weeks' time. Real Madrid will host Inter Milan and make two trips to London, at Arsenal and against Shakhtar Donetsk. Ukraine’s champion is playing home games at Stamford Bridge, where Madrid's returning coach José Mourinho was beloved by Chelsea fans in a pair of title-winning spells there.
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