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reFC Bayern will face Atlético de Madrid, RB Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow in their mission to defend their title in the Champions League group stage. That was the result of the European Football Union (Uefa) draw on Thursday in Geneva.
“A very interesting group”, so Thomas Müller called the constellation. “As the current winner of the Champions League, you are already under pressure in the group stage.” CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge set the course: “Having ascended the throne in Europe, we want to stay in the sun. We will play against all opponents with concentration and respect. “
39 days after the triumph of Lisbon, the Munich team was saved from great rivals. Bayern won the final against Paris Saint-Germain with coach Thomas Tuchel 1-0 on 23 August.
Thomas Müller and Bayern have their sights set on the round of 16
Source: Getty Images / Alexander Hassenstein
Runner-up Borussia Dortmund, who failed last season in the round of 16 against later finalist PSG, also found a feasible group. Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg, Lazio Roma – with former Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile – and FC Bruges are Westphalia’s opponents.
“Four strong teams, an interesting group. The reunion with Ciro Immobile, which we look forward to, gives Los Lazio Roma a special flavor. And we meet old friends in Saint Petersburg and Bruges, ”said Hans-Joachim Watzke, Managing Director of BVB, in the draw.
It will be much tougher for semi-finalist RB Leipzig, who will face last year’s finalist Paris, as well as Manchester United and Istanbul Basaksehir. “We were attracted by a very demanding group. Our goal is still the round of 16. We showed what we are capable of last season. We have known Paris since the semifinals, with them we still have a bill, ”promised Leipzig sporting director Markus Krösche.
Gladbach meets Real Madrid
Unsurprisingly, Bundesliga Borussia Mönchengladbach welcomed a demanding group, returning to the premier class after four years. The five-time champion of Germany, who was only in the fourth and final pot due to the low coefficient, was selected from the record winners of Real Madrid, the champion of Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan.
“I think our group really sounds like the Champions League. Borussia competed against Real and Inter in the glorious old days. We are looking forward to it and yet it is important now that we concentrate on the tasks that lie ahead, namely in Cologne at the weekend, ”said coach Marco Rose. “This is the Champions League that awaits us. We are there to survive in this group. We will try to hibernate in Europe in the best of cases ”, emphasized the manager Max Eberl.
The draw took place in Geneva
What: REUTERS
The goal of all clubs is Istanbul, where the final will be played on May 29, 2021. In the group stage there is a real date hunt until Christmas. The game will be played on 20./21. and 27./28. October 3 and 4 and 24./25. November 1 and 2 and 8/9. December. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there could be more game cancellations, then somehow an alternate date must be found. UEFA reserves the right to extend the group stage until January 28.
Uefa prepared for an emergency
In Germany, it still doesn’t seem clear how to proceed with possible quarantine regulations. “If we compete in the Champions League in a risk zone on Wednesday … then the bases should be in place so that we can play in the Bundesliga again on Saturdays,” said BVB sporting director Michael Zorc , in the FAZ. “He said. Local authorities are responsible, clubs should try to get exemptions.
If the group stage cannot be completed for “whatever reason”, the UEFA Executive Committee will decide on the composition of the knockout round, the umbrella association announced. The same rules apply to the Europa League, whose group stage will be drawn on Friday.
Group A
Bayern Munich, Atlético de Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow
B Group
Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Group C
FC Porto, Manchester City, Olympiakos Piräus, Olympique de Marseille
Group D
FC Liverpool, Ajax Amsterdam, Atalanta Bergamo, FC Midtjylland
Group E
FC Sevilla, FC Chelsea, FK Krasnodar, Stade Rennes
Group F.
FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio Roma FC, Bruges KV
Group G
Juventus Turin, FC Barcelona, Dynamo Kiew, Ferencváros Budapest
Group H.
Paris St. Germain, Manchester United, RB Leipzig, Istanbul Basaksehir
