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3 weeks ago
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It has gone unnoticed, but Real Madrid have inherited one of the “easiest” draws of the first phase of the Champions League, with Liverpool as their only major opponent.
While PSG has the second most difficult draw of the brand new “league phase” of the Champions League, with clashes against Arsenal, Atlético, Bayern and Manchester City (no less), Real Madrid, on the other hand, are the best-off clubs. The reigning C1 champion has inherited one of the easiest paths if we take into account the UEFA coefficients of its opponents. This should allow the Merengues, reinforced by Kylian Mbappé, to stock up on points to finish in the top 8 of the general classification.
Real Madrid will travel to Anfield to face Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool on November 27, but that is probably the only real clash on the schedule. While Borussia Dortmund will come to the Bernabéu on October 22 for a rematch of the last final, the German representative is not necessarily stronger than last spring. Mats Hummels, Jadon Sancho and Niclas Füllkrug are no longer there. AC Milan will also travel to the Spanish capital and the Rossoneri, too, have not put the means to strengthen their squad. The Lombard club was once again unable to afford the services of a star striker, settling for Alvaro Morata.
Real Madrid against Losc and Brest
The Spanish champions will not have to miss out, however, as they will also face Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta, winners of the Europa League (and beaten in the European Super Cup in mid-August), as well as Stuttgart, Lille at Pierre-Mauroy, Salzburg and Stade Brestois at Guingamp, on the final day on January 29. Young Boys Bern have the “easiest” draw in terms of the average UEFA coefficients, with Inter, Barça, Atalanta, Shakhtar, Red Star, Celtic, Aston Villa and Stuttgart as opponents.
Real Madrid are often singled out for benefiting from (many) favourable refereeing decisions as well as rather lenient draws in the group stage or in the round of 16 (because they are also top of the group). Carlo Ancelotti’s players, for example, inherited a group composed of Napoli, Braga and Union Braga last year and Leipzig, Shakhtar and Celtic in 2022. You have to go back to 2019 to see Real Madrid fall into a group of death with PSG (3-0 defeat and 2-2 draw).
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
