Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool discover Champions League fates as draw simulated
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As has been the case since the competition introduced its new league phase format, every club will face two opponents from pot one, two from pot two, two from pot three and two from pot four. Read our Privacy PolicyOur simulated draw has thrown up some enormous match-ups, including several chances for revenge following high-profile recent encounters...Pot 1: Atletico Madrid (h), Paris Saint-Germain (a).Pot 2: Real Betis (h), Porto (a).Pot 3: Napoli (h), Shakhtar (a).Pot 4: Como (h), AEK Athens or Levski Sofia (a).One of the most memorable results from last season's league phase was Arsenal's emphatic 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.
They also face a reunion with Cesc Fabregas' Como, who are making their Champions League bow and are placed in pot four.Pot 1: Barcelona (h), Real Madrid (a).Pot 2: Sporting CP (h), Borussia Dortmund (a).Pot 3: Feyenoord (h), Bodo/Glimt or NEC (a).Pot 4: Celtic or LASK (h), Stuttgart (a).Enzo Maresca's inaugural Champions League fixture as Manchester City manager is a daunting prospect if our simulator proves accurate. Their other pot four opposition, according to our predictor, are German outfit VfB Stuttgart.Pot 1: Real Madrid (h), Paris Saint-Germain (a).Pot 2: Club Brugge (h), Porto (a).Pot 3: Napoli (h), Bodo/Glimt or NEC (a).Pot 4: Slavia Prague (h), Celtic or LASK (a).Manchester United will make their return to the Champions League under Michael Carrick, with one of their standout fixtures seeing them face a Paris Saint-Germain team against whom they secured a memorable victory in 2019.
Regarding pot four, it's Slavia Prague and the winner of Celtic vs LASK.Five clubs from England will be involved in the initial league phase (Image: Getty)Aston VillaPot 1: Barcelona (h), Inter Milan (a).Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund (h), Roma (a).Pot 3: Lyon or Fenerbahce (h), Lille (a).Pot 4: Slovan Bratislava or Celje (h), Stuttgart (a).Villa's fourth-place finish in the league last season would have secured their Champions League place even without their Europa League victory. Slovan Bratislava and Celje are delicately balanced at 1-1 ahead of Wednesday's second leg, with our simulator sending the victors to Villa Park on gameweek three.Pot 1: Inter Milan (h), Atletico Madrid (a).Pot 2: Roma (h), Real Betis (a).Pot 3: Galatasaray (h), Lille (a).Pot 4: Hapoel Be'er Sheva or Sabah (h), Slovan Bratislava or Celje (a).Andoni Iraola's predecessor Arne Slot kicked off with a thrilling victory against Atletico Madrid in September last year, and our simulator has the new Liverpool manager facing the same opponents, this time on the road.