heavy draw for PSG, OM and Stade Rennes

Strong, even very strong for the three French clubs in the Champions League (C1). Paris-Saint-Germain inherited, Thursday 1^er October during the draw for the group stage, Manchester United, Olympique de Marseille from Manchester City, and finally Stade Rennes will have a hard time facing Chelsea and Sevilla: the French clubs could have dreamed of a simpler entry in the prestigious European football competition.

The shock of the first round will take place in group G: Juventus-FC Barcelona, ​​a summit that should keep all its promises between the two superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, eleven Golden Balls between them, and will give this match scent of clasico, evoking the Madrid years of the Portuguese. The Ukrainians of Dynamo Kiev and the Hungarians of Ferencvaros complete this “group of death”.

The tricolor formations avoided the worst, even if the Paris-SG, outgoing finalist, will have a hard time with Manchester United, whose last visit to the Parc des Princes, in March 2019, had been a nightmare for him. In the round of 16 second leg, a penalty in stoppage time from Marcus Rashford (3-1) offered a miraculous qualification to the Red Devils, yet beaten 2-0 at Old Trafford, and covered with humiliation the Parisians. PSG-Manchester United is also the return of the Blues Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial in their region of origin.

RB Leipzig, on the other hand, evokes much better memories for coach Thomas Tuchel: it is the team he had swept away in the semi-final in August (3-0), during the C1 super 8 in Lisbon. . The Germans, where former Parisian Christopher Nkunku and French international Dayot Upamecano play, have a quick chance to get their revenge. The last team in Group H, Istanbul Basaksehir, are new to the competition, but the club, known for their closeness to President Erdogan, won the last edition of the Turkish Championship.

The freshman from Rennes

Marseilles will also have the right to matches of high emotional value in Group C: against FC Porto, the club of the heart of his Portuguese coach André Villas-Boas, or Manchester City, where his former defender Benjamin Mendy plays. OM can hope to qualify for the eighth, behind the first place in the group promised to the Citizens of Pep Guardiola, but for that they will also have to beat the Greeks of Olympiakos FC Piraeus, of its former playmaker Mathieu Valbuena.

Reindeer, for his first participation, also feared the worst. But he inherited one of the most affordable seeds, Europa League winners Sevilla FC, as well as another novice, the Russians of Krasnodar. Chelsea are, on paper, their strongest opponents, especially since the Blues have managed a full transfer window, recruiting striker Timo Werner, former PSG captain Thiago Silva as well as former Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy .

The schedule of meetings will be unveiled on Friday. The first day of the group stage is scheduled for October 20 and 21.

Finally, UEFA authorized Thursday the immediate return of the public to European football competitions, including the Champions League, within a limit of 30% of the stadium’s capacity and at the discretion of the local authorities, without however allowing supporters to travel. visitors.