BREAKING English sides avoid ‘the Group of Death’ in Champions League group stage draw
English sides will be celebrating the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw – as all four sides avoided the ‘group of death’.
Liverpool were dealt a tough group: drawing Ajax, Napoli, and Rangers, but the Reds avoided the minefield of Pot 1. So too did Chelsea and Tottenham – while Manchester City, who were already in the first pot, will face Erling Haaland’s former side Borussia Dortmund.
However, English sides will be counting their lucky stars they avoided Group C. Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Viktoria Plzen make up ‘the group of death’ that throws up mouth-watering clashes on every matchday.
READ MORE: Champions League draw LIVE: Group stage draw start time, pots and fixtures for UK teams
Jurgen Klopp’s side have the toughest task with trips to Amsterdam and Naples, as well as a eye-catching UK derby with Rangers.
Rangers are back in the big time after returning from the brink just over a decade ago. The Gers beat PSV in the Netherlands to book their ticket to the group stage in emotional scenes on Thursday evening.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side will be joined in the group stage by their bitter rivals Celtic – who were drawn alongside Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, and Shakhtar Donetsk.
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Tottenham will be counting their lucky stars, after avoiding the big boys in Pot 1, Spurs drew Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon, and Marseille.
All three sides could cause Antonio Conte and his side a headache, but will be a welcome sight considering the sides the Lilywhites avoided. Frankfurt are the defending Europa League champions, and they claimed the scalp of Barcelona on their way to the final last season.
Champions League draw in full
Group A
Ajax
Liverpool
Napoli
Rangers
Group B
FC Porto
Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen
Club Brugge
Group C
Bayern Munich
Barcelona
Inter Milan
Viktoria Plzen
Group D
Eintracht Frankfurt
Tottenham Hotspur
Sporting Lisbon
Marseille
Group E
AC Milan
Chelsea
Red Bull Salzburg
Dinamo Zagreb
Group F
Real Madrid
RB Leipzig
Shakhtar Donetsk
Celtic
Group G
Manchester City
Sevilla
Borussia Dortmund
FC Copenhagen
Group H
PSG
Juventus
Benfica
Maccabi Haifa
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