Liverpool relish Real Madrid visit as other English clubs get deja vu
LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers savoured the prospect of a visit from Champions League holders Real Madrid after the Reds were drawn with the Spanish giants in the group stage yesterday.
Manchester City were dealt perhaps the worst hand of the four Premier League sides, and face German title-holders Bayern Munich, Serie A runners-up Roma and Russian champions CSKA Moscow.
City’s pairing with Bayern is a repeat of last season and one of three Anglo-German match-ups that also took place last term, with Arsenal again grouped with Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea with Schalke.
A meeting between 10-time kings of Europe Real and five-time winners Liverpool is one of the most intriguing fixtures, however, and, Rodgers believes, just reward for their return to the competition following a four-year absence.
“Initially, we’re excited. That was last season’s hard work, what we were working towards: getting Liverpool back into a competition where we are synonymous,” he said, after also being grouped with Swiss champions Basel and Bulgarians Ludogorets Razgrad, who qualified via a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday night.
“To be back in it again, no matter who we were going to play, it was always going to be exciting. But to have Real Madrid in your group, the champions last season, is going to be special. I’m already thinking of Anfield on that night.”
City, who progressed from the group stage last season for the first time, must use a reduced squad of 21 players for their European campaign, as part of sanctions for breaching financial fair play rules.
The Premier League title-holders lost at home to Bayern last term but won in Munich to narrowly miss out on topping the group, and also faced CSKA, who were handed a partial stadium ban after their fans racially abused City midfielder Yaya Toure.
Arsenal also lost at home to Dortmund but won in Germany, while Chelsea overcame Schalke 3-0 both home and away. The Gunners, who also face Galatasaray and Anderlecht, have a tricky end to Group D campaign, with Dortmund at home followed by a trip to Turkey.
The Blues, who also play Sporting Lisbon and Maribor, finish with a visit from the Portuguese league runners-up.