Liverpool will open their first campaign in the new, expanded Champions League with reruns of famous past finals against Milan and Real Madrid. Arne Slot’s side were also drawn to host Bayer Leverkusen, managed by their former midfielder Xabi Alonso, in a ceremony that began a fresh but uncertain era for Europe’s flagship club competition.
The semi-automated draw pitted Aston Villa, who are returning to the top table after 31 years away, against Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 1982 European Cup final. Villa won that match 1-0; the following year they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Juventus, whom they will also face this time around. Like Bayern, the Italian side will travel to Villa Park in a significant milestone for the hosts’ development under Unai Emery.
