Hype, possible crosses, schedule... All the details of the Champions League draw

The FC Barcelona will know to his rivals in the phase of groups of the UEFA Champions League this Thursday from the 18:00 hours in Monaco (same Spanish hour). The ones of Xavi Hernández face the challenge to break the maleficio that has pursued them in the two last editions, where the team has finished third in his group and, therefore, 'condemned' to play to Europe League.

In this sense, the return of the Barça to the bass drum 1 supposes a relief to avoid to the 'coconuts' in the initial phase. The culés, valid Spanish champions, are head of series beside the valid champion, the Manchester City, and the champions of Germany (Bayern), France (PSG), Portugal (Benfica), Italy (Napoli) and Low Countries (Feyenoord), in addition to the Seville like champion of the last Europe League. By coefficient, the Barça is the fifth head of series, behind the two European champions, muniqueses and Parisians.

The possible rivals of the Barça in the phase of groups

This will be the last season of Champions with the current format, since in the 2024/25 will expand the number of clubs in the first phase. As it has been usual from the 2006/07, in the phase of groups are forbidden the clashes between teams of the same country, a rule that keeps active until the quarter-finals. Thus, in the bass drum 2, the possible rivals of the group blaugrana will be alone six teams, as there they are the Real Madrid and the Athletic.

In this way, the Barça can cross with two English in this bass drum (Manchester United or Arsenal), two Germans (Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig), the Inter of Milan (rival in the previous edition) or the Port wine. In the bass drum three appear other seven possible rivals of lower hierarchy, but equally dangerous. There they expect Shakthar Donetsk, RB Salzburgo, AC Milan, Sporting Knickers, Lazio, Crash Red PSV Eindhoven and Copenhagen.

Finally, the bass drum 4 has to other seven potential rivals (obviando to the Real Sociedad), between them the Galatasaray and the Celtic Glasgow. The possible 'coconut' of this bass drum is the Newcastle, that returns to the tournament after long with a very interesting staff. They complete the smart Union Berlin, Lens, Young Boys and the Royal Antwerp Belgian.

The Barça could fall in a new 'group of the death'

The past season, the culés did not have fortune in the draw, remaining in the same group of Bayern Munich, Inter and Viktoria Plzen. The ones of Xavi only could rescue two triumphs in front of the Czechs and a tie in Milan, remaining third. This year, to the Barça can wrap him again if, for example, goes out him an English in the bass drum 2 (United or Arsenal) and, in the 3, touches him an Italian (Milan or Lazio) or the PSV (in big moment with Luuk of Jong and Sergiño Dest). It could complete the group a rival like Union Berlin or the Galatasaray, two usually complicated squares for Spanish teams Spaniards.

The bass drums of the phase of groups of the Champions

• Bass drum 1: Manchester City, Seville, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, Benfica, Napoli and Feyenoord
• Bass drum 2: Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter of Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Athletic of Madrid, RB Leipzig, Port wine and Arsenal
• Bass drum 3: Shakthar Donetsk, RB Salzburgo, AC Milan, Sporting Knickers, PSV Eindhoven, Lazio, Crash Red and Copenhagen
• Bass drum 4: Young Boys, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Celtic, Newcastle, Union Berlin, Lens and Royal Antwerp