Champions League draw to be held at gathering of European soccer elite amid UEFA’s crisis with FIFA

Monaco (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain, the two-time defending champions, have been assigned to welcome Manchester City to their home ground and journey to Barcelona in the main phase of the 36-team Champions League draw held Thursday. This is the inaugural annual payment of $205.00 plus GST for one year, which will automatically renew at $233.00 plus GST every 52 weeks, offering a 10% discount on the regular annual price of $259.35. Cancellation is possible at any time.

PSG has previously secured three consecutive visits to Barcelona, including a 2-1 win in the league phase last October, following their 6-1 loss in March 2017, known as the “Remontada” match. They will also encounter Aston Villa following a Super Cup victory this month, and travel to Como, a newcomer to the Champions League overseen by Cesc Fabregas.

Real Madrid will host Inter Milan and make two visits to London, facing Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian champion will play home games at Stamford Bridge, a venue where former Chelsea fan favorite José Mourinho found success during his title-winning spells. Barcelona will host Man City, Europa League winner Aston Villa, and former player Cesc Fabregas, coached by the Spanish maestro, alongside Como.

The Russian champions will face Sabah in Baku, a debut game for the Azerbaijani club, while Arsenal, the beaten finalists last year, will host Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Sabah, traveling to Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich will also face Manchester United, along with two Norwegian opponents, Bodø/Glimt and Viking, and will go to Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium, where the final will be held next May.

Liverpool received a favorable slate of eight games, including trips to Inter Milan and Fenerbahce, as well as a visit to Liverpool's own Anfield, where they won 3-2 last September. Atletico Madrid will also travel to Anfield, along with two Norwegian teams, Bodø/Glimt and Viking, and will play on Bodø/Glimt's artificial turf. Dortmund, Lille, and newcomer LASK will join them in the remote fishing town, with one team required to travel in January.

Sabah will host Dortmund, Napoli, and Slavia Prague. Fans will also endure long journeys from Azerbaijan to England to face Arsenal and Manchester United. Como will face another Spanish side, Real Betis, alongside Barcelona, welcoming PSG and Manchester United to its picturesque lakeside stadium. Four newcomers will make their debuts in this season's Champions League: Como from Italy, overseen by Cesc Fabregas; LASK of Austria; Viking from Norway; and Azerbaijani champions Sabah, whose coach Valdas Dambrauskas achieved his success through a clever TV quiz show victory.