Champions League draw hands PSG and Lille tests as Lens eye play-off push | OneFootball

According to Le Progres, PSG, Lens and Lille discovered their eight Champions League opponents in Thursday's Monaco draw, with PSG and Lille handed tougher programmes while Lens's looks kinder. The opening matchday runs from eight to 10 September.

PSG, winners of the last two campaigns, will try to make it three in a row, although having come through the play-offs in the past two seasons the task again looks steep. Barcelona and Lamine Yamal await, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and his team-mates also set to face Roma, Manchester City and Villarreal.

From pot four, PSG will also play Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, and Slovan Bratislava of Yaya Toure. Finishing in the top eight secures a direct last 16 place. Club president Nasser al-Khelaifi said it was too early to say they would chase a third star.

Lens enter the competition for the fourth time in their history, having yet to clear the first round. Last season’s runners-up in France could target the play-offs, as Brest did in 2024/2025.

With Dino Toppmöller in charge, Lens may have drawn the softest schedule among the French sides. Beyond Manchester City and Liverpool, there is no obvious heavyweight, with Sporting Portugal, Bruges and RB Leipzig offering an open programme.

Davide Ancelotti faces a stern European debut with Lille. The 37-year-old, whose father Carlo holds a record five Champions League titles as a coach, must navigate Bayern Munich and Arsenal among others, plus Roma, Betis Sevilla and a trip north of the Arctic Circle to face Bodø/Glimt.

Source: Le Progres

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