Man City Understand Champions League Group Stage Fate as Draw Pots Revealed - Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool Also Noted

 

With the qualifying rounds for this year's UEFA Champions League well underway, each game sheds more light on who Manchester City might face in the group stages on August 26th.

This season, the domestic champions of the six main European Leagues, including Champions League winners Chelsea and Europa League winners Villarreal, have joined the domestic champions of the six major European Leagues in Pot 1.

With surprising victors like Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Lille, a slew of Europe's top clubs are lurking dangerously in Pot 2.

Following the completion of the final qualifying rounds, the seedings for Pots 3 and 4 will be determined.

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Former Champions League/European Cup winners Porto and Ajax should be avoided in Pot 3, with AC Milan's return to European aristocracy in Pot 4 promising some exciting group stage match-ups.

1st Pot:

Chelsea, Villarreal, Man City, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Lille, Sporting Lisbon, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Lille, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting Lisbon, Sporting Lisbon

2nd Pot:

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Sevilla, and Borussia Dortmund

3rd pot

Porto, Ajax, RB Leipzig, Atalanta, Zenit St. Petersburg, Zenit St. Petersburg, Zenit St. Petersburg, Zenit St. Petersburg, Zenit St

4th pot:

Wolfsburg, AC Milan

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• Cavani, Baily, Telles - Man United injury latest with the expected return dates

• Man United XI vs RB Leipzig: Expected 3-2-4-1 formation for Leipzig - Solskjaer to make three changes

• Real Madrid coaches identify one Man Utd player as a "Real Talent on their hands"

• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer press conference LIVE Man United vs RB Leipzig team news.

Pep Guardiola's sixth attempt at European success in Manchester could get off to a more adventurous start than past seasons, thanks to a full Pot 2 with challenging opponents already filling up Pots 3 and 4.

Manchester City's two difficult group games against Porto last season suggest they will almost certainly be the ones Pep Guardiola hopes to avoid in Pot 3, with Sevilla and Dortmund likely the weakest in Pot 2.

AC Milan's long-awaited return to Champions League football will be a spectacular sight in whichever group they are placed in, with the Citizens possibly getting another chance to play at the iconic San Siro after previously meeting Atalanta.

On the 26th of August, Manchester City will find out their fate, with the heartbreak of Porto fueling a fiery desire for European triumph.