Bayern Munich are putting their title on the line. Already.
Sacred on August 23 during the "Final 8" with a success in the final against Paris SG (1-0), the Munich ogre advances as one of the favorites to his own succession for the opus 2020-2021 of the Champions League, the final of which is expected, unless postponed, on May 29, 2021 in Istanbul.
Thursday from 5 p.m. near Nyon in Switzerland, the thirty-two teams will be fixed on the fate that awaits them, with the start of hostilities scheduled for October 20 and a tight schedule until Christmas due to the Covid- 19.
This season, Paris SG, reigning French champion, OM its runner-up and Rennes third in Ligue 1, will defend the French colors.
It remains to be seen in front of whom.
Like every year, the draw will offer joy, disappointment, impatience and fear to the representatives of Ligue 1.
"READ ALSO - Champions
League: crushes / scratches after the" Final 8 "
" READ ALSO - The sites of a PSG which navigates between sadness and promises
OM are heading for hat 4
If the three French clubs have an idea of what awaits them, uncertainties remain.
In particular on the place of OM in the hat three or four.
The doubt will be removed this Wednesday evening with the final results of the qualifying matches.
For André Villas-Boas' men to be placed in hat 3, two of the three favorites (Olympiakos, Salzburg, Krasnodar), all winners in the first leg, would have to be eliminated in the second leg.
The Greeks qualified on Tuesday, the Austrians and Russians will play on Wednesday night.
Clearly, Marseille (31,000 UEFA coefficient) will land in pot 4, that of Rennes, unless Krasnodar (35,500) and Salzburg (53,500), in favorable waivers, are eliminated by PAOK Salonika and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Verdict in the next few hours.
Neymar and Mbappé against Bayern Munich in the final of the Champions League
An uncertainty which is important as the competition promises to be tough in the Champions League in view of the formations present in all hats.
PSG, finalist of the last edition, appears in the first pot along with Bayern Munich and the six national champions of the six best ranked countries in the UEFA index, as well as the winner of the Europa League, Sevilla FC.
We therefore find Real Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus, Zenith Saint Petersburg and FC Porto.
As many opponents that PSG will avoid, which will not be the case for OM and Rennes.
A "group of death" Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona / Manchester City and Inter Milan for Rennes?
»READ ALSO - Dear Champions League, dear football!
In hat two, already complete as the one, are FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Ajax Amsterdam and Chakthar Donestk.
The last two mentioned seem to be the most “affordable” opponents for French clubs.
Although ... For the rest, hat three has for the moment only four teams (Leipzig, Inter Milan, Lazio Rome and Atalanta Bergamo) while the four have only three (Borussia Möenchengladbach, Istanbul Basaksehir and the Rennais Stadium).
Are you still following?
Pending the ultimate results, the worst draws for French clubs would look like this.
For Paris SG, a group made up of FC Barcelona or Manchester City, Inter Milian and Möenchengladbach.
For OM and Rennes, if the Marseillais appear in hat four, this could lead to a famous “group of death” with Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Very strong.
Answer Thursday evening.
Read also
Champions League: Dear Champions League, dear football!