Juventus, Napoli and Roma will learn their Champions League opponents today, so we’ve taken a look at the best and worst possible draws for each side.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma are in Pot 3, meaning they’ll have at least two tough teams to face if they’re to reach the knockout stages.
Here are the dream scenarios and the nightmare ones for the Giallorossi, based on UEFA Club Rankings.
The best
The Lupi cannot face fellow Pot 3 teams Napoli, Tottenham, Basel, Olympiakos, Anderlecht, Besiktas or Liverpool.
Juventus, Napoli and Roma will learn their Champions League opponents today, so we’ve taken a look at the best and worst possible draws for each side.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma are in Pot 3, meaning they’ll have at least two tough teams to face if they’re to reach the knockout stages.
Here are the dream scenarios and the nightmare ones for the Giallorossi, based on UEFA Club Rankings.
The best
The Lupi cannot face fellow Pot 3 teams Napoli, Tottenham, Basel, Olympiakos, Anderlecht, Besiktas or Liverpool.
They also cannot be drawn against another Italian side, so they won’t face Juventus from Pot 1.
Best scenario by UEFA coefficient: Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Roma, RB Leipzig
Shakhtar Donetsk represent among the most favourable draws on paper, with the Ukrainian side currently ranked 18th in the coefficients.
Manchester United are the lowest-ranked of the Pot 2 sides if going by coefficient, but the Giallorossi have unhappy memories of being thrashed 7-1 at Old Trafford.
The next best draw by ranking is Porto, but there are demons there too after last season’s play-off round elimination.
RB Leipzig have the lowest coefficient in the draw, as they’re competing in Europe for the first time, but a trip to Slovenia to face NK Maribor might be a kinder draw in practice.
The worst
Worst scenario by UEFA coefficient: Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, Celtic
Holders Real Madrid are understandably ranked as the best side in Pot 1, but the top two sides in Pot 2 are also Spanish, so they can’t be drawn together.
That could still leave the prospect of facing Paris Saint-Germain, who signed Neymar this summer for €222m and appear to be on the verge of signing Kylian Mbappé.
Other potential opponents include Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
Despite just one win in their last 12 Champions League group stage matches, Celtic are rated by UEFA as the best side in Pot 4.
Feyenoord and CSKA Moscow could also represent tough ties, with RB Leipzig’s on-pitch ability outweighing their lowly ranking.