What Man City can expect from their Champions League group stage opponents

straight to your inboxManchester City have not enjoyed the best relations with Bayern Munich in recent history but Pep Guardiola's old employers have perhaps done him a small favour.Were it not for Hansi Flick's star-studded side, who have added Leroy Sane to the side that cruised to Champions League glory in August, the Catalan would likely yet again have had to answer a question about the Blues starting as competition favourites despite not making it beyond the quarter-finals under the

straight to your inboxManchester City are looking to build on the momentum from beating Arsenal as they get their Champions League campaign underway tonight.FC Porto are the visitors to the Etihad, with Pep Guardiola still likely to be without four key City players.

straight to your inboxKoeman hands City Messi boost Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has not ruled out Lionel Messi leaving the club next summer. The Barca star confirmed over the summer his intention to leave the Camp Nou, but after a stand-off with the club regarding the validity of a release clause he opted to stay and avoid a damaging court battle.

straight to your inboxThe majority of Manchester City supporters are still unsure whether their side can overtake champions Liverpool this season.City were beaten to the Premier League title last campaign by the Reds - who finished 18 points clear at the top of the table.Pep Guardiola and the club’s board have signed a host of new players in order to fight Jurgen Klopp’s side for the crown this season.Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres - most notably - have all arrived at the Etihad

Manchester City fan following the Carabao Cup final.Aston Villa fan Simon Ebdon, 54, punched the boy in the face as he and his dad waited for a train outside Wembley following the showpiece game which saw City lift the trophy back in March.Ebdon pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in north London, on Monday, September 28.And he was ordered to carry out 80 hours' unpaid work as well as being handed a three-year football banning order.The court confirmed

straight to your inbox Manchester City's squad for the Champions League group phase has been confirmed. City were handed, on paper, a favourable draw in a group with FC Porto, Olympiacos and Marseille in Group C.

straight to your inboxFerran Soriano has become the latest figure at Manchester City to hit out at the decision to reduce the number of substitutions allowed in the Premier League.When football returned after a period of three months off during the pandemic, clubs were allowed to increase their matchday squads by two to include 20 players and use five substitutes during a game rather than three.

straight to your inboxManchester City have learned their schedule for the Champions League group stages.Pep Guardiola's side were drawn in Group C with Marseille, Porto and Olympiacos  in Geneva on Thursday, with matches kicking off later this month. The fixture schedule has now been released, with City starting at home against Porto in on October 21.

straight to your inbox Manchester United will get their Champions League campaign underway with an away trip to Paris Saint-Germain. The draw for the group stages of Europe's top competition was held in Geneva on Thursday with United being drawn in Group H, which has been dubbed the 'Group of Death,' alongside last year's runners up PSG, last year's semi-finalists RB Leipzig and newcomers Istanbul Basaksehir.

straight to your inboxParis Saint-Germain star Marquinhos has opened up on facing Manchester United for the first time since their controversial elimination in 2018.United turned around a two-goal first-leg deficit to win 3-1 at the Parc des Princes and progress to the quarter-finals on away goals.The decisive goal came from the penalty spot in the dying seconds of the game, with Pascal Kimpembe penalised for handball by VAR, and Marcus Rashford smashing home the penalty to send Ole Gunnar

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola believes Manchester City are finished in the transfer market this summer after the arrival of Ruben Dias. The 23-year-old joined City on Tuesday for a fee of £65.2 million and will provide a much-needed boost to Guardiola’s backline.The club still have an eye on the market as they consider potential options at left-back in the wake of Benjamin Mendy’s poor performance against Leicester City on Sunday.

straight to your inbox Txiki Begiristain says Manchester City need to replace their simple desire to win the Champions League with an real belief they can win it, as he reacted to the group stage draw which was made on Thursday. City were paired with FC Porto, Olympiacos and Marseille in the group stage draw, with Director of Football Begiristain declaring his happiness at the way the draw played out.

straight to your inboxManchester City fans are delighted with their Champions League group stage draw ahead of the new European campaign.City's run in Europe's top competition ended in bitter disappointment last season as they once again fell to defeat in the quarter-finals, this time to French side Lyon.However, there has been renewed optimism for this year's tournament as Pep Guardiola's side have been handed what - on paper -  looks a comfortable group in Thursday afternoon's draw.

straight to your inboxOle Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United will face Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, and Istanbul Basaksehir in this season’s Champions League group stages.The draw for the competition took place on Thursday afternoon, and it saw United drawn against a formidable trio of opponents.Top of the bill are French champions and last season’s runners-up Paris Saint-Germain.They are followed by German side RB Leipzig who reached the semi-finals last term, and current Turkish Super

Manchester City were, of course, knocked out of by Lyon last season in controversial circumstances, with Pep Guardiola yet to make it past the quarter-final stage since arriving at the Etihad Stadium.Manchester United were knocked out of the Europa League by eventual winners Sevilla in the last four but finished third in the Premier League to earn a place amongst Europe's elite.A new season brings new optimism, however, and City have been handed a relatively kind draw after being placed into

SubstitutesIn Lisbon, clubs were permitted to make five substitutes off the bench.The idea was this would reduce the effects of fatigue that might have been felt due to the packed schedule and UEFA has extended this into the new season, once again using the risk of fatigue on players as a reason for this controversial change.Get the latest breaking Manchester United news and analysis every day direct to your inbox with our free MUFC newsletterSign up here - it only takes a few seconds.Champions