PSG get tough slate of Champions League opponents, as Real Madrid are going to Liverpool and Almaty
PSG’s easiest opponents, in theory, in the league phase will be Newcastle and Athletic BilbaoLiverpool fans will welcome Trent Alexander-Arnold back to Anfield with MadridMONACO: Paris Saint-Germain were handed a tough start to the defense of its Champions League title with games against Bayern Munich and Barcelona, and Thursday’s draw also served up opponents from England and Spain from the pot of lowest-ranked teams.PSG’s easiest opponents, in theory, in the league phase will be Newcastle and Athletic Bilbao.Tottenham, the Europa League champion, also will play PSG in a repeat of their Super Cup game two weeks ago. PSG’s eight-game schedule is completed by Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta and Sporting Lisbon.Real Madrid also got a challenging draw, including a trip far east to play Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan — 6,420 kilometers (4,000 miles) from the Spanish capital.Record 15-time champion Madrid got two English opponents from the pot of highest-ranked teams.