Liverpool and Arsenal fury at UEFA hands Man City Premier League and Champions League boost
For once, Manchester City might not have any fixture complaints this season - for the first few months at least.
The Champions League draw presented eight opponents who represented some of the easier games City could have been given from each pot - and the fixture schedule has also given the Blues a helping hand.
Two of the three most difficult games - away to Juventus and PSG - are saved until the last two matches in the new-look League Phase, but the home games have fallen nicely and Pep Guardiola will consider the draw one of the best outcomes he could have hoped for.
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There are a couple of complicated weeks. Inter at home open up the latest Champions League campaign in a repeat of the glorious 2023 final, with a home visit of Arsenal four days later. It will be a huge double-header, but home advantage in both helps.
The trip to Slovan Bratislava comes after a Saturday lunchtime clash at Newcastle and before a home meeting with Fulham. No obvious issues there. And the home visit of Sparta Prague is sandwiched between a trip to Wolves and visit of Southampton.
The trip to Sporting creates a long week of travel with journeys to Bournemouth and Brighton either side, but City will be happy to have avoided one of the big hitters in the group in that midweek. When Feyenoord visit the Etihad, it's after an Etihad clash with Spurs and before a trip to Liverpool - so the home Tuesday clash with the Dutch outfit is welcome.
The away game at Juventus is on the Wednesday before the home derby against