Thursday night's Champions League
draw was kind to AC Milan and less so to cross-city rivals
Inter.
Serie A champs Milan got Chelsea, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
Serie A runners-up Inter were drawn into the group of death with
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Viktoria Plzen.
Only two qualify from each group with the third dropping down to
the Conference League.
Last year's third-placed Serie A team Napoli were drawn against
Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers, another fairly tough group.
Last year's Serie A fourth-placed team, Turin giants Juventus,
got Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Maccabi Haifa, another
relatively tough group.
The final is in Istanbul on June 10 next year.
Milan technical area director Paolo Maldini said "we mean to
improve over last year, and dreams help you set goals".
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said "we are going to meet strong and
well-organized teams but like always we will prepare each match
in the best way possible and we hope to progress".
22-year-old Napoli and Italy striker Giacomo Raspadori, on loan
from Sassuolo, said "I really wanted to take a new step in my
career and I can't wait to feel the thrills of the Champions
League".
Juve sources said it was a good omen to be drawn against French
giants PSG since the Bianconeri had "always made good progress
after meeting them".
Here is the draw:
- Group A:
Ajax (Ned)
Liverpool (Eng)
Napoli (Ita)
Rangers (Sco)
- Group B:
Porto (Por)
Atletico Madrid (Spa)
Bayer Leverkusen (Ger)
Bruges (Bel)
- Group C:
Bayern Munich (Ger)
Barcelona (Spa)
Inter (Ita)
Viktoria Plzen (Cec)
- Group D:
Eintracht Francfurt (Ger)
Tottenham (Eng)
Sporting Lisbon (Por)
Olympique Marseille (Fra)
- Group E:
Milan (Ita)
Chelsea (Eng)
Salzburg (Aut)
Dinamo Zagrebr (Cro)
- Group F:
Real Madrid (Spa)
Leipzig (Ger)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ucr)
Celtic (Sco)
- Group G:
Manchester City (Eng)
Sevilla (Spa)
Borussia Dortmund (Ger)
FC Copenaghen (Den)
- Group H
Paris SG (Fra)
Juventus (Ita)
Benfica (Por)
Maccabi Haifa (Isr)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
