Europe's top club competition has produced another mouthwatering set of fixtures, with holders Paris Saint-Germain drawn against three Premier League sides in the newly formatted league phase of the Champions League.
Luis Enrique's PSG, chasing a third consecutive European crown, will host five-time champions Barcelona at the Parc des Princes and were handed away trips to Manchester City and Aston Villa. The French champions, who beat Arsenal on penalties in last season's final, complete their group with home fixtures against Roma, Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava, alongside further away days at Villarreal and Como.
Arsenal, determined to go one step further than their agonising defeat to PSG in May, will welcome Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium in one of the standout ties of the campaign, with Jose Mourinho returning to a familiar competition at the helm of the Spanish giants. Mikel Arteta's side must also travel to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich, a side they beat 3-1 at home last November. Arsenal will additionally host Borussia Dortmund, Lille and newcomers Sabah, while facing away trips to Napoli, Slavia Prague and Real Betis, where they will encounter former player Hector Bellerin.
Manchester City, now under Enzo Maresca, will renew acquaintances with former captain Rodri when they travel to Barcelona, months after the Spaniard's £65m switch to the Catalan club. City will also face another old midfield favourite, Kevin De Bruyne, when Napoli visit the Etihad Stadium. Sporting, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens complete City's schedule alongside their meetings with PSG and Barcelona.
Aston Villa, back in the competition after a season's absence, will host PSG and Borussia Dortmund at Villa Park and travel to Barcelona and Galatasaray. Unai Emery's team, who impressed against Barcelona in a recent Super Cup defeat, will also face Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking Stavanger and Slavia Prague.
Manchester United return to the Champions League after a two-year absence with a testing draw that includes Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Roma and Sporting, as well as matches against RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah and Como, the Italian side managed by Cesc Fabregas.
Liverpool will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens at Anfield, with away fixtures against Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Austrian debutants LASK, who caused a surprise by eliminating Celtic in qualifying.
The opening round of league-phase fixtures will take place on 8 and 9 September, with the full schedule to be confirmed on Saturday. The competition will conclude with the final in Madrid on 5 June, with the top eight sides progressing directly to the last 16 and those placed ninth to 24th entering a knockout play-off round. Clubs finishing 25th or below will be eliminated without any safety net into the Europa League.
Last term, Arsenal topped the league phase with a perfect record of eight wins from eight, finishing above Bayern Munich and Liverpool, before their eventual final heartbreak against PSG. Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham also progressed to the knockout stages last season, though all four were eliminated at the last-16 stage.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Tottenham have continued their extensive summer rebuild under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi, completing the signing of forward Omar Marmoush from Manchester City on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for around £60m next summer. The Egypt international, who managed 16 goals in 62 appearances during his time at the Etihad, joins fellow City departure Savio in a striking double raid on the Premier League champions.
"It feels amazing to be here," Marmoush said after completing his move to north London. "I'm so excited to get started with the team and I can't wait to meet the fans. Tottenham Hotspur is one of the biggest clubs in England, if not the world, and the project was very attractive to me."
De Zerbi praised his new signing's attributes, saying: "Omar is exactly the kind of player we want at this club – ambitious, hungry and determined to make a difference. He has incredible attacking quality but what I also love is his desire to improve and to win."
Marmoush has been given the number 22 shirt and could make his debut against Newcastle this weekend, as Tottenham's summer spending surpasses £300m across eight new arrivals.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, The Guardian, The Independent and The Standard.