Manchester City won their first ever Champions League as part of last season’s treble and go into this year as holders.
City have discovered their Champions League schedule (Image: Valerio Pennicino – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Manchester City will begin their defence of the Champions League at home to Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, September 19.
Pep Guardiola’s side go into the competition as reigning champions, following last season’s historic 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul. As such, they were placed in Pot 1 for Thursday’s draw and enjoyed a favourable group on paper.
City were placed into Group G alongside Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, Serbian outfit Red Star Belgrade and BSC Young Boys of Switzerland. The latter pair won their respective leagues last season, with Leipzig finishing third in Germany.
And the Blues kickstart their title defence at the Etihad, welcoming Red Star for the opening gameweek. Guardiola will then face two consecutive away-days, firstly against Leipzig on Wednesday, October 4 and then at Young Boys on Wednesday, October 25.
City will then welcome the Swiss champions to the Etihad in the reverse fixture on Tuesday, November 7, followed by another home clash with Leipzig on Tuesday, November 28. The final group stage game, on Wednesday, December 13, will be in Belgrade.
Guardiola’s men have made a habit of meeting Leipzig in Europe, having faced the German side in each of the last two editions of the tournament. Most recently, they met in last season’s round-of-16, drawing 1-1 in Germany before a statement 7-0 thrashing back at the Etihad.
City have never faced Red Star, nor Young Boys, allowing travelling fans a first chance to travel to the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade and the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern for the first time.
City’s Champions League fixtures in full:
Red Star Belgrade (H) – Tuesday, September 19
RB Leipzig (A) – Wednesday, October 4
BSC Young Boys (A) – Wednesday, October 25
BSC Young Boys (H) – Tuesday, November 7
RB Leipzig (H) – Tuesday, November 28
Red Star Belgrade (A) – Wednesday, December 13
