Champions League draw: a tour of Europe for PSG, a warm atmosphere for Lens

Cyrille de la Morinerie / Photo credits: NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP 10:02 am, September 01, 2023

This Thursday, PSG and RC Lens discovered their opponents for the 2023-2024 Champions League during the draw that took place in Monaco at the Grimaldi Forum. PSG fell into Group F with AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle. For its part, Lens will meet the Spaniards of Sevilla, the English of Arsenal and the Dutch of PSV Eindhoven. For Paris, it's a joyful tour of Europe with a promising atmosphere.

>> Find Europe 1 Matin in replay and podcast here

Paris will face AC Milan

PSG will travel to the most beautiful stadiums in Europe: Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park with its famous yellow wall and boiling fans, but also AC Milan's legendary San Siro stadium and St James Park in Newcastle.

The toughest opponent will be AC Milan with their XXL record. Seven Champions Leagues, semi-finalists of the last edition, the Rossoneri are led by the indefatigable Olivier Giroud, 36 years old. Then, Borussia Dortmund that Paris had eliminated in the knockout stages three years ago in the middle of Covid in a Parc des Princes behind closed doors. Finally, Newcastle has been resurrected since its acquisition by a Saudi investment fund.

Lens back after 21 years of absence

As for Lens, back after 21 years of absence, anything is possible. FC Sevilla, 7 Europa Leagues on the clock, the English Arsenal and the Dutch PSV Eindhoven. The general manager of RC Lens Arnaud Pouille, at the microphone of Bein Sports, is eager to find the Champions League.

"The players are stumbling, the fans are stumbling and it's nice too, it gives us a little wink with Arsenal," he said. Arsenal which remains a great memory for the supporters of Lens. 25 years ago, at Wembley Stadium, Tony Vairelles' teammates offered themselves the legendary Gunners of Arsène Wenger.