Cyrille de la Morinerie / Photo credits: NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
This Thursday, PSG and RC Lens discovered their opponents for the 2023-2024 Champions League during the draw which 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 find the Spaniards of Seville, the English of Arsenal and the Dutch of PSV Eindhoven. For Paris, it’s a joyful tour of Europe with a promising atmosphere.
Paris will have to face AC Milan
PSG will travel to the most beautiful stadiums in Europe: Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park with its famous yellow wall and its fiery supporters, but also AC Milan’s legendary San Siro stadium or St James Park in Newcastle.
The toughest opponent will be AC Milan with its XXL record. Seven Champions Leagues, semi-finalists of the last edition, the Rossoneri are led by the indestructible Olivier Giroud, 36 years old. Then, Borussia Dortmund, which Paris had eliminated in the round of 16 three years ago in the middle of Covid in a Parc des Princes behind closed doors. Finally, Newcastle revived since its acquisition by a Saudi investment fund.
Lens back after 21 years away
As for Lens, back after 21 years of absence, anything is possible. FC Seville, 7 Europa Leagues on the clock, the English from Arsenal and the Dutch from PSV Eindhoven. RC Lens general manager Arnaud Pouille, at the microphone of Bein Sports, is eager to return to the Champions League.
“The players are stamping their feet, the fans are stamping their feet and it’s nice too, it gives us a little wink with Arsenal,” he recalls. Arsenal which remains a great memory for Lensois supporters. 25 years ago, at Wembley Stadium, the teammates of Tony Vairelles, offered themselves the legendary Gunners of Arsène Wenger.