Real Madrid now know their opponents for the Champions League group stage, in which Los Blancos will defend the title won last May in Paris against Liverpool.
During Thursday’s draw in Istanbul, RB Leipzig were the first side drawn with the reigning champions, one of the most attractive clubs in the booming Bundesliga, with Christopher Nkunku as their star player.
Yet despite the heavy investment of their wealthy owners, it is a favourable draw for Real Madrid. At this stage, they have played three games in the Bundesliga and are winless: two draws and one defeat which sees them 11th in the table.
Then came Shakhtar Donetsk, an old acquaintance of Real Madrid in the last Champions League, with three meetings in the last three seasons. A team greatly weakened by the departure of most of their overseas players, they have just started their league campaign.
All six meetings between Madrid and Shakhtar have taken place in the group stages, with four wins for the Spaniards and two for the Ukrainians.
The reigning champions were joined by Celtic, who returned to the Champions League after several years of absence.
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