Revealed: Seven teams we can draw from Pot One
Bayern Munich may have just lifted the Champions League, but next season’s tournament is already beginning to take shape.
Manchester United are looking forward to playing in Europe’s top tier once again, after a season in the Europa League, and we know that we’ll be in Pot Two when the group-stage draw takes place in Athens, Greece, on 1 October.
With the first qualifying round already in full swing, six places for that draw are yet to be confirmed, meaning some seedings could still change, but the identity of the eight clubs in Pot One can now be revealed.
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The two sides which fought out the 2019/20 final in Lisbon on Sunday, Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain, had already secured their positions in the top pot prior to the showpiece event, by winning the German and French leagues respectively.
Another pair of European giants familiar to United in continental competition, Real Madrid and Juventus, are also in Pot One by virtue of being crowned champions of their leagues.
FC Porto and Zenit St Petersburg, who we last came up against during the 2008/09 season, are also potential opponents for us in 2020/21, as are UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla – the team, of course, who knocked us out at the semi-final stage in Cologne earlier this month.
The only side in Pot 1 United cannot be drawn against is Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are one of the top seeds after claiming their first English title in 30 years, but UEFA rules dictate that teams from the same country will not be paired up until the quarter-final stage, at the earliest.
Throughout this week, we'll take an in-depth look at each of our seven potential Pot One opponents and United’s history with each, starting with Bayern on Monday, through to Zenit on Sunday.
POT ONE SIDES FOR 2020/21 GROUP STAGE
Bayern Munich
Juventus
Liverpool*
Paris Saint-Germain
Porto
Real Madrid
Sevilla
Zenit St Petersburg
*Cannot be drawn against United.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO FACE?
We’ve been asking Official App users which of the seven clubs in Pot One they’d most like United to draw. Zenit St Petersburg currently lead, with Sevilla in second and Porto and Bayern joint third. Make sure you vote in our poll to get your opinion heard!
Get ready for next season. Our 2020/21 home and away kits are available now from United Direct.