Champions League draw simulated as Man City and Man United get nightmare rivals

City's place in the draw marks their 16th consecutive year competing in Europe's premier competition, while United return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023/24 campaign.

The UCL is in its third year of the league phase format, with 36 teams battling it out. Each team has been separated into four pots of nine and will be paired with two teams from each pot to complete their eight-fixture schedule.

When paired with two teams from each pot, one game will be played at home, with the other played away. The two Manchester clubs won't be facing each other in the league phase as teams from the same country can't be drawn against each other.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

Ahead of the usually thrilling draw, we have run a simulation to see who Man City and Man United could face.

Pot 1: Atletico Madrid (H), Real Madrid (A)

Pot 2: PSV (H), Porto (A)

Pot 3: Feyenoord (H), Lille (A)

Pot 4: Lens (H), Stuttgart (A)

In the simulation, Enzo Maresca's side were handed a Spanish double-header in Pot 1 as they host Atletico Madrid before travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid. The 15-time Champions League winners have been a more than familiar opponent for City in recent years, with the two teams facing each other 13 times since 2020.

That love affair is set to continue, according to the simulation. Tricky fixtures against Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven and Liga Portugal winners Porto are next up on City's schedule, before facing another Dutch side, Feyenoord, and Ligue 1 outfit Lille.

Pot 4 clubs Lens and Stuttgart will face City for the first time in their respective histories to round out the Premier League side's eight league fixtures.

Pot 1: Bayern Munich (H), Inter Milan (A)

Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund (H), Sporting CP (A)

Pot 3: Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Bodo/Glimt (A)

Pot 4: Como (H), Lens (A)

It's an incredibly difficult return to life in Europe for United, who face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Serie A winners Inter Milan as their Pot 1 opponents, according to the simulation. Michael Carrick's side last faced Bayern in 2023, losing 4-3 and 1-0 as they crashed out of the group stage.

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Pot 2 presents tough adversaries in Borussia Dortmund and Sporting CP, who'll more than test United's resolve when it comes to battling other top European sides. A home clash against Shakhtar Donetsk is followed by a trip to Norway, where they'll face Bodo/Glimt.

Cesc Fabregas and his Como team will enjoy a trip to Old Trafford in their debut campaign in the competition. United finish their league phase away from home, as they take on Lens.