MONACO — European soccer's heavyweights and unheralded newcomers found out their Champions League opponents when the draw for the opening league phase was made on Thursday in Monaco.
All will gather at a beach-side concert hall for the draw ceremony starting at 6 p.m. local time, including titleholder Paris Saint-Germain and newcomer Pafos of Cyprus. The record 15-time champion Real Madrid and first-timer Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan. English champion Liverpool and Norway's Bodo/Glimt from inside the Arctic Circle.
Games in January in Almaty and Bodo shape to be among the coldest in competition history and the longest-ever trips for visiting teams.
Former champions who failed to qualify for this edition include AC Milan and Manchester United.
This is the second season of the league phas