The draw came a little too late for a meeting with Jürgen Klopp. When RB Leipzig face Liverpool FC in the new Champions League, they will have to be prepared for Arne Slot, the successor to the cult coach. The other opponents are also tough: they are not necessarily the big favorites against Inter Milan, Juventus Turin or Atlético Madrid.
Liverpool FC (H)
The coach: Arne Slot (45)
The star: Mohamed Salah
That stands out: They have been very cautious on the transfer market so far following the end of the Jürgen Klopp era. The only notable addition is Italian Federico Chiesa. New coach Arne Slot is coping well with the available player material, picking up two wins from two games in the Premier League.
Inter Milan (A)
The coach: Simone Inzaghi (48)
The star: Lautaro Martinez
That stands out: Last season was impressive. 94 points, 89 goals, 22 goals conceded - champions by almost 20 points. Inzaghi's team is extremely well-rehearsed and has never faced Leipzig before. The squad has been kept together well and has been strengthened with professionals such as Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and ex-Leipzig player Josep Martinez.
Juventus Turin (H)
The coach: Thiago Motta (42)
The star: Dusan Vlahovic
This stands out: Juve have lost a bit of their luster in recent years, with their last championship coming four years ago. Coach Thiago Motta is now set to change that; the ex-professional led FC Bologna to the Champions League last season with some impressive soccer.
Atlético Madrid (A)
The coach: Diego Simeone (54)
The star: Julian Alvarez
This stands out: Atlético without coach Simeone? No longer imaginable. The coach polarizes with his emotional performances on the sidelines. Atlético went on a shopping spree this summer. Striker Alexander Sörloth, who had been unsuccessful at Leipzig, was brought in, and world champion Julian Alvarez also arrived from Manchester City. The club has spent 185 million euros on new players so far.
Sporting Lisbon (H)
The coach: Rúben Amorim
The star: Viktor Gyökeres
This is striking: Successful coach Amorim could be kept despite many advances, the feared sell-out did not materialize. Gyökeres provides the necessary goals up front, while Morten Hjulmand stabilizes the game in the center of midfield. Sporting think offensively, prefer to play in a 3-4-3 and have scored twelve goals in three league games so far.
Celtic Glasgow (A)
The coach: Brendan Rodgers (51)
The star: Kasper Schmeichel
That stands out: In terms of personnel, the departure of midfield maestro Matt O'Riley to Brighton hurts, but at almost €30 million, Celtic couldn't say no. They reinvested some of the money in the Bundesliga, bringing in Arne Engels from Augsburg. There will also be a reunion with an ex-Leipzig player in Glasgow. Nicolas Kühn, who once played for RB at youth level, has made his breakthrough with the Scots and has shone in the league with two goals and two assists in three games so far.
Aston Villa (H)
The coach: Unai Emery (52)
The star: Ollie Watkins
That stands out: Coach Emery has lifted the team to a new level, taking them from mediocrity to the Champions League in his first full season in charge. In Douglas Luiz and ex-Leverkusen player Moussa Diaby, two key players were lost, while ex-HSVer Amadou Onana was among the additions.
Sturm Graz (A)
The coach: Christian Ilzer (46)
The star: Otar Kiteishvili
This is striking: The fact that Salzburg's championship streak was broken after ten years was a big surprise. The departure of key player Alexander Prass to Hoffenheim will be difficult to compensate for, and the transfer fee was partly invested in record signing Mika Biereth. The striker fitted in well straight away, scoring three times in four league games.
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