Champions League Group Stage Draw – Genk face Chelsea, Valencia and Leverkusen

Genk have found out their Champions League opponents and will face Romelu Lukaku’s new team Chelsea, Champions League veterans Valencia and Bundesliga giants Bayer Levekusen in Group E.

Before the draw, many Genk players came out saying they wanted to test themselves against the best team (Barcelona was a favourite amongst them) and this group certainly gives them a challenge. On the plus side, the Belgian champions have avoided lengthy flights around Europe.

With the managerial vacancy needing to be addressed as soon as possible, the next man in the Genk hot-seat certainly will pit his wits against some of the toughest teams in Europe. Importantly though, these games allow for a huge return in gate receipts and will create a great atmosphere at the Cristal Arena, even if Genk are considered rank outsiders.

Another situation of intrigue is where Kevin De Bruyne will his European football this season. Chelsea have constantly linked with the young Belgian midfielder, but will he play for Genk or Chelsea in the Champions League? As a loan-back is rumoured, he might not play either for or against Chelsea.

Elsewhere Eden Hazard’s Lille received a favourable group alongside Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor in Group B, whilst Axel Witsel’s new club Benfica face a trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United in Group C. The other teams in that group are Swiss champions FC Basel and unknown Romanian champions Otelul Galati.

Vincent Kompany was likely hoping for an easier group for Manchester City. They have drawn German giants Bayern Munich and dark horses Villarreal and Napoli.

Genk Champions League Fixture List

13/09: Valencia (h)
28/09: Leverkusen (a)
19/10: Chelsea (a)
01/11: Chelsea (h)
23/11: Valencia (a)
06/12: Leverkusen (h)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP DRAW (in full)

Group A

Bayern Munich (GER)

Villarreal (Spa)

Manchester City (Eng)

Napoli (Ita)

Group B

Inter Milan (Ita)

CSKA Moscow (Rus)

Lille (Fra)

Trabzonspor (Tur)

Group C

Manchester United (Eng)

Benfica (Por)

Basel (Swi)

Otelul Galati (Rom)

Group D

Real Madrid (Spa)

Olympique Lyonnais (Fra)

Ajax (Ned)

Dinamo Zagreb (Cro)

Group E

Chelsea (Eng)

Valencia (Spa)

Leverkusen (Ger)

GENK (Bel)

Group F

Arsenal (Eng)

Marseille (Fra)

Olympiakos (Gre)

Borussia Dortmund (Ger)

Group G

Porto (Por)

Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr)

Zenit St Petersburg (Rus)

APOEL (Cyp)

Group H

Barcelona (Spa)

AC Milan (Ita)

BATE Borisov (Belarus

Viktoria Plzen (Poland)

Tagged AC Milan, Ajax, APOEL, Arsenal, Axel Witsel, Barcelona, Basel, BATE Borisov, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, Chelsea, CSKA Moscow, Dinamo Zagreb, draw, Genk, group stage, Inter Milan, Leverkusen, Lille, Lyon, Lyonnais, Manchester City, Manchester United, Napoli, Olympiakos, Olympique Marseille, Otelul Galati, Porto, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Trabzonspor, Valencia, Viktoria Plzen, Villarreal, Vincent Kompany, Zenit St Petersburg