Spain’s Champions League reign faces tough challenge

MADRID: Neymar and Kylian Mbappe headline free-spending Paris Saint-Germain’s quest to knock Real Madrid off their perch as the Champions League group stages get under way today under the shadow of infighting at the top of the European game.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has lambasted PSG’s 222 million euro capture of Neymar from Barcelona as “financial doping” with the French giants also set to splash another 180 million euros on 18-year-old Mbappe next summer to make his loan move from Monaco permanent.

Spanish clubs have dominated the competition in recent seasons. Madrid have lifted the trophy in three of the last four years with that run only interrupted by Barcelona’s success in 2015.

However, that dominance has been put under threat by the riches of not only PSG, but a Premier League resurgence with England boasting five teams in the group stage for the first time.

PSG, who also have Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, will be assured a red-hot atmosphere to begin their European campaign at Celtic with the Scottish champions looking to spring an almighty upset.

However, it is German champions Bayern Munich, who start at home to Anderlecht, who will provide an early test of PSG’s title credentials in the battle to top Group B.

Neymar’s departure provoked a summer of institutional chaos at Barcelona with a public split between the club’s beleaguered board and leading figures in the dressing room.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has claimed the Catalans will have a “more competitive” side this season than last despite losing Neymar after splashing out a fee that could rise to 145 million euros on 20-year-old French winger Ousmane Dembele to replace the Brazilian.

However, Bartomeu’s theory will be put under the spotlight straight away with the visit of Juventus, who dumped Barca out at the quarter-final stage 3-0 on aggregate last season.

Real shouldn’t be troubled as they begin their defence of the competition at home to Cypriots APOEL Nicosia tomorrow.

Fresh from a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City, Liverpool are seeking revenge for their defeat to Sevilla in the 2016 Europa League final when Champions League football returns to Anfield for the first time in three years.

Jose Mourinho also leads Manchester United back into European football’s premier club competition at home to Basel.

City travel to Feyenoord while Chelsea host Azerbaijani newcomers Qarabag.

FIXTURES

(kick-offs 1.45am, Wed, Thai time) Group A: Benfica v CSKA Moscow, Manchester United v Basel

Group B: Celtic v PSG, Bayern Munich v Anderlecht Group C: Chelsea v Qarabag, Roma v Atletico Madrid Group D: Barcelona v Juventus, Olympiakos v Sporting Lisbon