90min

Things to Know About Manchester City’s Champions League Group Opponents

By Adam McGroarty

City will go up against FC Porto, who famously won the competition in 2004
City will go up against FC Porto, who famously won the competition in 2004 / Alex Livesey/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Manchester City's UEFA Champions League group stage opponents have been decided...after about seventeen hours of draw.

City will go head-to-head with FC Porto, Olympiakos and Marseille in Group C. Whilst Pep Guardiola's side have steered clear of any European powerhouses, the ins and outs of City's European opponents are relatively unknown in some parts - so we've got you covered.

Here's all the things you need to know about Manchester City's three group stage rivals.

FC Porto

Alex Telles continues to be linked with Manchester United
Alex Telles continues to be linked with Manchester United / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Last Season at Home: Sergio Conceicao's side won a domestic double last season. FC Porto finished the campaign as champions of the Primeira Liga, claiming their 29th league title in the process. The side also won the Taca de Portugal last season, but finished runners-up to Braga in the Taca da Liga.

Last Season in Europe: After preparing for a Champions League journey, Porto failed to win their third qualifying fixture. This meant that the Portuguese side instead played in the UEFA Europa League, where they topped a group but were eliminated in the round of 32 stage by Bayer Leverkusen.

Major Summer Business: Highly-regarded young prospect Fabio Silva made the switch to the Premier League to join Wolves in a £36m deal, and Porto have spent some of that money – signing 20-year-old Brazilian striker Evanilson from Tombense, and left-back Zaidu Sanusi.

Key Players: Current left-back Alex Telles is a transfer target for Manchester United but hasn't gone anywhere yet, with just a couple of days of the transfer window remaining. Moussa Marega was the club's top goalscorer in the league with 12 goals, whilst Francisco Soares netted 19 goals in all competitions, making him the top overall goalscorer last season.

Coach: Sergio Conceicao - The 45-year-old Portuguese manager was in fact a former player. Conceicao was a winger for Porto between 1996-98, making 56 appearances and scoring nine goals, before returning to the club in 2004.

2020/21 Expectations: Porto will be looking to retain their domestic crowns, whilst going one-better in the Taca da Liga to clinch a treble. As for the Champions League, the Portuguese side will likely view Olympiakos and Marseille as winnable games.

Olympiakos

Olympiakos finished third in last season's Champions League group
Olympiakos finished third in last season's Champions League group / ARIS MESSINIS/Getty Images

Last Season at Home: Just like Porto, Olympiakos also picked up a domestic double in the previous campaign. The Greek side finished top of Super League 1, whilst also winning the Greek Cup, beating AEK Athens in the final.

Last Season in Europe: It was a pretty tough Champions League group for Olympiakos, going up against 2019 finalists Tottenham and 2020 champions Bayern Munich. The Greek side finished third ahead of Red Star Belgrade, but were eliminated from the Europa League in the round of 16.

Major Summer Business: Olympiakos have signed Pepe, a Portuguese central midfielder, this summer. Former Braga centre-forward Ahmed Hassan has also joined and has already registerd two assists in two league games.

Key Players: Yann M'Vila has joined on a free transfer this summer, and the former Inter and Sunderland defensive midfielder could provide some solid protection for the back line. Youssef El Arabi impressed during last season's European campaign, and is already off the mark this season.

Coach: Pedro Martins - The 50-year-old made one appearance for Portugal's senior team during his playing days. The majority of Martins' managerial career has seen him manage in Portugal, but has been with Olympiakos since 2018.

2020/21 Expectations: Whilst it seems Olympiakos are outsiders, they will definitely be looking to progress in the Europa League if they can secure a third-placed group finish. Domestically, regaining the league and cup double will be the aim.

Marseille

It was a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 for Marseille last season, although the league was cancelled
It was a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 for Marseille last season, although the league was cancelled / GERARD JULIEN/Getty Images

Last Season at Home: Whilst Paris Saint-Germain clinched yet another league title, Marseille were 'the best of the rest' as they picked up a second-placed finish in Ligue 1. Due to coronavirus, however, the league was cut short. Marseille also reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, and were eliminated in the round of 32 in the Coupe de la Ligue.

Last Season in Europe: Whilst Marseille are now in the Champions League, 2018/19 was the last time they played in a European competition. The side was eliminated in the group stage of the Europa League, despite making the final the season prior.

Major Summer Business: Luis Henrique, an 18-year-old winger, has joined from Tres Passos in a £7m deal. Leonardo Balderi, a 21-year-old centre-back, has joined on loan from Borussia Dortmund, and 33-year-old right-back Yuto Nagatomo has signed on a free transfer from Galatasaray.

Key Players: Former West Ham winger Dimitri Payet is one of Marseille's most-prized assets. Although now at the age of 33, Payet still netted nine league goals last season, with four assists. Central midfielder Morgan Sanson has been tipped with a move away this summer, but looks set to remain at Marseille and already has one goal and two assists this season.

Coach: Andre Villas-Boas - A name City fans will be familiar with. The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager was actually the man in charge when City thrashed Spurs 6-0 in 2013. Guardiola's City will, funnily enough, go up against three Portuguese managers in the group.

2020/21 Expectations: Marseille will feel they should be qualifying from this group. It would be an impressive campaign if Villas-Boas' side can continue their impressive form from last season in Ligue 1 at the same time.