RB Leipzig drawn in UCL Group F alongside Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic
RBL to play Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic FC in the group stage | Fixtures confirmed | Opening game against Shakhtar
Champions League nights are returning! RB Leipzig have been drawn in Group F alongside defending champions Real Madrid, 14-time Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk and Scottish champions Celtic FC.
The Red Bulls will face the Spanish giants for the first time in club history.
This will be Leipzig’s first meeting against the Spanish side, who also won La Liga last season. It is also the first competitive meeting against Shakhtar. Leipzig met Celtic in the Europa League in 2018.
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO:
“We are extremely proud to have already taken part in the Champions League five times during our seven years as a Bundesliga side. To be drawn in a group with the title holders and most successful club in the competition’s history Real Madrid, as well as the reigning domestic champions in Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic is an exciting challenge that we very happily accept. We look forward to magic nights together with our fans! Our aim is to go into the winter break still in Europe, preferably of course in the Champions League still for the third time.”
A look at our opponents:
Real Madrid
A better draw would hardly have been imaginable: For the first time in the history of the club, RB Leipzig take on Real Madrid! The team from the Spanish capital are not only reigning European champions and record winners of the Champions League, they are also the reigning champions of the Spanish top flight, La Liga. Leipzig will come up against world class players like Karim Benzema or Luka Modric, but also familiar faces from the Bundesliga like Toni Kroos, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba or head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Leipzig are also taking on the Ukrainian side for the first time. Shakhtar have won 13 titles in the Ukrainian Premier League since 2000. There were also in first place last season before the league was cancelled due to the war. Professional football is now being played once again in Ukraine. Their Champions League home games, however, will take place in the Polish city of Warsaw. Their most well-known players in the former Schalke player and 86-capped Ukrainian international Yevhen Konoplyanka.
Celtic FC
Leipzig are also taking on Celtic, the Scottish league winners, where a cauldron-like atmosphere should be expected for the away game. The team are also leading the Scottish Premiership this season. The 52-time Scottish champions and European Cup winners in 1967 have a well-known goalkeeper in Joe Hart, who won 75 caps for England. Leipzig are meeting Celtic again, having played the team previously in the 2018 Europa League. The team won 2-0 at home but suffered a 2-1 defeat away in Glasgow.
2022/23 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUPS:
Group A:
Ajax, Liverpool FC, SSC Napoli, Rangers
Group B:
FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Club Bruges
Group C:
Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzeň
Group D:
Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting CP, Olympique Marseille
Group E:
AC Milan, Chelsea FC, FC Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb
Group G:
Manchester City, FC Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, FC Kopenhagen
Group H:
Paris St. Germain, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa
RB Leipzig's fixtures:
6th September 2022 (21.00 CEST) | Group stage, matchday 1: RB Leipzig – Shakhtar Donetsk
14th September 2022 (21.00 CEST) | Group stage, matchday 2: Real Madrid – RB Leipzig
5th October 2022 (18.45 CEST) | Group stage, matchday 3: RB Leipzig – Celtic
11th October 2022 (21.00 CEST) | Group stage, matchday 4: Celtic– RB Leipzig
25th October 2022 (21.00 CEST) | Group stage, matchday 5: RB Leipzig – Real Madrid
2nd November 2022 (18.45 CET) | Group stage, matchday 6: Shakhtar Donetsk – RB Leipzig
Round of 16 draw: 7th November
Round of 16: 14th/15th and 21st/22nd February and 7th/8th/14th/15th March
Quarterfinals: 11th/12th and 18th/19th April
Semi-finals: 9th/10th and 16th/17th May
Final: 10th June