Hugo Viana has said it will be ‘special’ to face ex-Manchester City stars Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League after Thursday’s group-stage draw.
What can Manchester City fans expect from record signing Elliot Anderson?
More Videos
Thursday’s league-phase draw in Monaco handed Enzo Maresca a mouth-watering set of fixtures for his first UEFA Champions League campaign in charge of Manchester City.
The Cityzens will host reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Sporting CP and AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium, while travelling to face Barcelona, Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens on the road.
Two of those ties carry an extra emotional charge. City will come up against Kevin De Bruyne once again, with the Belgian having swapped the Etihad Stadium for Napoli in the summer of 2025 before making a prompt return to Manchester with the Italian side last September. This will be the second season running that City have played host to his new club.
The trip to Barcelona, meanwhile, will mean a reunion with Rodri, who departed the Etihad Stadium earlier this month after seven years of magnificent service to join the Catalan giants.
Manchester City have confirmed the departure of legendary defensive midfielder Rodri for FC Barcelona after a stellar seven-season stay at the Etihad Stadium.cityxtra.co.ukRodri Leaves Manchester City For FC Barcelona After Seven Seasons
Manchester City have confirmed the departure of legendary defensive midfielder Rodri for FC Barcelona after a stellar seven-season stay at the Etihad Stadium.
It was Rodri, of course, whose goal delivered Manchester City their maiden UEFA Champions League crown back in 2023. Both sides are among the favourites to win this year's competition.
With such storylines already in place, the club’s director of football wasted little time in sharing his reaction.
Viana welcomes De Bruyne and Rodri reunions
Speaking in Monaco in the immediate aftermath of the draw, Hugo Viana expressed his excitement at the prospect of seeing two former servants of the club lining up against Maresca's new-look side.
“Of course, it’s always a challenge to play against the European champions, but we are happy to see Kevin and Rodri again,” Viana said.
Enzo Maresca and Manchester City have now found out their opponents for the league phase of this season's UEFA Champions League.cityxtra.co.ukMan City Find Out Eight League Phase Opponents For 2026/27 UEFA Champions League
Enzo Maresca and Manchester City have now found out their opponents for the league phase of this season's UEFA Champions League.
“We are really happy that we face Barcelona with Rodri there, we are happy to see him again. Barcelona is always tough, especially away.
“And also Napoli that we played last year and we had the pleasure to have Kevin on the field, and it will be amazing to see him again. When you have friends on the pitch it’s always good.”
While De Bruyne and Rodri were two of the most significant figures in the club's first UEFA Champions League win, both men now represent obstacles standing in the way of Manchester City’s ambition to win a second title, and Viana was quick to acknowledge the difficulty of the wider draw.
A personal Portuguese thread for Viana
The fixtures also throw up a couple of poignant returns for Viana himself. The Portuguese will welcome his former club Sporting to Manchester, before heading back to his homeland to take on Porto - two ties that clearly mean a great deal to the former midfielder.
Manchester City are targeting a move for a new winger this summer with very specific attributes to benefit Enzo Maresca's squad, according to a new report.cityxtra.co.ukHugo Viana's preferred profile of Manchester City's target winger revealed
Manchester City are targeting a move for a new winger this summer with very specific attributes to benefit Enzo Maresca's squad, according to a new report.
“I’m happy also that I will see Sporting, my former club, coming to Manchester and that I go to my country to face Porto,” he added.
“We go to France to play Lens; they are doing really well. AEK also, they were doing really well last season, and Leipzig is a really tough opponent also. Tough games for all of us.
“We are ready to compete, so we never know against these kind of opponents. It’s always difficult, different games, different coaches, different systems. But what I can guarantee is that we are ready to compete.”
Despite avoiding perennial UEFA Champions League opponents Real Madrid, the draw looks set to provide a stern examination of Maresca’s reshaped squad.
Enzo Maresca and Manchester City will begin their defence of the Carabao Cup trophy with a home tie against TEAM, it has been confirmed.cityxtra.co.ukManchester City Face Norwich City Tie in Carabao Cup Third Round
Enzo Maresca and Manchester City will begin their defence of the Carabao Cup trophy with a home tie against TEAM, it has been confirmed.
Manchester City will learn the full schedule, complete with match dates and kick-off times, no later than Saturday 29 August - but focus in the City dressing room will be on trying to be top of the Premier League table by then.