City Director of Football Hugo Viana says it will be extra special to come face to face with Club legends Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in this season’s UEFA Champions League league phase.
Thursday’s draw in Monaco threw up a mouth-watering set of fixtures for Enzo Maresca’s City including home clashes with both reigning holders Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli as well as a trip to Barcelona.
It will mark the second successive season that City have played host to De Bruyne’s Napoli with the Belgian having made an emotional return to the Etihad with the Italian side last September after his move there in the summer of 2025.
Meanwhile, the trip to the Camp Nou will see City immediately come face to face with fellow midfield legend Rodri who left the Etihad earlier this month after seven years’ magnificent service to join the Catalan giants.
With the likes of Portuguese duo Sporting of Lisbon and FC Porto along with RC Lens, RB Leipzig and AEK Athens also amongst City’s opponents it makes for a hugely exciting prospect.
Giving his initial reaction in Monaco, Viana said the Blues were braced for tough tests from every European opponent.
But he revealed it would be extra special to come up against two such magnificent former servants of the Club in De Bruyne and Rodri, whose goal memorably delivered City a maiden Champions League triumph in 2023.
“Of course, it’s always a challenge to play against the European champions, but we are happy to see Kevin and Rodri again,” the City Director of Football said.
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“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.
“And 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.
“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.
“[So] tough games for all of us,
“We are ready to compete, so we never know against this 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 and let’s see.
“We are happy with the opponents, and we know that we have to do our best.”
A player in Manchester City training attire dribbling a football on a field. The uniform features the Super Dry Asahi logo.
Illustration of Manchester City in UEFA Champions League league phase draw. Teams listed on a phone include Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, Sporting CP, FC Porto, Napoli, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens, RC Lens. Background shows a stadium.
Two Manchester City players celebrating on the field with a player in the background at a stadium.