Basel draw Barcelona in Champions League
Basel have drawn Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon and top Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage of Uefa's Champions League.
A day after qualifying for football’s most prestigious – and lucrative – tournament, Switzerland’s sole representatives learnt they had drawn two-time champion Barcelona.
Basel’s home games are against Shakhtar Donetsk on September 16, Barcelona on October 22 and Sporting on December 9. Christian Gross’s team will travel to Lisbon on October 1, Barcelona on November 4 and Donetsk on November 26.
The top two sides from each group will progress to the first knockout round draw on December 19 while those finishing third will enter the Uefa Cup Round of 32. The final takes place in Rome on May 27.
Defending champions are English club Manchester United.
Basel have played in the Champions League once before, in 2002/3, when they reached the last 16.
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