FC Barcelona 2022/23 Champion League group stage opponents revealed

FC Barcelona now know their first opponents in the 2022/23 Champions League group stage. Barça will face Bayern Munich, Internazionale of Milan and Viktoria Pilsen in Europe's premier club competition.

In a draw featuring former player Yaya Touré withdrawing the balls containing the team names, lady luck appeared not to smile on Barça as they have been placed in a tough group on paper with the mighty FC Bayern Munich, three times winners Inter Milan and the current Czech champions, Viktoria Plzen.

Lewandowski returns to Munich

The dates of the fixtures are yet be confirmed (August 27), but FC Barcelona already know they will be taking on FC Bayern Munich, a common clash in recent seasons in European compeition. In fact, the Bavarians and Catalans faced each other in last season's group stage when Barça finished third in the group.

The double header against the six times European champions from Munich will also see the return of Robert Lewandowski, one of Barça's major signings this summer. The number 9 will be returning to the ground where he spent the past eight seasons.

Inter Milan, familiar foes

The next team out of the pot to face Barça were Inter Milan, who resigned Romelu Lukaku this summer and added to the already potent forward line of Lautaro Martínez, Edin Dzeko and Joaquín Correa.

Inter finished second in Serie A last season and their trophy cabinet contains 19 league titles and three European Cups - the most recent win coming in the 2009/10 season, including the painful elimination of FC Barcelona in the semifinal. However, the last meeting in the group stage in the 2019/20 season saw Ansu Fati score in Milan to become the youngest player ever to score in the competition.

Viktoria Plzen, 11 years later

The remaining rival for Barça are current Czech champions, Viktoria Plzen. Managed by Michel Bilek, who played for Czechoslovakia at World Cup '90, Plzen had to win three qualifiers against HJK, Sheriff and Qarabag to reach the group stage.

The only time they have played FC Barcelona in the group stage was in the 2011/12 season, the last with Josep Guardiola as coach, when the Catalans won 2-0 and 0-4 respectively.