Champions League Draws Nostalgic Matchups: Pogba, Mbappé, and More Face Former Teams
PARIS – The Champions League group stage promises not only elite competition but also a series of compelling reunions as players prepare to face their former clubs. Several high-profile stars, including Paul pogba, Kylian Mbappé, and ousmane Dembélé, will return to familiar grounds this season.
AS Monaco’s Paul Pogba is set for a potentially emotional encounter with Juventus, the club he left in 2024 following a positive testosterone test and subsequent suspension.A reunion on the final matchday remains a possibility.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé will challenge FC Barcelona at camp Nou on Wednesday, October 1, pending recovery from injury. He previously faced his former team in the quarterfinals of the 2023 edition while playing for Paris.
Kylian Mbappé, now with Real Madrid, will face AS Monaco on Tuesday, January 20, marking his first encounter with the club where he rose to prominence. Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouameni will experience the same scenario, having also developed at ASM.
Further notable matchups include: Leroy Sané (Galatasaray) versus manchester City on Wednesday, January 28; Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) against his formative club, PSV eindhoven, on Wednesday, november 26; and Erling Haaland (Manchester City) facing Dortmund for a second time on Wednesday, November 5.
Other players set to face former employers are Lucas Hernández (PSG) with Bayern; Luis Suárez (Sporting) with Olympique de Marseille; Enzo Fernández (chelsea) with Benfica; rodri (Manchester City) with Villarreal; Gerónimo Rulli (OM) with Ajax; and Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) with Manchester City.
A especially surprising storyline involves David Luiz,now with Pafos of cyprus – a club founded in 2014 and reaching the Champions League for the first time – who will face AS Monaco and,on Wednesday,January 21,his former club Chelsea,where he played from 2011-2014 and again from 2016-2019.
