4 familiar players Dortmund will meet in the Champions League this season
Borussia Dortmund have found out their eight opponents for the 2026-27 Champions League group stages (or the 'League Phase') following the much-anticipated draw in Monaco on Thursday.
Niko Kovac's team face Inter Milan (H), Arsenal (A), Aston Villa (A), Villarreal (H), Real Betis (H), AEK Athens (H), Bodo/Glimt (A), and Sabah (A) for the first round of games.
The exact order of games and kick-off times will be revealed on Saturday as Dortmund are favorites to finish inside the top eight standings and seal a direct place in the Round of 16.
Besides, the matches have also thrown up some exciting reunions for the club, who face some of their former stars in the first stage of the Champions League. Here's a list of all four of them:
1) Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Who can forget the classy, the graceful, the ever-reliable Henrikh Mkhitaryan? The Armenian playmaker was an unknown quantity when Dortmund signed him in 2013 from Shakhtar Donestk, but left as one of Europe's best playmakers three years later.
During his time with the Bundesliga giants, Mkhitaryan accrued 140 appearances and contributed 90 goals (scoring 41 and supplying another 49 assists) while lifting the 2013 and 2014 DFL Supercups too. He will return to Dortmund with Inter Milan again this season.
2) Manuel Akanji
Besides Mkhitaryan, the Nerazzurri will be bringing another former BVB star with them as Manuel Akanji gears up an emotional return to Signal Iduna Park once again this season. He completed full 90 minutes in Dortmund last year and helped his team keep a clean sheet too.
Signed from Basel for €18million in 2018, the Swiss international crafted a solid reputation as a resolute defender with an eye for goal during his four-and-a-half-year spell with Dortmund. Since leaving the club, he's faced the BVB a few times with Manchester City, who priced him away for the same amount in 2022.
3) Marc Bartra
Borussia Dortmund will be facing Real Betis for the first time in history but there will be one familiar face among the green and white shirts: Marc Bartra. The Spaniard joined Dortmund from FC Barcelona in 2016 and accrued 51 appearances over the next two seasons with the club, where he also lifted the 2016-17 DFB-Pokal trophy.
4) Mikel Merino
Arsenal forward Mikel Merino will be looking forward to welcoming his former club Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates this season after the sides were drawn together for the League Phase. The Spaniard was signed in 2016 but struggled to find regular gametime amid a packed squad and left for Newcastle United just months later on loan.
With the Magpies signing him peramently the following year, Merino's time at Dortmund ended after just eight appearances in the Bundesliga. He's credited with the DFB-Pokal win that season, but played just 19 minutes of their entire campaign whilst missing the finals too.
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