Ajax vs Benfica

The draw for the group stages may look good for Ajax on paper, but Benfica especially represent a challenge and we will need to treat the match as a proper season opener to guard against complacency. Skittles names and unchanged matchday squad from the side that beat PSV 2-0 last time out, which means no place for auction purchase Van D Brempt, or recent academy prospect Rasmussen.

AS Roma v Barcelona

An all-Elite League clash to kick-off the Subbuteo Cup. Barcelona will hand some debuts to new signings following a busy pre-season of transfer activity to date. However Stephenj confirmed it is likely that Goretzka, Blind and Van de Beek will not be used until the later group games.

Liverpool    -       SS Lazio

This was a big tie last season - with Lazio beating Liverpool at Anfield in the league, and "almost" pipping us to the title ..

Just weeks later and they are in disarray - Drum has walked out - cue littlest hobo theme tune - they have been demoted, and a bizarre player swap with Arsenal sees them a shadow of their former selves ...

We have 3 debutants, including Ajer in a new look back 3 .. whilst Camara and Andone both start after successful spells developing away from the club ..

Both Nuwedorp and Izconil are dropped - demonstrating the high standards Raingod expects ...

PSG v Shakhtar Donetsk

On paper, a home tie to a team in a lower league looks like an easy way to start the pre-season, but Matt Harrison is under no illusions. He was full of praise for his opposite number, saying, "Skittles really knows his onions. He really does. He could spot a scallion from a leek, a Spanish onion from a white one, chives from spring onions. No doubt about it, he really could. He's built an eye-watering team at Shaktar, with many layers. Peeling them open will not be easy. They look tasty, and could cook up some problems for us."

He remained tight-lipped when asked about Idriss Fares though, walking out of the press conference saying that he had some home brew on the stove that he had to get back to. The young French striker has been all over the news today after finding his passport and discovering that he was actually a year younger than he thought. The French press have been loving it, and Matt Harrison hopes that it doesn't cause a distraction for his nearly 38 rated EIGHTEEN year old.