Group E
Ajax Amsterdam vs. AEK Athens
The Greek champions find themselves in a rather tricky pool, together with Ajax, Bayern and Benfica. Supposedly, qualifying for the Europa League knock-out stage would be their target from this group. Their first away trip takes them to Amsterdam, where they will face Ajax:
AEE4050 ATH xxxx-1300 AMS A320 (18/09/18)
AEE4051 AMS 1245-xxxx ATH A320 (20/09/18)
SL Benfica vs. FC Bayern München
Despite a new transport sponsor, it is still Lufthansa that flies FC Bayern to the away games in Europe, and in some style, still using a big widebody like an Airbus A340-600 from Munich to the first away stop in Lisbon:
LH2570 MUC 0950-1200 LIS A346 (18/09/18)
LH2571 LIS 1700-2055 MUC A346 (20/09/18)
Group F
Manchester City vs. Olympique Lyonnais
The former French serial champions have made it into the big competition once again and will play against one of the financial heavyweights in Manchester City, which is relying on lots of money from the Arabian peninsula. Some fans of OL will travel to the City of Manchester stadium with Privilege Style:
AF4002 LYS 1100-1155 MAN A320 (18/09/18)
PVG7335 LYS 1100-1155 MAN B752 (19/09/18)
PVG7336 MAN 2355-0355(+1) LYS B752 (19/09/18)
AF4003 MAN 1115-1515 LYS A320 (20/09/18)
Group G
Real Madrid vs. AS Roma
Having won the competition three times in a row in recent seasons, Real are in for something new this season, with a new manager and obviously without their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has left the club. AS Roma will travel across the Mediterranean with Alitalia.
AZ8950 FCO xxxx-1805 MAD A319 (18/09/18)
AZ8951 MAD 0030-xxxx FCO A319 (20/09/18)
Group H
BSC Young Boys vs. Manchester United
The fifth club to qualify for the Champions League from Switzerland, YB, is hosting Manchester United first up at the Stade de Suisse. Traveling to and from Berne can always be a slight challenge, with only a short runway and not much ramp space available. Also, night flying hours are severely restricted. Manchester United has chosen to stay in Bern over night after the match and they will use a rather small aircraft for the trip, in KlasJet's luxurious Boeing 737-500 LY-KLJ:
KLJxxxx ??? xxxx-0730 MAN B735 LY-KLJ (18/09/18, ferry flt)
KLJ1138 MAN 1000-1235 BRN B735 LY-KLJ (18/09/18)
MLT709F ??? xxxx-1100 MAN B735 9H-MAC (18/09/18, ferry flt)
MLT709 MAN 1230-1515 BSL B735 9H-MAC (18/09/18)
KLJxxxx BRN xxxx-1045 MAN B735 LY-KLJ (20/09/18)
MLT710 BSL xxxx-1220 MAN B735 9H-MAC (20/09/18)
MLT710F MAN 1305-xxxx ??? B735 9H-MAC (20/09/18, ferry flt)
Valencia CF vs. Juventus Turin
CR7 may have won the Champions League several times, with Manchester United and Real Madrid, but he is still looking for new challenges and has joined Juventus now. His first UCL trip on Juve duty will take him to Valencia with Alitalia:
AZ9014 TRN xxxx-1755 VLC A321 (18/09/18)
AZ9015 VLC 1100-xxxx TRN A321 (20/09/18)
