Real Madrid recently celebrated in Paris at Liverpool's expense, ruining the Reds' hopes of winning their eighth European championship.
Mohamed Salah's plans to make amends for the infamous 2018 final, in which he was forced off after 30 minutes due to a shoulder injury, were foiled by that 1-0 victory in May.
The Liverpool forward tried his best, so it's safe to say that his inability to score that night was not for lack of trying.
As Napoli takes on Liverpool, African narratives are highlighted thanks to Osimhen's conflict with Salah.
Three months later, Jürgen Klopp's team sets out on its 2022–2023 European tour against another well-known foe. Salah might also enter Wednesday's match with a grudge against the Partenopei, even though Napoli undoubtedly lacks the glitter of Carlo Ancelotti's team or Real's extensive continental history.
The Serie A team will face the Reds when they reenter the competition after a two-year hiatus with the goal of taking another victory from the Merseyside club on matchday one.
Following group stage losses to Napoli in 2018 and 2019 (1-0 and 2-0, respectively), Liverpool learned that lightning does strike twice in the same location. Klopp's team now seeks to avoid suffering a third straight loss in Naples.
Victor Osimhen will likely make his Champions League debut for the club if he recovers from an injury that made him train alone on Monday and is essential to thwarting the Reds' intentions.
After participating for Lille in a 2-0 loss to Ajax in November 2019 and making an appearance, this will be the first time in Europe's top club competition.
The tenacious Nigerian international can be a force when on form, but his previous three Serie A games without a goal indicate that he is not currently operating at peak efficiency. Although there haven't been many opportunities, the Super Eagle's shooting has declined against Lecce and Lazio, and a goal against Fiorentina was disallowed.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose start to life in Naples has made Lorenzo Insigne's absence scarcely felt, is the forward in form for Luciano Spalletti, while Andre Zambo Anguissa has carried on from last season.
The Cameroonian midfielder has now assisted two goals in five league games, including the winning goal in the 2-1 victory at Lazio. This accomplishment would please Spalletti, who last season requested more involvement from the driving Anguissa.
The two main draw going into the match on Wednesday are Salah and Osimhen, although neither is currently scoring goals at their best.
The Liverpool player's Expected Goals (xG) after his most recent Liverpool goal against Manchester United are 1.6, whereas the Napoli player's xG since his goal in the 4-0 thrashing of Monza is 1.4.
Spalletti's team hopes to repeat Italy's victories over Klopp's team in the late 2010s, and given the Reds' inconsistent play and their excellent start to the season, they stand a chance.
The other game in Group A pits Calvin Bassey against old pals when Ajax hosts Rangers in their first Champions League match in 12 years. Fashion Sakala is probably going to be part of the 'Gers team.
Achraf Hakimi and his Paris Saint-Germain teammates will want to test their perceived progress against Juventus in an intriguing matchup in Group H on Matchday 1.
Under Christophe Galtier, the wide defender has appeared revitalized in a wing-back position, posing a threat down the flank, helped by PSG's lethal attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Lionel Messi.
They are favorites to defeat Massimiliano Allegri's team in Paris because they only care about winning—something they haven't done much of lately—instead of bothering about impressing the crowd.
Atlético Madrid and Porto are paired together once more in Group B, with critics likely recalling their previous meetings from last season, which resulted in three dismissals. In contrast to last year's competition, Geoffrey Kondogbia started seven games this year but has been left out of Diego Simeone's starting lineup in all but one game.
When Zaidu Sanusi and his teammates try to get off to a good start at Wanda Metropolitano, Reinildo Isnard Mandava, who has played every minute in La Liga this season, is expected to stay in the starting lineup.
Edmond Tapsoba was rumored to be leaving Bayer Leverkusen, but the center-back chose to remain with the Bundesliga team that has been back since the 2019–20 season.
The German team is away at Club Brugge, where Denis Odoi is in charge of an African team that includes Kamal Sowah, Raphael Onyedika, Clinton Mata, and Abakar Sylla. Last season's group stage draw placed them in the same group as RB Leipzig, Manchester City, and PSG.
In Group C, Bayern Munich and Barcelona will renew their historically one-sided rivalry, however Inter Milan will bet on themselves to thwart forecasts of the former pair's success.
When they travel to San Siro, it remains to be seen if Andre Onana will be given preference in Europe over Samir Handanovic at the expense of Sadio Mané, who has had a decent-to-good start in Bavaria. The Senegal superstar will hope to start his first Champions League campaign away from Anfield on a strong note.
Franck Kessie may make his European debut for Barcelona in the other matchup against a Viktoria Plzen team that is expected to finish fourth in the draw. The Ivory Coast midfielder has only started one of his three La Liga games, so until Xavi switches up his starting lineup, things might stay the same.
When Tottenham Hotspur hosts Olympique Marseille in Group D, Yves Bissouma might make his Champions League debut. Eric Bailly and Chancel Mbemba will be making their return to England for this match, and Cedric Bakambu and Issa Kabore might also participate.
The other matchup in what may be the most competitive group of all involves Abdul Fatawu Issahaku's Sporting Lisbon visiting Europa League champion Eintracht Frankfurt.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Hakim Ziyech make up Chelsea's African contingent; all four are anticipated to play different roles versus Dinamo Zagreb under Thomas Tuchel.
Ismael Bennacer's AC Milan are predicted to compete fiercely with West London for the championship, although Red Bull Salzburg also poses a serious danger.
RB Leipzig may have had a difficult time drawing Pep Guardiola's team and PSG last season, but they will be optimistic about their chances in Group E because Real Madrid, the defending champions, are the only team that is better this year.
This week, Amadou Haidara and the freshly acquired Abdou Diallo face off against Shakhtar Donetsk, but the threat posed by the returning Celtic—back in the league since 2017–18—should not be minimized.
There is a large African presence in the final group, which also includes Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, and Copenhagen.
The team in Group G is led by Riyad Mahrez, while Youssef En-Nesyri and Yassine Bounou play for La Liga's juggernauts.
At Dortmund, Danish attacker Taiwo Akinkunmi might make his Champions League debut, and this week, Senegal center-forward Khouma Babacar and fellow countryman Paul Mukairu may also feature in different roles.
The Champions League is back, and with some of Africa's best exports playing major roles in Europe's prestigious club competition, this year's condensed group stage is likely to throw up a string of curveballs. Observe this space.
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