The highly anticipated draw for the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage has unveiled some thrilling match-ups that will surely captivate football fans around the world.
Among the standout fixtures is a clash between perennial giants Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid finds themselves in the same group as Napoli, adding another layer of excitement to the competition.
As customary, the 32 qualified teams were divided into eight groups (A-H), each consisting of four teams.
Prior to the draw, all participating clubs were assigned to one of four pots, ensuring that no two clubs from the same country could be placed in the same group.
The top seeds in Pot 1 were Manchester City and Sevilla, the reigning Champions League and Europa League holders respectively.
Joining them were the champions of UEFA’s highest-ranked leagues, excluding the Premier League due to Manchester City’s status as English champions.
Looking to defend their title, Manchester City will once again face RB Leipzig in Europe.
On the other hand, Newcastle, making their long-awaited return to the Champions League after two decades, have been handed a formidable challenge in Group F.
They will face Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund.
Belgian champions Royal Antwerp, participating in the competition for the first time since the 1957/58 season, have found themselves in the same group as Barcelona, a five-time winners, adding an intriguing dynamic to Group H.
Here is a breakdown of the group stage draw:
Group A:
- Bayern Munich (GER)
- Manchester United (ENG)
- Copenhagen (DEN)
- Galatasaray (TUR)
Group B:
- Sevilla (ESP)
- Arsenal (ENG)
- PSV Eindhoven (NED)
- Lens (FRA)
Group C:
- Napoli (ITA)
- Real Madrid (ESP)
- Braga (POR)
- Union Berlin (GER)
Group D:
- Benfica (POR)
- Inter (ITA)
- Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
- Real Sociedad (ESP)
Group E:
- Feyenoord (NED)
- Atletico Madrid (ESP)
- Lazio (ITA)
- Celtic (SCO)
Group F:
- Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
- Borussia Dortmund (GER)
- AC Milan (ITA)
- Newcastle United (ENG)
Group G:
- Manchester City (ENG)
- RB Leipzig (GER)
- Red Star Belgrade (SRB)
- Young Boys (SUI)
Group H:
- Barcelona (ESP)
- Porto (POR)
- Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
- Royal Antwerp (BEL)
Make sure to mark your calendars for the group stage matches, which are scheduled as follows:
- Matchday one – 19/20 September 2023
- Matchday two – 3/4 October 2023
- Matchday three – 24/25 October 2023
- Matchday four – 7/8 November 2023
- Matchday five – 28/29 November 2023
- Matchday six – 12/13 December 2023
Additionally, be prepared for an electrifying finale at the iconic Wembley Stadium on 1 June 2024.
This will be the eighth time the Champions League final will be hosted at this renowned venue, with the most recent occurrence being the all-German clash between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in 2013.