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The highway to Wembley has been paved. The draw for the 2023-24 Champions League group stage was accomplished Thursday, because the 32 golf equipment concerned discovered their opponents for the opening spherical.
Group A
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | Germany |
| 2 | Manchester United | England |
| 3 | FC Copenhagen | Denmark |
| 4 | Galatasaray | Turkey |
On the spot evaluation: Bayern Munich and Manchester United, who’ve confronted one another 11 occasions beforehand, are the clear favorites to advance out of top-heavy Group A. Harry Kane will lead Bayern in opposition to United in his first match in opposition to English opposition since leaving Tottenham Hotspur. Galatasaray and Copenhagen needed to trudge by way of qualifying, however with Mauro Icardi main the road and a raucous fan base awaiting weary vacationers from continental Europe, Istanbul-based Galatasaray are a authentic wild card.
Group B
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sevilla | Spain |
| 2 | Arsenal | England |
| 3 | PSV Eindhoven | Netherlands |
| 4 | RC Lens | France |
On the spot evaluation: Arsenal ought to fancy their possibilities of advancing as winners of Group B of their return from a seven-year hiatus. Whereas Sevilla are the golden commonplace within the Europa League, having gained the match for a report seventh time final season, they’ve struggled to make an identical influence in Europe’s high competitors. RC Lens are stuffed with thrilling expertise, headlined by summer season signing Elye Wahi, and will trigger an upset of their first Champions League look in 21 years.
Group C
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napoli | Italy |
| 2 | Actual Madrid | Spain |
| 3 | SC Braga | Portugal |
| 4 | Union Berlin | Germany |
On the spot evaluation: Napoli will put their title credentials on the road when Carlo Ancelotti’s Actual Madrid come to city. Ancelotti, who coached Napoli for one-and-a-half seasons, is aware of what it takes to achieve the cauldron that’s the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Napoli most lately met Madrid in the course of the spherical of 16 of the 2016-17 Champions League, shedding the tie 6-2 on combination. With Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci reportedly set to hitch Union Berlin, control Germany’s up-and-comers.
Group D
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benfica | Portugal |
| 2 | Inter Milan | Italy |
| 3 | Crimson Bull Salzburg | Austria |
| 4 | Actual Sociedad | Spain |
On the spot evaluation: Final 12 months’s Champions League finalists Inter Milan might have a trickier time navigating this group of darkish horses than anticipated. Benfica are reigning Portuguese champions, Crimson Bull Salzburg proceed to incubate younger expertise, and Actual Sociedad are anchored by Martin Zubimendi, whom many regard as the following Sergio Busquets. Inter did effectively as underdogs final 12 months; this time, they will have to deal with heftier expectations.
Group E
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feyenoord | Netherlands |
| 2 | Atletico Madrid | Spain |
| 3 | Lazio | Italy |
| 4 | Celtic | Scotland |
On the spot evaluation: Although Atletico Madrid could stand out because the kingpin of this quartet, Diego Simeone’s facet lacks the metal that fortified runs in 2014 and 2016. Lazio play engaging soccer however lack constant scoring. Feyenoord gained the Eredivisie with relative ease, however a bit of their gamers have by no means skilled the Champions League. Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi is a hidden treasure, however can he alone get them to the knockout stage for the primary time in a decade?
Group F
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| 2 | Borussia Dortmund | Germany |
| 3 | AC Milan | Italy |
| 4 | Newcastle United | England |
On the spot evaluation: The place can we begin? All 4 of those groups might anchor teams of their very own. AC Milan and Newcastle United are far above the standard of groups you’d count on in Pots 3 and 4. Sadly, UEFA’s draw is notoriously uneven, and these 4 groups have to simply accept their locations on this 12 months’s group of loss of life. PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali will face former facet Milan and return to San Siro to each jeers and cheers.
Group G
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester Metropolis | England |
| 2 | RB Leipzig | Germany |
| 3 | Crvena Zvezda | Serbia |
| 4 | Younger Boys | Switzerland |
On the spot evaluation: Titleholders Manchester Metropolis have each likelihood to emerge from Group G with an ideal 6-0-0 report. After beating RB Leipzig by a mixed 8-1 rating within the group stage final season, Metropolis will meet a staff with out Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai, or Josko Gvardiol, who – in what absolutely looks like a sick joke to followers of the German outfit – is now with the reigning European champions. With all due respect to Crvena Zvezda and Younger Boys, they’re cannon fodder.
Group H
| POT | CLUB | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | Spain |
| 2 | FC Porto | Portugal |
| 3 | Shakhtar Donetsk | Ukraine |
| 4 | Royal Antwerp | Belgium |
On the spot evaluation: It is extremely unlikely Barcelona shall be eradicated from the group stage this season. The La Liga winners famously crashed out of the competitors final 12 months and fared simply as poorly within the Europa League. However supervisor Xavi has them enjoying way more strong soccer than they did at any level of their earlier European marketing campaign. Keep watch over Royal Antwerp, who’re a blast from the previous with Vincent Janssen, Toby Alderweireld, and Ritchie De Laet of their ranks.
Champions League schedule
This season’s group stage kicks off Sept. 19.
- Matchday 1: Sept. 19-20
- Matchday 2: Oct. 3-4
- Matchday 3: Oct. 24-25
- Matchday 4: Nov. 7-8
- Matchday 5: Nov. 28-29
- Matchday 6: Dec. 12-13
The total fixture checklist shall be launched by UEFA this week.
Different key dates
The spherical of 16 draw will happen on Dec. 18, with the quarterfinal and semifinal attracts being performed collectively on March 15, 2024.
- Spherical of 16, first legs: Feb. 13-14 and 20-21
- Spherical of 16, second legs: March 5-6 and 12-13
- Quarterfinals, first legs: April 9-10
- Quarterfinals, second legs: April 16-17
- Semifinals, first legs: April 30-Could 1
- Semifinals, second legs: Could 7-8
Champions League ultimate
The showpiece match is slated for June 1, 2024, at Wembley Stadium. The long-lasting venue will stage the ultimate for a report eighth time and third within the Champions League period.
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