UCL 2023/24 Group Stage: All You Need to Know
UEFA has just finalized the group stage draw for the Champions League season 2023/24. Group F is certainly the most interesting group among the eight groups decided today at a UEFA event in Monaco.
The groups decided in today’s event are as follows:
group a
- Bayern Munich ( Germany )
- Manchester United ( England )
- Copenhagen ( Denmark )
- Galatasaray (Turkey )
German champions Bayern Munich and Manchester United are the outright favorites to advance from the group stage. However, Galatasaray from Turkey, boasting an attacking force of Icardi, Zaha, and Hakim Ziyech, are more than capable of disrupting the plans of either of the two European giants. The group will also treat us to a rematch of the famous UEFA Champions League final from 1999.
group b
- Sevilla FC ( Spain )
- Arsenal ( England )
- PSV Eindhoven ( Netherlands )
- FC Lens ( France )
Group B of UCL 2023/24 comprises some interesting teams, with Europa League champions Sevilla and last season’s Premier League title challengers Arsenal being the favorites to reach the round of 16. However, PSV Eindhoven and the French team FC Lens should not be underestimated. The group stage also marks Arsenal’s return to Champions League football for the first time in the last six years.
group c
- SSC Napoli ( Italy )
- Real Madrid ( Spain )
- FC Braga ( Portugal )
- Union Berlin ( Germany )
Fourteen-time champions league winner Real Madrid and Italian champions Napoli will have to contend against Portuguese side Braga and German side Union Berlin for their place in the pre-quarterfinals. Union Berlin is making their first appearance in the tournament.
group d
- SL Benfica ( Portugal )
- Inter Milan ( Italy )
- Salzburg ( Austria )
- Real Sociedad ( Spain )
Group D appears quite interesting with the inclusion of teams like SL Benfica, Inter Milan, Salzburg, and Real Sociedad. The level of teams, aside from last season’s finalists Inter Milan, is almost the same. The battle for the second place in the group could be an exciting one, with Inter Milan supposedly clinching the top spot.
group e
- Feyenoord ( Netherlands )
- Atletico Madrid ( Spain )
- Lazio ( Italy )
- Celtic ( Scotland )
Simeone‘s Atletico Madrid is pitted against relatively weaker opponents (on paper) in the group stage of UCL 2023/24. However, Champions League football is famous for upsets and surprises, and no team should be underestimated in this group. Dutch champions Feyenoord are the team that should be cautiously considered by the other teams in the group.
group f
- Paris Saint-Germain ( France )
- Borussia Dortmund ( Germany )
- AC Milan ( Italy )
- Newcastle United ( England )
Group F, as already mentioned, stands as one of the most competitive group stages in recent UEFA Champions League history. No group deserves the title of “Group of Death” more than this one. All four teams in the group are capable of defeating each other. This tournament marks the return of Newcastle United to UCL football, and they will certainly be looking forward to being the giant killer in the group, consisting of PSG, Dortmund, and AC Milan.
group g
- Manchester City ( England )
- RB Leipzig ( Germany )
- Red Star Belgrade (Serbia )
- Young Boys ( Switzerland )
Defending champions Manchester City will once again face RB Leipzig in Champions League football. Last year, they met RB Leipzig in the Round of 16, where Haaland scored a massive five goals in the second leg. The remaining two teams are expected to compete for a place in the Europa League spot, with RB Leipzig being the favorites to join Manchester City in the top two of the group.
group h
- FC Barcelona ( Spain )
- FC Porto ( Portugal )
- Shakhtar Donetsk ( Ukraine )
- Royal Antwerp (Belgium )
FC Barcelona finally seems to have received a comparatively easier group in UEFA Champions League football after two years. Spanish champions FC Barcelona failed to progress past the group stage in the last couple of years. FC Porto is the next favorite team to advance to the Round of 16. However, the Ukrainian club from Donetsk and Royal Antwerp are also not to be underestimated.
