Possible Champions League group stage opponents for Premier League clubs

After the dominance of Spanish sides on the European stage over the last decade, Premier League clubs are now seemingly taking that position in recent times.

English teams have won the Champions League trophy three times over the last five years and the way the Premier League clubs are showcasing their financial muscle, it seems they can dominate this competition for the upcoming years.

However, surprisingly two of the most successful English teams in recent years, Chelsea and Liverpool, won’t be in this season’s Champions League as they have failed to qualify.

But, Arsenal have returned to Europe’s elite club competition after remaining absent for almost the past decade, while Newcastle United have managed to muscle their way into it this season for the first time since 2002.

Manchester United have qualified after remaining absent last term and the other English team – who will be competing for this season’s Champions League trophy are the defending champions Manchester City.

26 teams have already qualified for the Champions League this season and six more clubs will secure their place through the qualifying rounds. The qualifying round is currently underway and it will end on 30th August with the group stage draw set to take place the following day. After the draw takes place on Friday, fans will then be able to buy tickets for the group stage matches once the fixtures are confirmed.

English club’s allotted pots

After winning this competition last term, Manchester City will be in the number one pot alongside Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Feyenoord, Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli – who are the champions of their domestic leagues, while Sevilla have also been assigned to this pot after winning the Europa League last term.

Manchester United and Arsenal are in the second pot and along with them, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig and FC Porto are also in this pot. Newcastle haven’t been assigned their pot yet but they will be either in third or in the fourth pot.

Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Sociedad, Celtic, Salzburg, AC Milan, Lazio and Red Star Belgrade have already been placed in the third pot, while RC Lens and Union Berlin are in the fourth pot.

The remaining vacant spaces will be filled following the conclusion of the qualifying rounds. The toughest opponent from the qualifying would be PSV Eindhoven if they manage to secure their place in the group stage.

Possible opponents for Manchester City

More than one club from the same league can’t be drawn in the same group so Manchester City won’t be playing against any of their English rivals during the group stage.

So, the Citizens will be in the same group with any one of the remaining six teams from the second pot. The Citizens would certainly like to avoid playing against Real Madrid and would be hoping to be drawn with either Leipzig or Porto.

Milan are the strongest team in the pot three so Pep Guardiola’s side would be eager to avoid playing against them and will definitely be happy to be drawn with the Red Star Belgrade.

However, the way the Citizens have been performing in recent times, it seems no team has the solution to stop Guardiola’s side.

So, the dream group stage draw for the Citizens would be to play against Porto, Red Star Belgrade and Maccabi Haifa( should they manage to qualify through the qualifying round). The nightmare draw would be to compete against Real Madrid, AC Milan and Lens.

Potential group stage draw for Manchester United

As a Premier League club, Manchester United can’t be drawn against the Citizens in the same group. So, Possible opponents for United from the pot one are Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Feyenoord, Benfica, Napoli and Sevilla.

Erik ten Hag’s side would definitely want to avoid playing against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG and Napoli, while they would be happy to be in the same group with Feyenoord or Sevilla. But, they haven’t had great success against the Spanish side over the last few years so they would certainly like to have the Dutch champions in the same group.

United would be looking to avoid playing against Milan – who are in the third pot – before the knockout stage. The Rosonerri have strengthened their squad heavily this season and are expected to be a real force in this competition this season. Ten Hag’s side would certainly be content to be drawn with Red Star Belgrade in the same group.

Lens and Berlin are the two strongest teams in the pot four, while PSV will come into that conversation should they qualify and be allotted in that pot. So Man Utd wouldn’t want to be competing against any of them and rather happy to be playing against a weaker side. So, Maccabi Haifa are seemingly that team from the qualifying round if they secure their place in this competition.

So, the nightmare draw would be for United to compete against Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Lens, while the dream scenario would be playing against Feyenoord, Red Star Belgrade and Maccabi Haifa.

Possible group stage draw for Arsenal

Arsenal are in the same pot as Manchester United so they are in a similar situation, in terms of who they would like to play against in the group stage and who they desperately want to avoid.

So, the dream draw for the Gunners would be competing against Feyenoord, Red Star Belgrade and Maccabi Haifa and the worst draw would be to be placed in the same group with Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Lens.

Potential group stage draw for Newcastle United

The Magpies are the only qualified teams who haven’t been assigned their pot yet but they will surely be in the third or fourth pot.

Due to PSV’s recent European experience, they could be allotted in the third pot should they secure their place in the group stage round, in that case, Newcastle would be placed in the fourth pot. Otherwise, they may be assigned to the third pot.

Having secured their place in this competition after a long time, the Magpies would certainly be looking to be in an easier group and the last thing they want is to be in a group of death.

So, the best draw for Eddie Howe’s side would be to play against Feyenoord, Porto and Maccabi Haifa. But, should they were to be in the fourth pot then Feyenoord, Porto and Red Belgrade would be the dream group for the Geordies.

The nightmare group stage draw for them would be playing against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Lens should they are allotted in the third pot. If they are assigned to the fourth pot then competing versus Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and AC Milan would be the worst possible scenario for Newcastle.