Champions League 2023/24 group stage draw: Newcastle in Group of Death

The draw for the 2023/24 Champions League has taken place and it’s thrown up some intriguing contests.

Domestic action has returned all around Europe but we can start to look forward to elite level Champions League football next month. The best clubs in Europe are ready to compete for the biggest prize in domestic football and the final line-up for the group stage draw was confirmed on Wednesday night following the second leg of the play-offs.

A total of 32 teams were in the hat for the draw and they were split into four pots, forming eight groups of four teams each. 26 clubs were given direct entry into the group stage draw, with the remaining 6 coming via the qualifiers. Royal Antwerp booked their place in the Champions League for the first time in their history following an aggregate win over Athens. Copenhagen return to the Champions League after beating Rakow Czestochowa while PSV Eindhoven thrashed Rangers 5-1 in Holland to progress 7-3 on aggregate.

On Tuesday night, Young Boys eased into the group stages with an impressive 3-0 win over Maccabi Haifa at home. Turkish giants Galatasaray also booked their place in the Champions League with a narrow 2-1 win over Molde while Sporting Braga eased past Panithanaikos.

The pots

The 32 qualified teams were split into four pots: Pot 1 consisted of the title holders, the Europa League winners and the champions of the top 6 leagues based on coefficient points. Reigning European champions Manchester City were in pot 1 after winning the Champions League for the first time in their history with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan back in June. Sevilla joined City in pot 1 after winning the Europa League while Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, PSG, Benfica and Feyenoord were in pot 1 as domestic champions.

The remaining three pots were decided based on the team’s club coefficient points. Pot 1 consisted of European giants Real Madrid while Manchester United were also in pot 2 after finishing third in the Premier League last season. Arsenal return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years after finishing behind Man City in second place last year while Inter Milan joined the Gunners in pot 2. Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig and Porto completed the pot.

Pot 3 consisted of Shakhtar Donetsk, Salzburg, AC Milan, Braga, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, PSV and Copenhagen. Newcastle United are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2002 after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season. The Magpies were in pot 4 alongside Scottish champions Celtic, Galatasaray, Real Sociedad, Union Berlin, Lens, Antwerp and Young Boys.

The draw

The group stage draw took place at 5pm in Monaco on Thursday 31st August. Bayern Munich were first out the hat and they were put into Group A with Sevilla out next in Group B. Napoli were drawn in Group C, Benfica in Group D, Feyenoord Group E, PSG in Group F, title holders Man City are in Group G with Barcelona in Group H.

Man Utd have been drawn in Group A where they’ll take on German giants Bayern Munich. Copenhagen are also in Group A along with Galatasaray.

Arsenal face a trip to Seville to take on the Europa League winners after being drawn in Group B. They will also be up against familiar opposition after being drawn to face PSV Eindhoven and Lens.

La Liga giants Real Madrid are in Group C alongside Serie A champions Napoli. FC Braga and Union Berlin make up the group.

Last seasons losing finalists, Inter Milan, have been drawn in Group D alongside Benfica, RB Salzburg and Real Sociedad.

Atletico Madrid are in Group E with Dutch champions Feyenoord. Serie A outfit Lazio are also in Group E alongside Scottish champions Celtic.

PSG were joined by Borussia Dortmund in Group F while Italian giants AC Milan and Newcastle United have also been pitted in the ‘Group of Death’.

RB Leipzig were drawn with champions Manchester City in Group G. Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys join the duo in what is a kind draw for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Porto joined La Liga champions Barcelona in Group H. Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk are also in Group H alongside Antwerp.

Group A

• Bayern Munich
• Man Utd
• Copenhagen
• Galatasaray

Group B

• Sevilla
• Arsenal
• PSV
• Lens

Group C

• Napoli
• Real Madrid
• Braga
• Union Berlin

Group D

• Benfica
• Inter Milan
• Red Bull Salzburg
• Real Sociedad

Group E

• Feyenoord
• Atletico Madrid
• Lazio
• Celtic

Group F

• PSG
• Dortmund
• AC Milan
• Newcastle United

Group G

• Man City
• Leipzig
• Red Star Belgrade
• Young Boys

Group H

• Barcelona
• Porto
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Antwerp

Following today’s draw, Champions League tickets for the group stage matches will go on sale soon once the exact dates and times are confirmed by UEFA.

Matchdays

Group stage
Matchday 1: 19–20 September 2023
Matchday 2: 3–4 October 2023
Matchday 3: 24–25 October 2023
Matchday 4: 7–8 November 2023
Matchday 5: 28–29 November 2023
Matchday 6: 12–13 December 2023

Following the completion of the group stage games, the draw for the round of 16 knockout will take place on December 18th with the games placed in February and March 2024.

Premier League pleased?

Defending champions Man City will be delighted with their draw. Guardiola’s men should have no trouble seeing off Leipzig, Red Star and Young Boys to progress to the knockout stages of the competition once again.

Arsenal will also be quietly happy with their draw. Sevilla were one of the better sides to draw from Pot 1 as they avoided all the ‘big boys’. The Gunners will be familiar with PSV as they’ve faced them several times over the years – although the Dutch giants were one of the better sides Arsenal could have got from pot 2. Lens from pot 3 should be no trouble from the North Londoners and they will be confident of topping the group to book their place in the next phase.

Man Utd face a tough task against Bayern Munich in Group A. However, Erik ten Hag’s men will still be favourites to progress to the knockout rounds as they should finish ahead of Copenhagen and Galatasaray. A trip to Turkey won’t be easy but United should still get enough points to progress.

However, there is no doubt Newcastle have by far the toughest task of the four Premier League teams. Being in pot 4, they were always going to get a tough draw but they got one of the hardest possible. PSG, Dortmund and Milan will be a stern test for the Magpies but none of the European clubs will fancy going to St James’ Park as it will be rocking on Champions League nights.

It’s promising to be another exciting campaign in the Champions League following todays draw, with some thrilling matches to look forward to over the coming months.