Newcastle have been handed a stern test on their return to the Champions League, while Manchester United will take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League Group Stage in Group A and holders Man City take on RB Leipzig in Group G.
The draw for the 2023-24 Champions League took place on Thursday night in Monaco, with all 32 qualifiers learning their fates for the upcoming competition. Spain were represented by five teams, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad joined by Sevilla after they won the Europa League, easing out Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the final.
With all of the continent’s biggest sides in action, it is sure to be a tough competition for all clubs, but Group F is arguably the ‘group of death’, which sees Paris Saint-Germain take on Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Premier League side Newcastle.
Group A
United take on Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Aside from Newcastle’s unofficial ‘Group of Death’, Man United arguably have the toughest task of the English contingent, coming up against Bayern Munich in a replay of the iconic 1999 final.
It is a quick return to England for Harry Kane, who left Tottenham for Bayern Munich in a huge £100 million deal.
However the England skipper will soon find himself back in his home nation, making the trip to Old Trafford as part of Thomas Tuchel’s side’s group stage campaign.
Group B
Arsenal will face European specialists and Europa League holders Sevilla but a group also containing PSV Eindhoven, convincing conquerors of Glasgow Rangers, and Lens should hold no terrors. Last season’s Premier League runners-up Arsenal were handed a comfortable draw in Group B on their return to the competition after a six-year absence.
Group C
The competition’s record winners, Real Madrid, came out of Pot 2 to be picked against Serie A holders Napoli in a mouth-watering clash, with Braga and Union Berlin making up the quartet in Group C.
Group D
Last year’s finalists Inter Milan were in the second pot, and went into Group D, where they find Portuguese champions Benfica, Austria’s RB Salzburg and Real Sociedad.
Group E
Scottish champions Celtic will take on Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Eredivisie holders Feyenoord and Italian outfit Lazio in Group E.
Group F
Newcastle’s long-awaited return to Europe’s elite competition has been much anticipated after they finished fourth in the Premier League last season – but their draw could barely have been more difficult. Newcastle United’s return to the Champions League has given them arguably the toughest group to navigate towards the knockout phase after the draw in Monaco.
Paris St Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan await in Group F for Eddie Howe’s side and, while this presents the toughest of tests, it also offers up the prospect of some truly special nights on Tyneside as Newcastle attempt to demonstrate their new ambitions against elite opposition.
The rest of the Premier League clubs will be cautiously optimistic of progress while Newcastle will hope a fevered atmosphere at St. James’ Park will fuel their attempts to reach the last 16.
Group G
Man City once again find themselves in Group G for the second successive season but will also face Leipzig for the fifth and sixth times in the competition since September 2021.
Holders Manchester City, meanwhile, will be overwhelming favourites to reach the last 16 and top their group, in which they will play RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys of Switzerland.
Manchester City will have a relatively straight-forward Group G to negotiate. And for Copenhagen it is the second competition in a row where they will find themselves making the trip to Manchester un the group stages, having come up against City last term.
Following the group stage draw, UEFA’s player and coach of the season awards were handed out, with Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland receiving gongs, as well as Spanish World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati and Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman.
Group H
Xavi’s Barcelona were first into Group H, where they find Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and debutants Royal Antwerp.
Group Stage draw in full
Group A
Bayern Munich (Ger), Manchester United (Eng), Copenhagen (Den), Galatasaray (Tur)
Group B
Sevilla (Spa), Arsenal (Eng), PSV Eindhoven (Net), Lens (Fra)
Group C
Napoli (Ita), Real Madrid (Spa), Braga (Por), Union Berlin (Ger)
Group D
Benfica (Por), Inter Milan (Ita), RB Salzburg (Aus), Real Sociedad (Spa)
Group E
Feyenoord (Net), Atletico Madrid (Spa), Lazio (Ita), Celtic (Sco)
Group F
Paris Saint-Germain (Fra), Borussia Dortmund (Ger), AC Milan (Ita), Newcastle (Eng)
Group G
Manchester City (Eng), RB Leipzig (Ger), Red Star Belgrade (Ser), Young Boys (Swi)
Group H
Barcelona (Spa), Porto (Por), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr), Royal Antwerp (Bel)
