After a late stumble from Arsenal, Manchester City won their third consecutive Engli-sh Premier League championship, while Paris Saint-Germain won their eleventh championship.
The top five divisions of Europe’s leagues concluded this past weekend.
League champions were announced as early as May, with Napoli and Barcelona both lead-ing strong campaigns in Italy and Spain.
For Bayern Munich to continue to rule the Bundesliga, a lucky break was required.
After spending a lengthy time out of the top competition in Europe, teams like Arsenal and Newcastle will return for the 2023–2024 season.
Also, there would be a few unexpected gifts from RC Lens (France), Real Sociedad (Spain), and Union Berlin (Germany).
As it stands, the final placing in the four pots is not confirmed, with a few issues still yet to be decided. As Bleacher Reports
Feyenoord, who won the Eredivisie, could drop to Pot 3 should Inter Milan win the Champions League.
Sevilla will also start the draw from Pot 1, having won the Europa League on May 31 for a record-extending seventh time.
As Evening Standard reports, a number of other select teams will fight for a place in the draw through a rigorous playoff round to be announced later.
Rangers, Marseille, PSV Eindhoven and newly-crowned Belgian champions Royal Antwerp will begin their Champions League journey from the play-off stage.
states, the placing is often determined by the club’s coefficients.
Manchester City, like all the other champions in Europe’s core leagues, will automatically be in Pot 1. However, Inter Milan could join them should they win the June 10 final.
Pot 1: Manchester City, Napoli, Bayern Munich, PSG, Sevilla, Benfica, Feyenoord, Barcelona
Pot 2: Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Porto, Leipzig, Atletico Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk
Pot 3: RB Salzburg, AC Milan, Lazio, Crvena Zvedza, Newcastle United, Celtic, Real Sociedad
Pot 4: Union Berlin, Lens
The teams in bold signify those whose positions on the pots can still change. The group stage draw will be conducted on August 31, 2023.
Champions League referee investigated
Sports Brief also reported that UEFA had begun to investigate referee Szymon Marciniak after he was spotted talking to a far-right politician.
Marciniak, who is due to officiate the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on June 10, faced being stood down pending the results of the investigation.
The investigation has, however, since been completed, and Marciniak has been cleared to officiate the Champions League blockbuster.