The draw for the 2023-24 Champions League group stage has been announced, and it presents some intriguing matchups.
Defending champions Manchester City will face RB Leipzig once again, a team they convincingly defeated 8-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 last season.
Joining City in Group G are Crvena Zvezda and Young Boys, making it a relatively favorable draw for the Treble winners.
In contrast, Newcastle United has been handed a challenging group. They are set to take on football giants Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan in Group F.
Eddie Howe’s squad faces tough competition, but they can count on the passionate St James’ Park supporters to create a fortress atmosphere when some of Europe’s top clubs visit.
In other matchups, fans will witness Harry Kane‘s return to England as Bayern Munich squares off against Manchester United in Group A. The England captain will be eager to find the net against FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray as well.
Arsenal’s highly anticipated return to the Champions League promises to be thrilling in Group B. The Gunners will face stiff competition from Europa League champions Sevilla, PSV Eindhoven, and Ligue 1 side Lens.
Last season’s finalists, Inter Milan, have the task of overcoming Benfica in Group D, while Spanish giants Real Madrid will clash with Napoli in Group C.
Scottish champions Celtic face a challenging start to their campaign, locking horns with Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, and Lazio. Meanwhile, LaLiga holders Barcelona must navigate their way past Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Antwerp in Group H.
Group A
Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen, Galatasaray
Group B
Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Lens
Group C
Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin
Group D
Benfica, Inter Milan, FC Salzburg, Real Sociedad
Group E
Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic
Group F
Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle
Group G
Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Crvena Zvezda, Young Boys
Group H
Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp
Each team will play six group games, facing each opponent both home and away.
The first round of fixtures will commence in the middle of September and end three months later in December.
Key dates for your diary
Matchday 1: September 19-20
Matchday 2: October 3-4
Matchday 3: October 24-25
Matchday 4: November 7-8
Matchday 5: November 28-29
Matchday 6: December 12-13