UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Group Stage Preview & Predictions

The most prestigious competition in club football is set for the 2023/24 season after the draws in Monaco and the group stages kick off on the 19th of September 2023. Only 16 teams would progress from the group stage with the first and second-place teams going through to the knockouts. Manchester City won their first Champions League trophy last season and they enter this season as defending champions and favorites to win the ‘big-eared trophy’. Can they follow in Real Madrid’s steps to retain their trophy or will we see other big giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid take the prize home?

UEFA Championship League Top Favorites

Manchester City had one of the best runs in the UEFA Champions League last season as they lifted the trophy in brilliant fashion, going unbeaten throughout the tournament. They are the favorites to win the UEFA Champions League and they are joined by other teams like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. Arsenal makes it into the top five after a long absence from this competition and it remains to see if they can emulate Manchester City by winning their first-ever Champions League title.

●       Manchester City to win @ 3.05

●       Bayern Munich to win @ 6.35

●       Real Madrid to win @ 8.90

●       Arsenal FC to win @ 11.00

●       FC Barcelona to win @ 15.00

Champions League Group A

Bayern Munich and Manchester United are the big teams in Group A and the Red Devils would be traveling to the Allianz Arena in their first game of the group stage. Both teams are favorites to reach the round of 16 and they are joined by Copenhagen and Galatasaray. The Turkish team has made some good preparations regarding transfers and with Manchester United struggling, they will fancy their chances in this group. Bayern Munich is the strongest team here and they have topped their group in the last two seasons, they can breeze through the Group stage once again.

Champions League Group B

Arsenal returned to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2017 and their path to the knockouts isn’t a difficult task for the Gunners. Lens, Sevilla, and PSV Eindhoven joined Arsenal in Group B and the battle for second place would be a very tough contest. The Gunners are expected to finish top of this group and they have a very balanced team this year. Sevilla was at the finals of the UEFA Super Cup this year but they haven’t started the league campaign well, however, they are still a good challenge. PSV Eindhoven and Lens are away in their first game and they would be hoping for a strong start.

Predicted Table

Champions League Group C

Real Madrid and Napoli met in the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League six years ago where the Spanish team progressed on aggregate. This season, both teams will be facing each other in the group stage and they are both favorites to qualify ahead of Braga and Union Berlin. Real Madrid has won the Champions League a record 14 times and they should be topping this group easily. Union Berlin has improved over the years and this is their first ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League. Braga has been decent in the Europa League but they are facing their toughest challenge in years and it is unlikely that they make it past the group stage.

Predicted Table

Champions League Group D

Imanol Alguacil’s exploits with Real Sociedad earned them a place in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and they didn’t have a bad draw in Group D. The Spanish side is joined by Inter Milan, Benfica, and Salzburg in the group stages. Last season’s finalists Inter Milan would be hoping for another great campaign in the Champions League and they are the favorites to top this group. Salzburg is the weakest team here and even a third-place finish would be a good result for the Austrian side. Benfica lost to Inter Milan in the quarterfinals last season and they would be having a rematch this season.

Predicted Table

Champions League Group E

Atletico Madrid exited the Champions League group stage last season, finishing fourth in the final standings despite having an ‘easy’ group. Diego Simeone would be hoping to avoid a repeat this year and his team is the favorite to finish top of this group. Lazio and Feyenoord are the biggest challenge to Atletico Madrid in this group while Celtic is poised to finish bottom of this group. Feyenoord made it to the group stage after winning the Eredivisie last season and they reached the knockouts of the Europa League after a good season. Celtic is a regular in the group stages but they always struggle against decent European teams.

Predicted Table

Champions League Group F

Predicted Table

Champions League Group G

Manchester City got another easy draw in the Champions League group stages and could finish the group games without a defeat. RB Leipzig, Young Boys, and Red Star Belgrade are the other three teams in Group G and one of them is expected to qualify alongside the European champions. RB Leipzig recorded one of their heaviest defeats in the UEFA Champions League last season, losing 7-0 to Man City at the Etihad Stadium and they would be hoping to avoid a repeat but they are stronger than Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade.

Predicted Table

Champions League Group H

Xavi Hernandez finally got his wish of an easy draw in the UEFA Champions League and he has no excuses to not finish top of this group. FC Barcelona is set to face FC Porto, Royal Antwerp, and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Group H and they have an easy ride to the round of 16. FC Porto reached the knockout of the Champions League last season and they are favorites alongside FC Barcelona to qualify from this group. The battle for the Europa League spot will be between Royal Antwerp and Shakhtar Donetsk although the latter could give Porto and Barcelona a run for their money.

Predicted Table

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