Everything you need to know about the Champions League group stage
The world's biggest club competition starts on Sept. 19
This season’s Champions League officially took shape on Thursday when UEFA held the draw to determine the competition’s eight groups.
The draw was held in Monaco, where Bayern Munich was paired with Manchester United and Napoli with Real Madrid, while Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle all ended up together in Group F.
Here is the composition of the groups:
The Champions League kicks off on Sept. 19. The final will be contested on June 1, 2024 at London’s famed Wembley Stadium.
Here’s everything you need to know about the UCL group stage:
What’s the schedule?
Teams were divided into four pots based on their UEFA club coefficients. One team from each of the pots was then drawn into the eight groups. Teams from the same country could not be drawn in the same group.
The competition’s 32 teams will compete in six matchdays. Here is the schedule:
Matchday 1: Sept. 19-20
Matchday 2: Oct. 3-4
Matchday 3: Oct. 24-25
Matchday 4: Nov. 7-8
Matchday 5: Nov. 28-29
Matchday 6: Dec. 12-13
Last season’s schedule was altered to fit in the 2022 World Cup, but the 2023-24 edition follows a more traditional format with group stage matches stretching into December.
How do teams advance?
The top two teams — for a total of 16 — advance to the round of 16, which will be played on Feb. 13 and March 13 following the winter break.
The third-place teams drop down to the Europa League knockout phase. Starting next season, there will be no drop down of teams from the Champions League to the Europa League following group play.
Is there a ‘Group of Death’?
There certainly is. Group F, featuring Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle, is the toughest of the eight. PSG, a team that has spent a lot of money but failed to lift the trophy, will have a tough time finishing in the top two.
Dortmund remains one of Germany’s best teams and AC Milan reached last season’s semifinals. Newcastle, a team flush with cash after the Saudi Public Interest Fund took over ownership, could also pose a challenge.
Other groups to watch for include Group A (Bayern vs. Man United), Group C (Napoli vs. Real Madrid), Group D (Inter Milan vs. Benfica) and Group H (Barcelona vs. Porto).
Manchester City were placed in Group G with RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys. The defending UCL winners managed by Pep Guardiola are expected to cruise to the knockout stage.