An In-Depth Look At the Champions League Group Stage

Aside from the World Cup, there is no greater stage in world soccer than the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League. A gauntlet chock-full of the best teams from around the European continent, the competition has played host to some of the greatest moments in sports history. Whether it’s Barcelona’s phoenix-like resurrection against PSG in 2017 or Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s last gasp goal to seal Manchester United’s treble in 1999, the Champions League has established itself as an iconic part of the annual sports calendar.

This year's competition is especially notable as it marks the end of the traditional format that has become synonymous with the tournament. UEFA announced that starting in the 2024-25 season, the total number of clubs would be boosted from 32 to 36. Instead of the classic “group stage,” each club will play eight games (four home and four away) determined by a pot-draw. There will be four pots of nine teams and unlike the current system, squads will square off with one member from the same pot. After all of the matches are played, the top eight teams will qualify for the round of 16 while the second half of the positions will be determined by a playoff. For more in-depth details about the new Champions League structure click here.

With the tournament set to kick off on September 19, it’s time for a group-by-group breakdown of the 2023-24 Champions League.

Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, and Galatasaray

*Harry Kane transferred to Bayern Munich from Tottenham Hotspur this summer. Photo credit: fcbayern.com*

Group A features some of the biggest clubs in the world. While names like Bayern Munich and Manchester United are familiar to even the most casual of soccer fans, Galatasaray and Copenhagen have enjoyed a bevy of success. Galatasaray’s RAMS Park is home to some of the most extravagant displays of fandom in all of world sport. Copenhagen, on the other hand, is quietly one of Europe’s most dominant clubs. The Danish giants have won their domestic league 15 times and are the only team from the Scandinavian country to ever appear in the Champions League round of 16. Despite the historic pedigree of Manchester United, the modern Red Devils have failed to reach the heights of teams in the past. United has not advanced past the round of 16 since 2018-19. Bayern Munich is undoubtedly the favorite to finish top of the group. Bayern won the Bundesliga for a record 11 straight seasons and the signing of prolific goal scorer Harry Kane makes the German champions one of the strongest sides in the competition.

Prediction: 1. Bayern Munich 2. Galatasaray 3. Manchester United 4. FC Copenhagen

Players to watch: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Mauro Icardi (Galatasaray), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), and Viktor Claesson (FC Copenhagen)

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV, and Lens

*Philips Stadium in Eindhoven. Photo credit: psv.nl*

Group B is an apt title for this collection of clubs, as three out of the four sides finished as runner-up in their domestic league. The only exception is Sevilla, who qualified after winning its record seventh Europa League/UEFA Cup championship over Manchester United in the spring. Don’t let the 12th place finish in LaLiga fool you, Sevilla always seems to have success on the continental stage. Lens was one of the biggest surprises out of the “Big 5” leagues last season. The French club finished just one point behind PSG in the increasingly less predictable Ligue 1. PSV has become a mainstay in European competitions. The Eindhoven-based team has finished in second place for three straight seasons in the Eredivisie. The club has a long history with the Champions League, earning a spot in the competition in every season from 1997-2008. Finally, Arsenal returns to the tournament for the first time since 2016-17. Pep Guardiola disciple Mikel Arteta has helped revive the Gunners from years of mediocrity. The London club was just a couple of wins away from winning the prestigious English Premier League last year.

Prediction: 1. Arsenal 2. PSV 3. Lens 4. Sevilla

Players to watch: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Hirving Lozano (PSV), Kevin Danso (Lens), and Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla)

Group C: Real Madrid, Napoli, Braga, and Union Berlin

*Khvicha Kvaratskhelia logged 12 goals in Serie A last season. Phot Credit: Getty Images*

An interesting concoction of legendary clubs, rising stars, and historic venues, Group C is intriguing to say the least. Perhaps the most overlooked side of the four, Braga finished 2022-23 positioned in third place amongst the Portuguese topflight. Whether you’re a diehard fan or just a neutral, Braga home matches are a sight to behold. The clubs’ Estádio Municipal de Braga is an undeniably impressive venue, integrating the stands into the rockface of a mountain. Founded in 1906, Union Berlin is a club steeped in history. After climbing its way from the fourth division of German soccer in the early 2000s, the side finished in 4th last season in the Bundesliga. 2023 is the first time that Die Eisernen will be in the Champions League. Over to Napoli, the Italian side finally reached the pinnacle of Serie A last year for the first time since 1989-90. The Naples based club burst onto the scene with standout seasons from Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Kim Min-Jae (currently at Bayern). Of course, rounding out the group is 14x Champions League Winners Real Madrid. It is impossible to think of Los Blancos without thinking about Champions League glory. Widely regarded as one of the biggest names in world sport, Real Madrid always seems to pull the rabbit out of the hat when it comes to this tournament.

Prediction: 1. Real Madrid 2. Napoli 3. Union Berlin 4. Braga

Players to watch: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli), Robin Gosens (Union Berlin), and Abel Ruiz (Braga)

Group D: Internazionale, Benfica, RB Salzburg, and Real Sociedad

*Benfica defender Antonio Silva broke into the first team at just 19 years old. Phot Credit: Getty Images*

Full of perennial European and Domestic challengers, Group D could be viewed as “the best of the rest”. While not many Americans or casuals may be familiar with these clubs, all but one of these sides has captured a topflight trophy in this decade. The lone squad to not win a domestic league trophy in recent memory is Real Sociedad. A continuous name in LaLiga’s upper echelon, Sociedad has finished in the top ten of Spain’s elite in each season since 2018-19. Legendary players like Xabi Alonso, Antoine Griezmann, and David Silva have all donned the Sociedad striped kit. After being bought by Red Bull in 2005, Salzburg has claimed top spot in the Austrian Bundesliga 14 times, including 10 straight dating back to 2013-14. Salzburg made the Champions League round of 16 back in 2021-22. Benfica is the reigning Primeira Liga champion. The Portuguese side is the most successful club in the country’s history, winning 38 league titles. The Lisbon team has appeared in seven Champions League Finals with two wins. Internazionale, also known as Inter Milan or just Inter, has earned the Champions League trophy on three occasions. This year the Italian team enters the competition seeking to avenge its loss to Manchester City in last season's final.

Prediction: 1. Benfica 2. Internazionale 3. Salzburg 4. Real Sociedad

Players to watch: Antonio Silva (Benfica), Nicolo Barella (Inter), Strahinja Pavlovic (Salzburg), and Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)

Group E: Atletico de Madrid, Feyenoord, Lazio, and Celtic

*Lazio signed midfielder Daichi Kamada from Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer. Photo Credits: thelaziali.com*

In terms of atmosphere, Group E is in a league of its own; each one of these teams has a clear home pitch advantage. Starting with legendary side Celtic, the reigning Scottish champs are back in the Champions League. Despite being one of the few clubs to ever win the whole tourney, Celtic has not cleared the group stage since 2012-13. Located in Glasgow, Celtic Park is a deafening place to play for away sides. Lazio has long been a mainstay in the Italian top division. The Eagles finished 2nd in Serie A last season and look to prove themselves on the European stage. With Rome as its home, Lazio plays its matches at the Stadio Olimpico (Olympic Stadium) in the Italian capital. While some may be unfamiliar with Feyenoord, those in the Netherlands certainly are not. Feyenoord won the Eredivisie by seven points last year and lost just two matches all season. The Rotterdam club has won 16 domestic titles, two Europa/UEFA Cup trophies, and one European Championship. Boasting a historic list of former players, Feyenoord is back in the continent's top competition for the first time since 2017-18. Atletico de Madrid, also known as Atleti, is the epitome of a storied club. The organization was founded 120 years ago and has long been one of soccer’s most recognizable clubs. Despite the history associated with Atleti, Champions League greatness has long evaded the Madrid side. Atletico de Madrid has appeared in three Champions League finals but never walked away with the ultimate prize.

Prediction: 1. Atletico de Madrid 2. Feyenoord 3. Lazio 4. Celtic

Players to watch: Nahuel Molina (Atleti), Igor Paixão (Feyenoord), Daichi Kamada (Lazio), and Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic)

Group F: PSG, Dortmund, AC Milan, and Newcastle

*AC Milan winger Rafael Leao won Serie A Most Valuable Player in 2021-22. Photo Credits: UEFA VIA GETTY IMAGES*

The “group of death,” a common phrase that soccer fans love to overuse and coaches love to downplay. Without a doubt, Group F is this year's most challenging collection of teams. Despite only featuring one league champ from 2022-23, Group F contains one member from each of the “Big five” other than LaLiga. It seems only right to begin with Newcastle, who are back in the Champions League for just the second time. Newcastle has had a tumultuous last 20 years in England, even getting relegated into the second division of English football back in 2016-17. But the Magpies have been rejuvenated under headman Eddie Howe. The club’s fourth place finish last season was the best result in the Premier League since 2002-03. While Newcastle has struggled to establish itself on the continental level, AC Milan has no such problem. The Serie A side has claimed seven Champions League titles. A constant performer on the continental stage, Milan made the semifinals last year. German side Dortmund has long played second fiddle to rival Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. The club has finished as domestic runners-up seven times in the last ten years. In the European circuit, “die Schwarzgelben” won a single Champions League title back in 1996-97. The Final team in Group F is Paris Saint-Germain aka PSG. The French champions have had a strong grip on Ligue 1 since the start of the 2010s, winning nine titles in that span. Based in the French capital, PSG has grown a reputation for failing to seal the deal in Europe.

Prediction: 1. AC Milan 2. PSG 3. Newcastle 4. Dortmund

Players to watch: Rafael Leao (Milan), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Alexander Isak (Newcastle), Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund)

Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, and BSC Young Boys

*Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola led the team to its first Champions League title last season. Photo Credit: skysports.com*

While Group F seems like it could be won by any team, the winner of Group G seems inevitable. While one big name stands out amongst these four clubs, each of these teams have history in European competition. Red Star Belgrade, also referred to as Crvena Zvezda, is a squad that plays in the Serbian Superliga. While they are not the biggest name in world football, Redstar has claimed 13 Serbian titles. It’s the third time that the club has appeared in the Champions League. BSC Young Boys is a constant force in the Swiss Super League. Based in Bern, Young Boys has won 16 league titles and eight domestic cups. RB Leipzig is one of two Red Bull teams in this year's competition. Leipzig has quickly risen through the ranks of European clubs, establishing itself as one of the premier organizations in Germany. Known for a fan-friendly style of play, Leipzig has made it out of the group stage three out of the five times it has made it to the tournament. Of course, rounding out the group is Manchester City, the reigning European champions. Manchester City under head coach Pep Guardiola has become an unstoppable force in world football. The Manchurians have earned a record three straight Premier League titles.

Prediction: 1. Manchester City 2. RB Leipzig 3. Young Boys 4. Red Star Belgrade

Players to watch: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Xavi Simons (Leipzig), Kastriot Imeri (Young Boys), and Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade)

Group H: Barcelona, FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Royal Antwerp

*Barcelona claimed the LaLiga title by 10 points last season. Photo Credit: fcbarcelona.com*

Finishing up the Champions League opening round is Group H. Belgian Champs Royal Antwerp return to Europe’s top competition for the first time since 1957-58. Despite lacking Champions League experience, the club has won four league titles and did the Belgian double last season. Shakhtar Donetsk is familiar with the perils of the Champions League. The Ukrainian side has made it to the top stage in six straight seasons. Shakhtar has had success in continental competition, beating Real Madrid twice in the 2020-21 campaign. FC Porto, commonly known as Porto, has a storied legacy in world football. One of the most successful clubs on the continent, the Portuguese side has 30 league titles, two Europa League championships, and two Champions League trophies. Porto is widely hailed for pulling off the biggest upset in tournament history, winning the tournament in 2004 under head coach Jose Mourinho. Capping off Group H is Spanish squad Barcelona. The current LaLiga champions, the club is at the center of world sport. Barca has won 27 LaLiga trophies and five Champions League titles. The Spanish side has been the home for some of the best players in soccer history including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Samuel Eto’o, Johann Cruyff, and Carles Puyol.

Prediction: 1. Barcelona 2. Shakhtar Donetsk 3. Porto 4. Royal Antwerp

Players to watch: Pedri (Barcelona), Georgiy Sudakov (Shakhtar), Diogo Costa (Porto), Vincent Janssen (Royal Antwerp)