Winners & Losers From 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Group Stage Draw

The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage draw, despite having both winners and losers, promises some blockbusting encounters!!!

The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage draw was made on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. It features some exciting fixtures, with some teams winners and others losers.

In Group A; Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Galatasaray and Copenhagen face each other. In Group B; Arsenal will slug it out with Sevilla, PSV and Lens.

Group C features Real Madrid, Napoli, Sporting Braga and Union Berlin. Inter Milan, Benfica RB Salzburg and Real Sociedad make up Group D.

In Group E; Athletico Madrid will come up against Feyenoord, Lazio and Celtic. Group F is the “Group of Death”; involving PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle.

In Group G; defending champions Man City have been pitted up against RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys. While Group H comprises of Barcelona, FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.

This post looks at the winners and losers from the draw.

Losers: Manchester United

Manchester United were absent from the Champions League last season, but are now back after a huge transformation under Erik ten Hag.

But they have been handed a nightmare group stage draw on their return. The Red Devils will face Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.

Bayern have recently added the very prolific Harry Kane to their front line. Galatasaray fans have a reputation in Europe as being one of the most fanatic in the world, they attach high importance to European competitions, and Galatasaray is known as the Conqueror of Europe by their fans.

Welcome to Hell! Galatasaray fans have been waiting a long time for Manchester United's arrival. Icardi, Zaha, Ziyech, Mertens and Torreira are ready to torture them. It's a miracle they survived. That's why they asked Amrabat for help. 

— Malhamah Kubro (@nexbola) September 1, 2023

Furthermore, Copenhagen went unbeaten at home against Man City, Sevilla and Dortmund in the group stage last season.

Winners: Arsenal

Arsenal return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2016/17. Mikel Arteta’s side have been handed a relatively easy draw in Group B.

The Gunners will hugely fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages as they face Sevilla, PSV and French side Lens — who are back in the group stage for the first time in 20 years.

Losers: Union Berlin and Sporting Braga

Last season’s Bundesliga surprise packages, Union Berlin, will be taking part in the Champions League for the first time ever.

Portuguese side Sporting Braga ended last season in third place and a return to the Champions League after 11 years, as well as club records for points (78), wins (25) and goals (75)

But both sides have been unfortunate to be drawn in Group C against record 14 times European champions Real Madrid and Napoli — who won the Serie A and were arguably the most best team in Europe last season.

Ultimately, Union Berlin and Braga will now be vying for at least a third place finish.

Winners: All the teams in Group D

Last season’s runners-up Inter Milan are joined in Group D by Benfica, RB Salzburg and Real Sociedad. All four teams will believe that they have a fair chance of progressing to the knockouts.

Inter Milan reached last season’s final, having battled their way out of a tough group featuring Bayern and Barcelona. Now, they face a rematch with Benfica, who they dumped out in the quarter-finals, winning 5-3 on aggregate.

RB Salzburg regularly reach the group stage, but have reached the knockout stage only once before (2022).

Moreso, Real Sociedad are making their return to Europe’s top competition for the first time in 10 years and will look forward to a memorable campaign.

Winners: Athletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid embarrassingly crashed out at the group stage last season, and even missed out on the Europa League altogether.

This time around, Diego Simeone’s side will fancy their chances of topping Group E, where they will face Feyenoord, Lazio and Celtic.

Losers: All the teams in Group F

This season’s “Group of Death” is Group F; featuring PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle United.

While PSG looked like outright favourites, their maddening inconsistency in the Champions League will give their tricky opponents hope.

Dortmund fumbled when it mattered most last season — inexplicably losing the Bundesliga title on the final matchday; AC Milan cannot be ruled out; while Newcastle — returning after a 20-year absence — won’t be pushovers.

Expect blockbusting clashes from this group!!!

Winners: Manchester City

Man City and Pep Guardiola would have heaved a huge sigh of relief after being handed a rather straight forward draw. They will come up against Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys and RB Leipzig.

Effectively, the defending champions are already through to the round of 16.

Winners: Barcelona

Barcelona have embarrassingly failed to go beyond the group stage in the last two seasons.

Xavi’s men faced Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in the same group last year and finished behind both.

This season, Barca have been handed a relatively easy draw in Group H alongside FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp. Apart from Porto, there isn’t much for them to worry about.

Shakhtar are unsettled as the war in their home country, Ukraine, rages on. They currently occupy a temporary home in neighbouring Poland.

Belgian champions, Antwerp are making their first appearance in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever.

What's your opinion about 23/24 UCL group stage draw? Please let us know!