Champions League schedule, draw results: Man United get Bayern; PSG, Milan, Dortmund and Newcastle grouped

Titleholders Manchester City celebrate Group G draw with Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola awards

The UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group stage draw did not disappoint on Thursday with Bayern Munich paired with Manchester United, Napoli handed Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain drawing Newcastle United at the Grimaldi Forum event in Monaco. Although there was arguably not the "group of death" scenario that many expected, there was no shortage of intriguing ties with some fairly favorable paths for most, if not all, top seeds. 

Confirmed UCL 2023-24 groups

• Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
• Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven and Lens.
• Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, SC Braga and Union Berlin.
• Group D: Benfica, Inter, Red Bull Salzburg and Real Sociedad.
• Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio and Celtic.
• Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle United.
• Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys.
• Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp.

Particularly fascinating will be the Group F combination of PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle United which will see the Qatar-owned French champions do battle with the Saudi-backed Premier League outfit. U.S. men's national team star Christian Pulisic and new Magpies star Sandro Tonali have also been thrown into that mix which makes it arguably the group to keep an eye on when you factor in a BVB side that enjoys big European nights. That group also features two more Americans in Milan's Yunus Musah and Dortmund's Gio Reyna. 

Elsewhere, Group A brought together Bayern Munich and Manchester United while Group C has matched Napoli and Real Madrid with each other. In Group G, defending UCL champions Manchester City and RB Leipzig meet again while Inter and Benfica in Group D was a quarterfinal just last season. Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, though, should feel particularly satisfied with their draws given that it hands them favorable routes to the knockout rounds.

Full fixture details and timings will be only confirmed and then communicated once all potential broadcasting and logistical clashes have been taken into consideration.

Group stage matchdays

Matchday 1: Sept. 19-20

• Tuesday 19 Sept. AC Milan vs. Newcastle and Young Boys vs. Leipzig -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Tuesday 19 Sept. Feyenoord vs. Celtic, Lazio vs. Atletico Madrid, PSG vs. Dortmund, Man City vs. Red Star, Barcelona vs. Antwerp, Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Porto -- 3 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 20 Sept. Galatasaray vs. Copenhagen and Real Madrid vs. Union Berlin -- 2:45 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 20 Sept. Bayern Munich vs. Man United, Sevilla vs. Lens, Arsenal vs. PSV, Braga vs. Napoli, Benfica vs. RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad vs. Inter -- 3 p.m. ET

Matchday 2: Oct. 3-4

• Tuesday 3 Oct. Union Berlin vs. Braga and Salzburg vs. Sociedad -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Tuesday 3 Oct. United vs. Galatasaray, Copenhagen vs. Bayern, Lens vs. Arsenal, PSV vs. Sevilla, Napoli vs. Real Madrid, Inter vs. Benfica -- 3 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 4 Oct. Atleti vs. Feyenoord and Antwerp vs. Shakhtar -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 4 Oct. Celtic vs. Lazio, Dortmund vs. AC Milan, Newcastle vs. PSG, Leipzig vs. Man City, Red Star vs. Young Boys, Porto vs. Barcelona -- 3 p.m. ET

Matchday 3: Oct. 24-25

• Tuesday 24 Oct. Galatasaray vs. Bayern and Inter vs. Salzburg -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Tuesday 24 Oct. Man United vs. Copenhagen, Sevilla vs. Arsenal, Lens vs. PSV, Braga vs. Real Madrid, Union vs. Napoli, Benfica vs. Sociedad -- 3 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 25 Oct. Feyenoord vs. Lazio and Barcelona vs. Shakhtar -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 25 Oct. Celtic vs. Atleti, PSG vs. AC Milan, Newcastle vs. Dortmund, Leipzig vs. Red Star, Young Boys vs. Man City, Antwerp vs. Porto -- 3 p.m. ET

Matchday 4: Nov. 7-8

• Tuesday 7 Nov. Dortmund vs. Newcastle and Shakhtar vs. Barcelona -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Tuesday 7 Nov. Atleti vs. Celtic, Lazio vs. Feyenoord, AC Milan vs. PSG, Man City vs. Young Boys, Red Star vs. Leipzig, Porto vs. Antwerp -- 3 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 8 Nov. Napoli vs. Union and Sociedad vs. Benfica -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 8 Nov. Bayern vs. Galatasaray, Copenhagen vs. Man United, Arsenal vs. Sevilla, PSV vs. Lens, Real Madrid vs. Braga, Salzburg vs. Inter -- 3 p.m. ET

Matchday 5: Nov. 28-29

• Tuesday 28 Nov. Lazio vs. Celtic and Shakhtar vs. Antwerp -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Tuesday 28 Nov. Feyenoord vs. Atleti, PSG vs. Newcastle, AC Milan vs. Dortmund, Man City vs. Leipzig, Young Boys vs. Red Star, Barcelona vs. Porto -- 3 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 29 Nov. Galatasaray vs. Man United and Sevilla vs. PSV -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 29 Nov. Bayern vs. Copenhagen, Arsenal vs. Lens, Real Madrid vs. Napoli, Braga vs. Union, Benfica vs. Inter, Sociedad vs. Salzburg -- 3 p.m. ET

Matchday 6: Dec. 12-13

• Tuesday 12 Dec. Lens vs. Sevilla and PSV vs. Arsenal -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Tuesday 12 Dec. Man United vs. Bayern, Copenhagen vs. Galatasaray, Napoli vs. Braga, Union vs. Real Madrid, Inter vs. Sociedad, Salzburg vs. Benfica -- 3 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 13 Dec. Leipzig vs. Young Boys and Red Star vs. City -- 12:45 p.m. ET
• Wednesday 13 Dec. Atleti vs. Lazio, Celtic vs. Feyenoord, Dortmund vs. PSG, Newcastle vs. AC Milan, Porto vs. Shakhtar, Antwerp vs. Barcelona -- 3 p.m. ET

There were also individual prizes handed out with double delight for Manchester City with Erling Haaland named UEFA's men's player of the year and Pep Guardiola the men's coach of the year after their role in the Premier League titleholders' maiden Champions League success last season. In the women's Aitana Bonmati successfully defending her UEFA women's player of the award after her part in European champions' Barcelona and world champions Spain's successes while England boss Sarina Wiegman took home the women's coach of the year title.

Confirmed UEFA Awards winners

• Men's player of the year: Erling Haaland.
• Men's coach of the year: Pep Guardiola.
• Women's player of the year: Aitana Bonmati (consecutive titles).
• Women's coach of the year: Sarina Wiegman.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 12:52 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Complete UCL 2023-24 group stage draw

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

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven and Lens.

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

Group D: Benfica, Inter, Red Bull Salzburg and Real Sociedad.

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

Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle United. 

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

Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 1:26 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Confirmed UEFA Awards winners

There were also individual prizes handed out with double delight for Manchester City with Erling Haaland named UEFA's men's player of the year and Pep Guardiola the men's coach of the year after their role in the Premier League titleholders' maiden Champions League success last season. In the women's Aitana Bonmati successfully defending her UEFA women's player of the award after her part in European champions' Barcelona and world champions Spain's successes while England boss Sarina Wiegman took home the women's coach of the year title.

Men's player of the year: Erling Haaland.

Men's coach of the year: Pep Guardiola.

Women's player of the year: Aitana Bonmati (consecutive titles).

Women's coach of the year: Sarina Wiegman.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 12:46 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Pot 4 draws

We have our first completed group! Real Sociedad join Benfica, Inter and Red Bull Salzburg in Group D. A big one in Group F as Qatar-owned PSG and Saudi Arabia-backed Newcastle United are paired together with Borussia Dortmund and Milan. Galatasaray have completed Group A with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Copenhagen. Next to be confirmed is Group C with Union Berlin joining Napoli, Real Madrid and SC Braga. Group G looks tough for both Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys alongside Manchester City and RB Leipzig. Group B has been rounded out by Lens with  Sevilla, Arsenal and PSV. Celtic finalize Group E with Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio while Antwerp complete Barcelona, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk's Group H. 

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

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven and Lens.

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

Group D: Benfica, Inter, Red Bull Salzburg and Real Sociedad.

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

Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle United. 

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

Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 12:41 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Pot 3 draws

So far, we have Shakhtar Donetsk joining Barcelona and Porto in Group H and Red Star Belgrade added to Manchester City and RB Leipzig's Group G. Arsenal and Sevilla in Group B are joined by PSV while Christian Pulisic's Milan are in Group F with PSG and Borussia Dortmund. Copenhagen are in Group A with United and Bayern while Napoli and Real have been joined in Group C by Braga. Benfica and Inter will meet Salzburg in Group D and Lazio have landed in Feyenoord and Atleti's Group E.

Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven

Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, SC Braga

Group D: Benfica, Inter, Red Bull Salzburg

Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio

Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Milan

Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade

Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk

[Aug 31, 2023 at 12:30 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Pot 2 draws

A big early clash on the cards with Bayern Munich and Manchester United together in Group A! Meanwhile, Arsenal land on UEFA Europa League winners Sevilla in Group B. PSG getting Borussia Dortmund in Group F is also tasty while titleholders Manchester City have been reunited with RB Leipzig. Inter are in Group D with Benfica and Barcelona get Porto in Group H while Real Madrid pair with Napoli in Group C to complete the second round of clubs.

Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal

Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid

Group D: Benfica, Inter

Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid

Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund

Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig

Group H: Barcelona, Porto

[Aug 31, 2023 at 12:26 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Top seed draws

Coming out of Pot 1 in this order...

Group A: Bayern Munich

Group B: Sevilla

Group C: Napoli

Group D: Benfica

Group E: Feyenoord

Group F: Paris Saint-Germain

Group G: Manchester City

Group H: Barcelona

[Aug 31, 2023 at 12:18 pm ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Draw incoming

That introduction was... Interesting, musically. However, with the video montages out of the way, we are now closer to the main event and the draw. Currently, we are hearing about the technicalities, formalities and etiquette for this draw before finally getting underway. Once completed, the first teams will be drawn by former players Eric Abidal and Joe Cole.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 11:50 am ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Confirmed Champions League pots

Pot 1: Manchester City, Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Feyenoord.

Pot 2: Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Porto and Arsenal.

Pot 3: Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Bull Salzburg, Milan, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and Copenhagen.

Pot 4: Newcastle United, Union Berlin, Lens, Real Sociedad, Celtic, Galatasaray, Young Boys and Antwerp.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 11:40 am ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Underrated draws

Despite going into detail about how Union and Lens could be lambs to the slaughter, do not rule either out from springing an upset or two. The Germans are off to a fast start in the Bundesliga and lead the pile after two rounds of games having looked decent at times in UEFA competitions last season. Lens also finished just one point behind PSG in Ligue 1 last term and boast one of the most impressive fanbases coming into this group stage. Union's story sets them apart from many UCL clubs while Lens are a cult favorite in France so do not sleep on either of these two who will undoubtedly be considered an "easy" draw by many.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 11:30 am ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Is this an underdog season?

Looking at the pots, there is a decent chance of quite a favorable route to the knockout phase despite there also being a strong probability of a "group of death." Sevilla, Benfica or Feyenoord from the first pot along with a Dortmund, Leipzig or Porto from the second could combine with a Shakhtar, Salzburg, Lazio or Red Star and finish with either Union or Lens. Adding extra intrigue is that should Dortmund, Leipzig or Union draw Shakhtar, they will play an additional "away" game in their home country of Germany due to the Ukrainian giants playing this term's European games in Hamburg.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 11:20 am ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Draws we want to see

City, Bayern or PSG vs. Real: Right now, there seems to be no better time to land on Real with issues left, right and center for Carlo Ancelotti. Vinicius Junior has just been lost to injury for four to six weeks while Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao also suffered long-term injuries. Form on the field might be fine so far in La Liga, but a tough Champions League draw is not what Los Blancos want or need right now -- but they might well get it from one of City, Bayern or PSG. We have seen Les Parisiens vs. Real a few times in recent years, but the Mbappe story added another contentious chapter over the summer so why not give us another?

Barca, Bayern or Napoli vs. Manchester United or Arsenal: Barcelona vs. United was a UEFA Europa League fixture last season and has now been restored to the top table. Napoli are marked men after last campaign's heroics and Mikel Arteta has steered Arsenal back to the continental summit where they could be welcomed back by the likes of Bayern. Should any combination featuring these clubs happen, they will be among the draw highlights.

PSG vs. Newcastle: We have seen PSG and City do battle before which is not possible here given that both are top seeds while Newcastle against City is also not possible due to both being Premier League clubs. However, PSG vs. Newcastle and thus Qatar vs. Saudi Arabia is very much possible in this scenario, which could be the first instalment of a new soccer age rivalry.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 11:10 am ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Possible groups of death

There is always at least one group which makes everybody wince -- not least those associated with the drawn clubs -- and this year the chances are strong of a possible all-timer. With Real and Arsenal in the second pot, Milan in the third and some tricky customers in the fourth pot as well, there might well be few -- if any -- of the supposed "easy draws" that some bigger clubs are often accused of landing. With some of these clubs in mind, as well as City, PSG, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the top seeds, we have concocted some dastardly potential group scenarios.

Possibility 1: Man City, Real Madrid, Milan and Lens or Union Berlin.

If this comes to pass, poor Lens who are returning to the Champions League for the first time since 2002-03. The cult French club would bring plenty of color and fight to a scenario like this one, but City, Real and Milan is about as tough as it could get for Franck Haise's men. Union Berlin, who do not boast the same continental pedigree as Ligue 1 runners-up Lens, could also land the same draw which would represent a baptism of fire for the popular Bundesliga outfit.

Possibility 2: Barcelona, Arsenal, Milan and Lens or Union Berlin.

Another potentially unenviable mission for either Lens or Union Berlin who could see themselves drawn against Barcelona, Arsenal and Milan. Again, it would be another group dripping with pedigree with some of Europe's most established names assembled. However, there is arguably a case to be made that this sort of combination might actually enable the team from the fourth pot to at least hope to be competitive while the first possibility pretty much paints them as potential cannon fodder.

Possibility 3: PSG, Real, Milan and Newcastle or Union Berlin.

The stakes will be high when PSG are drawn into their group and then run the gauntlet to see who they will be up against. In what could prove to be a cruel twist of fate, there is a scenario which could see the French champions land on Real, Milan and Newcastle which could create two phenomenal pieces of narrative while posing a major challenge. The Spanish giants are longtime suitors for Kylian Mbappe who is currently into the final 12 months of his contract and has only just been reintegrated into the senior setup in Paris. Also, Qatar-owned PSG could find themselves up against… Saudi-backed Newcastle. This again features Milan who have by far the greatest prestige and pedigree from the third pot.

Possibility 4: Bayern, Real, Milan and Newcastle or Lens.

Another intriguing possibility could feature German champions Bayern Munich pairing with familiar foes Real and Milan before Newcastle or Lens are thrown into the mix. The Magpies are particularly tricky to come up against given their strong showing in the Premier League and the incredible atmosphere generated at St James' Park on big European nights. Given Newcastle's Saudi-backing and Bayern's proud and traditional history which rails against state-owned clubs, such a pairing has the potential to be incendiary should it come to pass.

[Aug 31, 2023 at 11:05 am ET · Jonathan Johnson]

Welcome

Hello everybody and welcome to our coverage of the group stage draw for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League from the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco! We are set to learn the composition of the eight groups of four clubs which will house the 32-team field and it will be the final season in this current format before next year's changes. We will bring you all of the build-up, the draw as it happens, the reaction and the fallout. Stay with us or tune in via Paramount+ in just under an hour if you want to see the action unfold ball by ball.