UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Group Predictions

UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions: It has only been a couple of days since the groups for Champions League 2023 were announced. 32 of the best club teams in Europe will compete in the biggest annual club competition on the planet.

Before ever dreaming of lifting the coveted ‘Big Ears’ trophy, teams shall first look to make it out of their groups and reach the knockout stages. This is where the draw of the groups comes in. Here is a look at all eight groups as we predict which teams are likely to qualify for the knockouts.

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Table of Contents

Group A

Bayern Munich
Manchester United
Copenhagen
Galatasaray

This group, while consisting of two giants of the sport, can still see any of the four teams finish top 2. Bayern Munich is certainly the favourites to win this group, and few would bet against them doing so convincingly.

It is the second qualification spot that is a spot of bother. While Manchester United is the clear favourite to make it to the round of 16, their recent spell of poor performances in the Champions League shows us their ability to fumble matches they should otherwise win. If they are able to win their matches in Istanbul and Copenhagen, United will make it through to the next round

Predicted order of finish: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Galatasaray, Copenhagen

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Group B

Sevilla
Arsenal
PSV Eindhoven
Lens

According to UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions, Arsenal is currently the second-strongest team in England. The Gunners came awfully close to winning the Premier League last season. A second-place finish resulted in a Champions League qualification since the 2016-17 season. Having bolstered their squad in the transfer window, the London-based team will most likely take the top spot in this group

Sevilla are masters of European competitions, their success in continental tournaments in recent years has been legendary. But it is the Europa League that they prosper in and are the defending champions of. The Spanish side usually finishes third in their Champions League group and then does wonders in the Europa League.

While it is a relatively easy qualification for Sevilla, our prediction is that it is the Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven will take the second spot, sending Sevilla back to the place they thrive in, the Europa League.

Predicted order of finish: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla, Lens

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Group C

Napoli
Real Madrid
Braga
Union Berlin

Despite in no way being the favourites to make it to the round of 16, Union Berlin fans will remember this tournament forever. This will be the club’s first appearance in the premier European competition.

While Serie A winners Napoli, and serial Champions League winners Real Madrid are clear favourites to finish in the top two in the group, Berlin, and to a lesser extent Braga, will provide tough competition to the two big sides.

Predicted order of finish: Real Madrid, Napoli, Union Berlin, Braga

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Group D

Benfica
Inter Milan
RB Salzburg
Real Sociedad

As the runner-ups of the last Champions League season, Inter will definitely be the favourites to win this otherwise tricky group, despite losing Romelu Lukaku in the summer.

The defending 10-time Austrian League winner RB Salzburg has shown in the past that as a feeder club, they don’t quite possess the ability to make it to the knockouts, apart from Erling Haaland’s memorable 2018-19 season for the club.

Making a return to the Champions League after 10 years, Real Sociedad cannot be expected to make it to the round of 16, especially when tournament veterans Benfica are in the same group.

Predicted order of finish: Inter Milan, Benfica, Real Sociedad, RB Salzburg

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Group E

Feyenoord
Athletico Madrid
Lazio
Celtic

While they are far removed from their La Liga-winning and Champions League final-making years in the 2010s, Athletico Madrid is still a very strong team and definitely the best on paper in this group. In fact, there is a huge chasm between the top and bottom two teams in the group, as Lazio will be looking to match their potential and make it to the knockouts, despite losing Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

As the defending Eredivisie Champions, Feyenoord are a solid choice for finishing third, ahead of Celtic.

Predicted order of finish: Athletico Madrid, Lazio, Feyenoord, Celtic

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Group F (The Group of Death)

Paris Saint Germain
Borussia Dortmund
AC Milan
Newcastle United

The ‘group of death’ for this season of the Champions League, all four top-class teams would, in any other group, definitely make it to the knockouts.

A PSG without Leonel Messi and Neymar, and one with a seemingly uninterested Kylian Mbappe might just blow up this season. But apart from the three, the defending Ligue 1 champions still have enough talent to make it to the knockouts.

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

This might be a difficult season for Borussia Dortmund. Losing the likes of Jude Bellingham and Raphael Guerreiro, and the heartbreak of losing the Bundesliga title on the last day of the last season just might indicate that this will be a team in process for the next couple of seasons.

AC Milan, despite impressing at points, looks like a stop-start building process. The likes of Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud, and recent signing Christian Pulisic make the team a very strong prospect this season, as the Red and Blacks might make a Serie A title charge this season.

After 21 years, Newcastle United are back in the Champions League. In a strong squad-building process under their new Saudi owners, Newcastle have been looking sexy for the first time in years. With an eye-catching style of play, backed by smart signings and an exciting young manager, the Magpies will be looking to copy Manchester City’s trajectory after their 2008 buyout in the coming years.

Predicted order of finish: PSG, Newcastle United, AC Milan, Dortmund

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Group G

Manchester City
RB Liepzig
Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
Young Boys

This might just be the easiest group to predict. As the defending Champions, Manchester City are not only the favourites to win this group, but the whole competition. While RB Leipzig has proven themselves to be a very strong side in the Champions League throughout the years.

Red Star Belgrade have not won a single competition in the Champions League in the last four years, while Young Boys defeated Maccabi Haifa, who defeated Real Madrid a couple of seasons ago, to make it to the group stage.

Predicted order of finish: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade

Check out: UEFA Champions League 2023-24 group predictions

Group H

Barcelona
Porto
Shakhtar Donetsk
Antwerp

Despite winning the La Liga last season, doubts still loom over their quality. Having been comfortably defeated by Bayen and Inter in last year’s group stage, followed by a defeat to Manchester United in the Europa League might show their actual level. However, the Spanish giants still have enough quality to top this group.

Comfortably the second-best team in Portugal at the moment Porto has tons of experience playing in the Champions League, but not so much making it out of the group stage.