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Champions League 2023/24: All the latest news and updates ahead of the group stage draw
Champions League 2023/24: All the latest news and updates ahead of the group stage draw
The Champions League is back for the 2023/24 season, and it’s shaping up to be another thrilling campaign. All the biggest clubs in Europe are vying for glory, and there are a number of new faces in the competition this year.
Here’s a round-up of all the latest news and updates ahead of the group stage draw:
- Group stage draw date and time: The group stage draw will take place on Thursday, August 25th, at 6pm BST.
- Pots: The teams will be divided into four pots for the draw, based on their UEFA coefficient. The top pot will contain the eight champions of the top European leagues, while the other three pots will contain the remaining teams, seeded based on their coefficient.
- Qualifiers: The qualifying rounds have already begun, with a number of teams already securing their place in the group stage. The most notable qualifiers so far include Scottish champions Celtic and Norwegian champions FK Bodø/Glimt.
- New teams: There are a number of new teams in the Champions League this year, including FK Bodø/Glimt, Club Brugge, and FC Sheriff Tiraspol. These teams will be looking to make their mark on the competition and cause a few upsets.
- Defending champions: Real Madrid are the defending champions, and they will be looking to retain their title for a fifth consecutive year. However, they will face stiff competition from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich.
Predictions:
The Champions League is always a difficult competition to predict, but here are a few of my predictions for the 2023/24 season:
- Group of Death: Group C looks to be the Group of Death this year, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Inter Milan all drawn together. I predict that Bayern Munich will win the group, with Barcelona and Inter Milan qualifying for the knockout stages in second and third place, respectively.
- Quarter-finalists: I predict that the following teams will reach the quarter-finals:
- Bayern Munich
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Real Madrid
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Chelsea
- Atlético Madrid
- Ajax
- Semi-finalists: I predict that the following teams will reach the semi-finals:
- Bayern Munich
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Real Madrid
- Finalists: I predict that the following teams will reach the final:
- Bayern Munich
- Liverpool
- Winner: I predict that Bayern Munich will win the Champions League for the fifth consecutive year. They have a very strong squad, led by Robert Lewandowski, and they are always a force to be reckoned with in Europe.
However, it’s important to note that the Champions League is always full of surprises, and there are a number of other teams who could challenge for the title this year.
