While the UEFA Champions League has been ongoing for the past two months, the world’s most visible and prestigious club football competition truly gets under way in earnest as the group stage beings.
The competition field has been narrowed to 32 teams, with 26 qualifying from finishing near the top of the best leagues around Europe, and six others earning their way through the qualifying rounds.
Now, the group stage is set as the draw has been completed, and the task is clear: to finish first or second in the four-team group to snatch a knockout-stage spot. Finishing third brings a Europa League knockout stage spot as consolation, while a fourth-place group finish sees elimination from Europe altogether.
The Sporting News breaks down the group stage and makes selections on who will reach the knockout round, as well as who will stay alive in the lower European tournaments.
JUMP TO: Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H
MORE: Who will win the 2023/24 Champions League? Defending champs Man City to be tested again
2023/24 Champions League group stage predictions, odds
Group A
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Bayern Munich (2) | Germany | -225 / -3000 | -175 | 1.50 / 1.10 | 1.57 | |
| 2. | Manchester United (7) | England | +180 / -1000 | +186 | 2.90 / 1.25 | 2.88 | |
| 3. | FC Copenhagen (40) | Denmark | +1600 / +400 | +3275 | 34.00 / 7.50 | 34.00 | |
| 4. | Galatasaray (54) | Turkey | +8000 / +1600 | +992 | 15.00 / 3.75 | 11.00 |
To win: Bayern Munich
To qualify: Man United
Europa League: Galatasaray
Eliminated: FC Copenhagen
There’s a clear deliniation between the top two clubs in this group and the bottom two. Galatasaray can challenge both Bayern and Man United, but it won’t be enough to see a way through.
Bayern are clear favourites to come out on top, and they will have the quality to humble United in both legs. It’s likely that the German giants finish group stage play if not perfect, then at least unbeaten, while United will have enough to make it through.
Group B
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Sevilla (10) | Spain | +375 / -125 | +451 | 6.00 / 2.00 | 5.50 | |
| 2. | Arsenal (23) | England | -250 / -1200 | -189 | 1.50 / 1.15 | 1.53 | |
| 3. | PSV Eindhoven (38) | Netherlands | +800 / +180 | +601 | 7.00 / 2.50 | 7.00 | |
| 4. | RC Lens (121) | France | +1100 / +225 | +601 | 7.50 / 2.75 | 7.00 |
To win: Arsenal
To qualify: Sevilla
Europa League: PSV
Eliminated: Lens
Arsenal have themselves a bit of a tricky group, but they should manage. None of these clubs are an easy out, especially on the road, but the trips are relatively short, which is handy. Sevilla are European masters, and they will know how to see a way to the knockout stage.
PSV can prove feisty, with the young talent to trouble others in spots, but they and Lens have also displayed an inability to pick up results against the top teams in Europe in big moments. Lens have done well to grow themselves into a European challenger, but the stage is a bit too bright for their level just yet.
Group C
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Napoli (17) | Italy | +240 / -350 | +223 | 2.50 / 1.25 | 3.25 | |
| 2. | Real Madrid (3) | Spain | -225 / -1200 | -189 | 1.75 / 1.13 | 1.53 | |
| 3. | Braga (33) | Portugal | +1800 / +450 | +1190 | 26.00 / 5.00 | 13.00 | |
| 4. | Union Berlin (72) | Germany | +1200 / +275 | +1190 | 10.00 / 4.25 | 13.00 |
To win: Napoli
To qualify: Real Madrid
Europa League: Union Berlin
Eliminated: Braga
It’s likely that Napoli will take a step back from the highs of last season, but they are still a strong side, and given the injuries for Real Madrid this season, the top spot in this group is up for grabs. Union Berlin’s defensive makeup will give the top two teams scares, but once their walls are breached, it can often come crashing down.
The German side will be thrilled to simply be in the Champions League group stage, but they also should have the moxy to end up in a Europa League position at the buzzer, while Braga are not quite as gritty as will be needed in this group.
Group D
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Benfica (15) | Portugal | +250 / -155 | +249 | 3.50 / 1.65 | 3.50 | |
| 2. | Inter Milan (8) | Italy | -120 / -550 | -125 | 1.90 / 1.27 | 1.80 | |
| 3. | RB Salzburg (32) | Austria | +800 / +350 | +796 | 8.00 / 3.00 | 9.00 | |
| 4. | Real Sociedad (44) | Spain | +450 / +115 | +547 | 6.00 / 2.50 | 6.50 |
To win: Inter
To qualify: Benfica
Europa League: Real Sociedad
Eliminated: RB Salzburg
Inter did fantastic business this summer, and this group is a breeze, especially compared to the utterly bonkers collection their San Siro rivals pulled. Last year’s finalists should have no problems here, even if trips to Portugal and Spain could prove tricky.
As long as Inter hold serve at home, they’ll manage to top the group just fine. La Real are a pesky side, and could see a way to the Europa League knockouts here.
Group E
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Feyenoord (25) | Netherlands | +450 / +120 | +604 | 4.25 / 2.40 | 7.00 | |
| 2. | Atletico Madrid (16) | Spain | -155 / -550 | -164 | 1.85 / 1.20 | 1.62 | |
| 3. | Lazio (41) | Italy | +300 / -135 | +302 | 3.75 / 1.73 | 4.00 | |
| 4. | Celtic (52) | Scotland | +1100 / +275 | +906 | 15.00 / 3.50 | 10.00 |
To win: Atletico Madrid
To qualify: Lazio
Europa League: Celtic
Eliminated: Feyenoord
In one of the most wide-open groups in the competition, Atletico Madrid will know they have a chance here to earn a seeded position for the knockout stage. Home results will be critical throughout this group, and nobody does that better than Diego Simeone.
Lazio were an under-the-radar side last year, finishing second in Serie A, but they’ve had an abysmal start to the season, and will need to right the ship if they are to find a way to the knockout stage. Thankfully for the Italians, there’s plenty of room for error with only Feyenoord and Celtic to brush aside, which they should manage.
Third place in this group will still be a coveted spot, and Celtic should do well to earn that spot over a Dutch side that is also not enjoying a terribly inspiring start to their league campaign this year.
Group F
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Paris Saint-Germain (4) | France | +135 / -275 | +111 | 2.50 / 1.33 | 2.10 | |
| 2. | Borussia Dortmund (13) | Germany | +450 / +160 | +553 | 5.00 / 2.50 | 6.50 | |
| 3. | AC Milan (31) | Italy | +450 / +160 | +503 | 4.50 / 2.25 | 6.00 | |
| 4. | Newcastle United (79) | England | +200 / -185 | +226 | 3.50 / 1.85 | 3.25 |
To win: AC Milan
To qualify: Newcastle
Europa League: PSG
Eliminated: Borussia Dortmund
Oh my…. What a group!
AC Milan look to have done brilliant business this summer, as Stefano Pioli has retooled his roster, cutting dead weight while also keeping the main cogs of the team firing. They lost Sandro Tonali, but watching Milan so far early in the year, you’d never know it, as the new additions like Christian Pulisic have hit the ground running.
Newcastle are a force to be reckoned with as well, as Tonali will get a chance to play against his old club. They should be good for a knockout stage spot, while PSG, a club in total transition, may find themselves on the outside looking in. Kylian Mbappe is a bona fide star, but he has little to no help left at that rudderless club. Dortmund are simply in over their heads in this group.
Group G
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Manchester City (1) | England | -1000 / -10,000 | -909 | 1.10 / 1.01 | 1.11 | |
| 2. | RB Leipzig (9) | Germany | +600 / -550 | +609 | 7.50 / 1.16 | 7.00 | |
| 3. | Red Star Belgrade (42) | Serbia | +2800 / +550 | +6700 | 31.00 / 8.00 | 67.00 | |
| 4. | BSC Young Boys (48) | Switzerland | +2800 / +550 | +6700 | 26.00 / 7.50 | 67.00 |
To win: Man City
To qualify: RB Leipzig
Europa League: Red Star Belgrade
Eliminated: BSC Young Boys
Defending champions Manchester City have little to no opposition here for another run at a European title. They can essentially book themselves a knockout-stage spot already. The other qualifying position, however, could be entirely up for grabs.
RB Leipzig have been unfortunate to draw City numerous times previously in this competition, and have a similar headache again. Red Star and Young Boys are both domestically dominant, and if they can use their positive league performances as momentum in Europe, especially at home, they could potentially see a way through to the other spot, although pipping the German side will be tough.
Group H
| Pot | Team (Coefficient) |
Nation | Odds to win/qualify BetMGM (USA) |
Odds to win Sports Interaction (Canada) |
Odds to win Top Sites (UK) |
Odds to win/qualify Unibet (Australia) |
Odds to win Dafabet (India) |
| 1. | Barcelona (14) | Spain | -275 / -3000 | -303 | 1.60 / 1.05 | 1.33 | |
| 2. | FC Porto (19) | Portugal | +260 / -350 | +302 | 2.70 / 1.33 | 4.00 | |
| 3. | Shakhtar Donetsk (22) | Ukraine | +1400 / +333 | +2013 | 15.00 / 4.50 | 21.00 | |
| 4. | Royal Antwerp (73) | Belgium | +2500 / +500 | +2214 | 21.00 / 5.00 | 23.00 |
To win: Porto
To qualify: Barcelona
Europa League: Shakhtar Donetsk
Eliminated: Royal Antwerp
Barcelona have failed to reach the Champions League knockout stage for two straight seasons, so they will be relieved to finally see a group that presents a clear pathway to rectifying that mini streak. Yet they’ll still have to contend with Porto, who have turned the concept of Portuguese sides flopping in Europe upside down in recent years.
The Catalan squad is still a bit of a mess, and they could falter in a few places here, but they’ll qualify for a knockout stage spot, whether it be first or second. Shakhtar Donetsk, who play their European home matches in Poland, have a strong enough squad to maybe spring an upset or two, but more likely will finish in a Europa League position.