Champions League Preview 2023/24 – Arsenal and Newcastle’s potential opponents

Earlier than we all know it, the Champions League might be returning to our screens and Football FanCast has run via the match’s key dates, certified groups and way more.

Who has certified for the Champions League?

An actual mixture of groups this yr, then. We have loads of historic names there, with Actual Madrid, Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich being a few of the most profitable groups within the competitors’s historical past.

However we have additionally acquired fairly a couple of uncommon names. Newcastle United seem for the primary time in 20 years, as do Lens. Union Berlin have by no means appeared within the competitors and can debut. We will not assist however observe the return of Arsenal, too, even when their absence hasn’t been fairly so long as a few of the names talked about.

What is that this yr’s Champions League format?

This yr’s Champions League is similar as what we now have come to understand it as – 32 groups might be cut up into eight teams of 4, the place the highest two sides will qualify for the final 16.

Right here, will probably be a straight knockout over two legs, the place away objectives not rely. The ultimate is one leg, which incorporates additional time and penalties if required.

This would be the final time the Champions League performs out on this format, with the 2024/25 marketing campaign set to be a totally completely different model.

The subsequent version of the Champions League will see the variety of groups elevated from 32 to 36, all competing in a single league. Every workforce will play eight video games, upping the whole of matches from 125 to 189.

When is the Champions League group stage?

August’s play-off rounds noticed the likes of Rangers, AEK Athens, Maccabi Haifa, Molde and Panathinaikos bow out, with all having to be content material with a spot within the group stage of the Europa League.

For the victors in midweek, nonetheless, the Champions League group stage beckons, and takes place between Nineteenth September and Thirteenth December.

Listed here are these group stage dates in full:

What are the Champions League pots?

Perhaps it is simply us, however these pots look lots stronger than standard – maybe due to the shock returning and debuting groups this time round.

Napoli successful Serie A, as an example, pushes Inter into pot two and Milan into pot three. All three are amongst the strongest of their pots.

A prime seed getting Actual Madrid is actually a nightmare situation for any of them, whereas Newcastle being in pot 4 will terrify everybody.

A workforce might conceivably begin in Pot 1 and find yourself with Actual Madrid, Milan and Newcastle United. Bayern Munich or PSG might find yourself with that, in actual fact.

One different consequence of ‘smaller’ groups moving into the competitors is that Pot 4 is unusually scary. You’d usually see it stuffed with smaller nations’ champions, with little risk to the larger groups.

However Spain, England, Germany and France all have groups in there due to shock entrants. Sociedad, Newcastle, Union and Lens have little European historical past, however all positioned on the prime of elite European leagues.

Who might Newcastle United draw?

Newcastle United return to the Champions League for the primary time in a protracted, very long time – however they will not have it straightforward. They’re in Pot 4 as a consequence of their lack of European soccer.

And that units up some scary-looking prospects, right here. Their worst-case situation basically creates a ‘Group of Dying’ as many could have them down because the strongest aspect in that ultimate pot.

Worst-case situation: Bayern Munich, Actual Madrid, Milan, Newcastle United

There’s an argument there that Milan are literally the weakest aspect on this specific group, relying on the way you view their switch enterprise this summer time. In any case, they did lose Sandro Tonali to the Magpies. Actually, although, nobody is having fun with that group one bit.

Finest-case situation: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Newcastle United

From this one, Newcastle would possibly even be favourites to progress together with Porto. Feyenoord comfortably really feel just like the weakest of the Pot 1 groups, whereas Copenhagen have obtained a lift into Pot 3 due to the newbies on this yr’s competitors.

Who might Arsenal draw?

Arsenal are again within the Champions League after six years away and discover themselves in Pot 2. They will probably take into account themselves just a little lucky after their absence – the Gunners are the lowest-ranked aspect within the second tier of groups.

It makes their greatest and worst-case eventualities considerably extra palatable. In truth, Arsenal will certainly be down as one of many favourites to progress regardless of who they find yourself with on Thursday.

Worst-case situation: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Milan, Galatasaray

It’s totally attainable that we’re being beneficiant to Galatasaray by placing them on this, however of all of the Pot 4 groups, they’re those who made the most important strikes of the summer time (Newcastle apart). They will be a risk if issues click on for them. In fact, Bayern are there as a result of Arsenal are eternally obliged to run into the German giants in some unspecified time in the future.

Finest-case situation: Feyenoord, Arsenal, Copenhagen, Royal Antwerp

Fairly truthfully – and maybe that is harsh on Feyenoord – it is a group that Arsenal might chase most factors from. It reads extra like a Europa League group, in actual fact, and the Gunners can be overwhelming favourites to progress, together with the Dutch champions.

Who might Celtic draw?

Brendan Rodgers will lead a Celtic workforce again into the Champions League this season – nevertheless it’s not a contest he is had a lot luck in. We’ll see if he can change that this time round.

In fact, quite a lot of that is dependent upon the group Celtic get. They’ve all the time gone into the competitors understanding that there is potential for a devastating draw, however issues might look on them favourably this time round confidently.

Worst-case situation: Manchester Metropolis, Actual Madrid, Milan, Celtic

You’ll think about that the majority Celtic followers would by no means anticipate to get out of such a gaggle – they might not even anticipate to get a single level. This may see the final two champions, in spite of everything, in addition to a Milan aspect boasting some improbable expertise proper now.

However truthfully, you possibly can construct fairly a couple of scary-looking teams for the Bhoys – Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Lazio, Celtic is marginally kinder, however not precisely by a lot.

Finest-case situation: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Celtic

Whereas Celtic would not be certainties to progress from this group, with some actual fortune going their method, they’d have an actual likelihood. They may simply goal a Europa League spot, too, however second place actually would not be out of the query. Fingers crossed, they get the luck of the draw on Thursday.

The place is the 2024 Champions League ultimate?

The Champions League ultimate might be held at Wembley Stadium in London on 1st June 2024.

It will likely be the primary time the stadium has held the showpiece occasion since 2013 when Bayern Munich triumphed over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund. Final season’s Champions League-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan was on the shedding aspect that evening as Arjen Robben’s winner broke the hearts of Jurgen Klopp and the Yellow Wall.

The place can I watch the Champions League ultimate within the UK?

The Champions League ultimate might be obtainable to look at on TNT Sports activities – beforehand BT Sport – in addition to streamed without cost on YouTube for individuals who don’t have the related subscriptions.

BT Sport has been the house of Champions League soccer within the UK since 2015 and enters a ninth season as rightsholder below its new guise in 2023/24.

How will the 2024/25 Champions League format work?

Not with out its controversy, the Champions League is going through a major shake-up going ahead. Within the 2024/25 format, 32 groups will turn out to be 36, whereas the variety of video games will enhance from 125 to a complete of 189.

It is because each workforce qualifying for the Champions League will compete in a single league, by which all groups will play eight matches. The highest eight groups will qualify immediately for the knockout stage, with the next 16 groups (positioned Ninth-Twenty fourth) getting into a two-legged play-off spherical with a view to declare a spot within the spherical of 16.

From right here, the format will stay the identical as we at present understand it. However can anybody cease Pep Guardiola’s males this yr?