The die is cast for the group stage of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League with a host of mouthwatering fixtures and storylines that are set to dot the landscape in another edition of Europe’s premier club competition.
Perhaps it was no surprise to anyone when Barcelona and Manchester City were pitted in the same group as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund (no, these weren’t rigged, or anything), which will see both Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland return to their former stomping grounds in Germany.
Elsewhere, Antonio Conte’s Tottenham will fancy their chances as the headline side after being drawn together with Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt, Portuguese giants porting CP, and Ligue 1 runner-up Olympique de Marseille.
Chelsea will be made to clash with AC Milan, RB Salzburg, and Dinamo Zagreb while fancying themselves as early frontrunners to top their group, while Liverpool is set to square off against AFC Ajax, SSC Napoli, and Glasgow Rangers.
It is also the first time since 2007-08 that both Celtic and Rangers will participate in the CL group stage, with the pair of Scottish giants taking up familiar positions on the outside looking as possible dark horse candidates.
The Draw In Full
Group A: AFC Ajax, Liverpool, SSC Napoli, Glasgow Rangers
Group B: FC Porto, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Club Brugge
Group C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzeń
Group D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham, Sporting CP, Olympique de Marseille
Group E: AC Milan, Chelsea, RB Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb
Group F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Glasgow Celtic
Group G: Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, FC København
Group H: Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, SL Benfica, Maccabi Haifa
When do group stage matches begin?
Matches are set to begin on the 6th and 7th of September and will conclude on the 1st and 2nd of November, with the knockout stage kicking-off on the 14th and 15th of February.
