Manchester United will meet Bayern Munich in the group stage of the 2023-24 Champions League, while Newcastle United join Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan in a group of death.
The Red Devils sealed their return to the European Cup via a third-placed finish in the 2022-23 Premier League season and will renew hostilities with Bayern 24 years on from their iconic success over the Bavarians in the 1999 final.
Man United also lost to the German champions in the 2013-14 quarter-finals in the most recent clash between the two sides, and the group-stage meetings will also see Harry Kane make his return to English soil to face another club who fought tooth and nail to sign him from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
In addition, Erik ten Hag’s team will also pit their wits against Copenhagen, whom they defeated in a one-legged 2019-20 Europa League quarter-final, and Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s return to the top level of continental football will see Eddie Howe’s men face a baptism of fire, as they meet PSG, Dortmund and Milan in a tantalising Group F.
The showdown with Milan will see new signing Sandro Tonali return to San Siro only a few months after his departure, while in Group B, Arsenal will pit their wits against Europa League holders Sevilla.
In what will be their first Champions League appearance since the 2016-17 season, Mikel Arteta’s side will meet Los Palanganas for only the second time, having also squared off in the 2007-08 group phase.
Additionally, the Gunners will reunite with PSV Eindhoven only a year on from battling the Dutch giants in the Europa League, as well French upstarts Lens, whom they last faced in the semi-finals of the 1999-00 UEFA Cup before losing in the final to Galatasaray.
Over in Group G, Manchester City have been blessed with a relatively kind start to their title defence, as they prepare to face RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys in the autumn months.
The treble winners memorably demolished Leipzig 8-1 on aggregate in last season’s round of 16, with Erling Haaland netting five goals during a 7-0 second-leg mauling.
Elsewhere, Celtic have also been dealt a difficult hand in the group stage, as the Bhoys have been drawn against Dutch champions Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio in Group E.
Napoli and Real Madrid will compete in two blockbuster ties in Group B, which also comprised Portuguese powerhouses Braga and Bundesliga surprise package Union Berlin.
Last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan have been placed in Group D with Benfica, who lost to the Nerazzurri in last year’s quarter-finals, alongside Red Bull Salzburg and Real Sociedad.
Finally, La Liga champions Barcelona have also avoided a challenging draw, with Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Champions League debutants Royal Antwerp joining the Catalan giants in Group H
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE DRAW IN FULL:
GROUP A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen, Galatasaray
GROUP B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Lens
GROUP C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin
GROUP D: Benfica, Inter Milan, Red Bull Salzburg, Real Sociedad
GROUP E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic
GROUP F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle United
GROUP G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys
GROUP H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp
