The upcoming Champions League season is set to kick off on September 19, and UEFA has just released the schedule for the group stage matches. Exciting duels await us right from the start, with Milan facing off against Newcastle and PSG taking on Borussia Dortmund in the opening round on September 19. The excitement continues the following day as Bayern and Manchester United clash in Munich.
You can find the complete schedule for this season’s Champions League group stage matches below. The 69th edition of the Champions League will culminate in the final on June 1, 2024, at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. It’s worth noting that this season marks the final one under the current competition format. Starting from the next season, we’ll witness a completely revamped edition of European football’s elite competition.
In the upcoming season, the number of participating clubs will increase to 36, and the format will undergo a complete overhaul. Each team will play a total of eight games, with four at home and four away. Teams will be ranked based on the points they accumulate, and the top eight teams will advance to the round of 16. Meanwhile, teams ranked from 9th to 24th place will also compete in the round of 16. In this phase, teams from 9th to 16th place will be seeded and play a return leg at home against teams ranked from 17th to 24th place.
It’s essential to note that teams placed from 25th to 36th will be eliminated from the competition and will not have the opportunity to participate in the European League, marking their departure from European competitions altogether. The knockout stage will follow the same principles, with no changes introduced from the round of 16 onward.
According to bookmakers, Manchester City emerges as the overwhelming favorite to claim the Champions League title in the upcoming season, with a staggering 30.8 percent chance of lifting the coveted trophy. They are significantly ahead of their competitors, as Bayern Munich comes in second place with a 15.4 percent chance. Real Madrid secures the third spot with an 11.1 percent chance, while Arsenal surprisingly ranks fourth with a 7.7 percent likelihood. Among the top 10 contenders are Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United, Newcastle, Napoli, and Atletico Madrid.
