Top Rivals Clash: Manchester United Set to Face Bayern Munich Led by Harry Kane in Epic Champions League Group-Stage Draw

Manchester United will face off against Harry Kane's Bayern Munich in their Champions League group, whereas Newcastle has been dealt the most challenging draw with Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan.

Erik Ten Hag's team, on the other hand, has been matched with FC Copenhagen from Denmark and Turkish side Galatasaray in Group A.

As for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, they find themselves participating in the Champions League group stage for the first time in seven years. The Gunners were fortunate with a favorable draw that paired them with Sevilla, the victors of the Europa League, as well as Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and French side RC Lens.

Image:

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane is waiting for Manchester United

Manchester City have once again been drawn into a favorable grouping for their third consecutive Champions League campaign. They will face RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, and Swiss club Young Boys.

Celtic, on the other hand, have a challenging group ahead of them, as they have been paired with Atletico Madrid, Lazio, and Dutch champions Feyenoord.

However, the toughest group can be attributed to Newcastle, as their fans will have the opportunity to visit the Parc des Princes, the San Siro, and the Signal Iduna Park. This marks Newcastle's first Champions League group stage appearance since the 2002/03 campaign.

Champions League draw in full

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RC Lens

Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin

Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, FC Salzburg, Real Sociedad

Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic

Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle

Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys

Group H: Barcelona, FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp

Analysis: Newcastle face nightmare winter, Kane to give Man Utd transfer regrets?

We' Sam Blitz:

Newcastle fans have patiently waited for two decades to experience Champions League football, and they won't be disappointed in this group-stage campaign! The Magpies will face their third Champions League match following a game against Arsenal, and their fourth match will be sandwiched between clashes with Chelsea and Manchester United. Additionally, their final group game, which promises to be an intense battle, will take place after a visit to Tottenham.

During the hectic November-December period, there will be limited opportunity for rotation - Eddie Howe might have to adjust his priorities accordingly.

Meanwhile, Manchester United initially identified Harry Kane as their primary target for the striker position during this transfer window. However, they now face the challenge of stopping him in their Champions League campaign, despite assuming that his move to Germany would alleviate some regrets.

But United should be qualifying from this group with Bayern, though a long trip to Turkey could take its toll on an already injury-hit squad.

British clubs' groups analysed

Group A is quite enticing, with Bayern being the standout team. Interestingly, Harry Kane will be facing the team he could have potentially joined, which would have delighted many Manchester United fans.

Copenhagen, having successfully navigated through the qualifiers and defeating Rakow Czestochowa, bring a wealth of experience to this competition. United will surely feel content with this matchup, considering the presence of seasoned players within the Copenhagen team. Galatasaray, on the other hand, remains an unpredictable wildcard in this group.

Sevilla, in Group B, is the desired pot-one team. Their impressive track record in UEFA club competitions can be attributed mainly to Monchi, who currently serves as the sporting director of Aston Villa. However, Sevilla is currently facing financial difficulties and lacks substantial assets for sale. Lens, who finished just one point behind PSG in Ligue 1 last season, has unfortunately lost their top two players.

When it comes to Group E, Celtic does not appear to have many formidable opponents. Although there are prominent names, Feyenoord has had an inconsistent start to the season, and Atletico, like other prominent Spanish clubs, has limited flexibility in the transfer market.

"They are the frontrunners to emerge victorious in this group, however, their performance was severely disappointing last season, resulting in a fourth-place finish. As a result, they must prove themselves once again on the European stage. Lazio has suffered two defeats out of two in Serie A this season.

Group F promises to be an exciting spectacle. PSG is currently undergoing reconstruction, which raises questions about the composition of their front three. Borussia Dortmund appears to be struggling and disjointed following Jude Bellingham's departure, despite making some intriguing signings. There is also a minor rebuilding phase taking place at Milan. Surprisingly, Newcastle has a real opportunity to make a mark in this group. Personally, I believe they have the potential to achieve something significant here."

When are the group stage games?

Manchester City will likely be pleased with the current situation. RB Leipzig unexpectedly finds themselves in the midst of a rebuild, similar to Liverpool and their midfield, as they had to cope with the departure of their four top players during the summer transfer window. These two teams are expected to be the solid favorites. Red Star Belgrade brings an intriguing aspect to the competition, given their coach's impressive track record of winning trophies in Israel. Young Boys, while not as formidable as in previous years, convincingly defeated Maccabi Haifa in the play-offs.

Matchday 2: October 3/4

Matchday 3: October 24/25

Matchday 4: November 7/8

Matchday 5: November 28/29

Matchday 6: December 12/13

And how about the dates for the rest of the competition?

Quarter-finals: April 9/10 & 16/17, 2024

Semi-finals: April 30/May 1 & 7/8, 2024

Final: June 1, 2024 (Wembley, England)