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Champions League draw: Newcastle in group with PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan
By Tom Morgan, in Monaco
Newcastle United’s imminent Champions League return after a 20 year wait prompted audible gasps in Monaco as they landed the toughest draw.
In a fiercely competitive group, Eddie Howe’s men face AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain. Elsewhere, Harry Kane heads to Old Trafford after all – as his new club Bayern Munich face mouthwatering showdowns with Manchester United.
The intriguing diplomatic match up of Saudi-owned Newcastle against Qatari-owned PSG in their post Messi and Neymar era is already getting spicy. Sources close to PSG were quick to point out that Newcastle’s growing fanbase in the nation that owns them will be unable to watch legally. The only licensed stream, owned by Doha-based BeIN Sport, continues to be blocked across the border amid geopolitical rivalries.
There was no shortage of excitement among beaming Newcastle executives who travelled out for the draw. Chief executive Darren Eales enthused: “After 20 years of being out of the Champions League, what a group to come back to. Wow! It’s a super Group of Death but we are really excited about.”
“It’s a brilliant moment for the city to play those three teams,” added Dan Ashworth, Newcastle’s sporting director. “ An evening in St. James’ Park under the lights in Newcastle is going to be an incredible experience. I think we are on paper one of the strongest teams in pot four and that’s probably why there was an audible gasp when Newcastle were drawn into that pot. I think everybody saw how competitive that group is going to be.”
This year’s glamour tie, however, is Kane returning with Bayern Munich to face the club that failed to bid for him this summer. There are other intriguing reunions in the group too. United face their former forward Wilfried Zaha now with Galatasaray and also FC Copenhagen, the former club of Rasmus Hojlund, the striker United chose over Kane this summer.
United’s clash with Bayern will draw immediate memories of the club’s finest hour, the Treble win in 1999. But it is the German champions who currently have the upper hand, having won in their last Champions League encounter, in the 2014 quarter-finals.
“Manchester United is the highest level in world football,” said Thomas Müller, who was in attendance at the draw. “Matches against English clubs are the icing on the cake in our calendar – accordingly: Let’s go!” Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen added: “This is and will remain the pinnacle of club football. Manchester United is one of the really big names in European football, with whom we have a number of historic duels. Since we won the title in Lisbon in 2020, we have now finished three times in the quarter-finals. It is our great wish that things go further this season.”
Holders Manchester City, meanwhile, face German side RB Leipzig for the third successive season. City hammered Leipzig 7-0 in the second leg of their last-16 tie last season, having also beaten them 6-3 in the group stage the season before last. Also in City’s group are Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade, winners of the European Cup in 1991, and Swiss side Young Boys, with Pep Guardiola’s side seeking to build on their success in Istanbul last season by retaining the title at Wembley next June.
“It is a tough match again against Leipzig,” said City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain. “It will still be a tough group. Any season we have to have new players, we have to refresh the squad and blend in the players and now need to compete. We want to make them better as well. We are happy.”
Arsenal, back in the Champions League for the first time since 2016-17, face seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla in Group B. The Gunners, who were runners-up behind City in last season’s Premier League, are also up against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and French team Lens.
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi, meanwhile, said it was a “tough” draw for his team entering their so-called post-galáctico era. However, he added: “I think it will be a real motivation for the players, for the staff, for the coach, and it’s fantastic.”
The first round of group games will be played on Sept 19 and 20, and marks the final season of the group stage in its familiar form. In draws elsewhere, the EFL acknowledged an alphabetic mistake made in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round draw which resulted in Newcastle drawing Manchester City at home rather than Fulham away.
How the Champions League draw unfolded
Erling Haaland collecting the Uefa men's player of the year award
I won the Treble at 22 years old, I’m living the dream and feeling really good. I’m so happy, but it gives me so much more motivation to win trophies like the one that was just there [the Champions League].
It’s about keeping the head clear. Even more eyes will be on me and the team after winning the Champions League. We have to be more prepared and more sharp.
I like when Pep shouts at me, because he tries to get something in my brain that he doesn’t think I have!
Wiegman dedicates her award to the Spanish team in wake of Luis Rubiales kiss scandal
Thanks everyone for voting, especially colleagues it’s really special and I’m honoured.
It feels a little different. We all know the issues around the Spanish team and it really hurts as a coach, as a mother of two daughters, as a wife and a human.
I would like to dedicated this award to the Spanish team, who played such great football that everyone enjoyed, and they deserve to be celebrated and listened to.
Sarina Wiegman is on stage collecting her Uefa Women's Coach of the Year award
Wiegman has managed England’s Lionesses to 30 wins in 39 games. She says she is less focused on her winning record than continuing to improve every day with the team, cultivating their style of play and the environment around the squad.
The eight Champions League groups
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, Salzburg, Real Sociedad
Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic
Group F: Paris St-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle United
Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys
Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Antwerp
The groups that await Newcastle (C, D, E, F or H)
Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen
Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven,
Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga
Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, Salzburg,
Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio
Group F: Paris St-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan
Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade
Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk
Joe Cole is part of today's draw
He believes everyone will want to avoid Newcastle of the pot four teams (remember, the other English teams cannot draw them). Cole also thinks Arsenal are better positioned to enjoy a run through the tournament than Manchester United.
Wembley a good omen for City and Guardiola?
The City manager has swept up several domestic cups at Wembley but the national stadium has also proved a lucky charm for Guardiola in European competition and hosts this season’s final.
Guardiola was part of Johann Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ at Barcelona which won the European Cup for the first time in the club’s history, beating Sampdoria 1-0 at Wembley in 1992. Ronald Koeman scored the winner with a trademark free-kick.
He then went on to manage Barcelona to European Cup success at Wembley in 2011, when they pulverised Manchester United.
A reminder of last night's results
There are 14 winners of the European Cup in the 32-team group stage draw after PSV Eindhoven advanced beyond Rangers in the play-offs.
PSV, the European champion in 1988, beat Rangers 5-1 in their play-off second leg to complete a 7-3 aggregate score.
Royal Antwerp have not played in the competition since 1957 yet also sealed their place in the draw by winning 2-1 at AEK Athens.
Copenhagen completed the line up with a 1-1 draw at home to competition debutant Raków Częstochowa having already won 1-0 in Poland.
How to watch this evening's draw
In the UK, Champions League rights holders TNT Sports will broadcast the draw live on TNT Sport 1.
Alternatively, the draw is being streamed for free on Uefa’s website and YouTube channel.
In America, the draw is being shown on Paramount+. American viewers can also watch for free on the Uefa website or YouTube channel.
Newcastle's potential opponents
Pot one: Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, PSG, Benfica, Feyenoord
Pot two: Real Madrid, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Porto
Pot three: Shakhtar Donetsk, Salzburg, AC Milan, Braga, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, PSV
Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Newcastle United
Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Newcastle United
Manchester United's potential opponents
Pot one: Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, PSG, Benfica, Feyenoord
Pot three: Shakhtar Donetsk, Salzburg, AC Milan, Braga, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, PSV, Young Boys
Pot four: Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Celtic, Union Berlin, Lens, Antwerp, Young Boys
Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Manchester United, Copenhagen, Antwerp
Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, AC Milan, Real Sociedad
Arsenal's potential opponents
Pot one: Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, PSG, Benfica, Feyenoord
Pot three: Shakhtar Donetsk, Salzburg, AC Milan, Braga, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, PSV, Copenhagen
Pot four: Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Celtic, Union Berlin, Lens, Antwerp, Young Boys
Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Arsenal, Copenhagen, Antwerp
Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, AC Milan, Real Sociedad
Manchester City's potential opponents
Pot two: Real Madrid, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, Porto
Pot three: Shakhtar Donetsk, Salzburg, AC Milan, Braga, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, PSV, Copenhagen
Pot four: Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Celtic, Union Berlin, Lens, Antwerp, Young Boys
Best-case scenario: Man City, Porto, Salzburg, Young Boys
Worst-case scenario: Man City, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Galatasaray
Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United await their fate
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the 2023-24 Champions League group stage draw with Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United the Premier League’s four representatives.
Pep Guardiola’s City are the European Cup holders after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul in last season’s final, when Rodri’s winner sealed the Treble. City have lost Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona and Kevin De Bruyne to injury, but midfield reinforcements have arrived in the shape of Mateo Kovacic and the imminent signing of Mathues Nunes. City also paid £77.8 million to make Josko Gvardiol the second-most expensive defender ever. The Croatian played against City in this competition with RB Leipzig last season, and City are strong favourites to retain their crown for good reason.
Arsenal are returning to Europe’s top club competition for the first time since 2016-17 and Mikel Arteta will be involved in his first Champions League matches as a manager. Arsenal’s record in European competition is poor for a club of their stature, and Arteta did not manage to crack the Europa League in three attempts. That said, the squad is stronger this season and the Champions League will demand greater attention. The balance of power has also shifted decisively towards the Premier League since Arsenal were last in the Champions League
Winning the Carabao Cup and securing a top-four finish was viewed as a successful first season at Manchester United for Erik ten Hag, and the three-time European Cup winners have not made it beyond the quarter-finals since 2011. It has been an unconvincing start to the season for United and they are scrambling to add a midfielder and emergency left-back before the close of the transfer window. Their Europa League exit to Sevilla was one of the lows of last season.
Newcastle United are making their first appearance in the Champions League since 2002-03. There will be doubts about whether Newcastle have the reserves of quality to compete at home and abroad, but the intensity of Eddie Howe’s team will make St James’ Park an uncompromising venue for any Champions League club. Their long absence from European competition puts them in pot four, leaving them to hope for a favourable draw. A group featuring both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid is a possibility.
We expect the draw to commence at 5pm.