With Thursday night came the long-anticipated draw for the 2023-04 UEFA Champion’s League group stage. The games will bring a lot of box-office fixtures and ‘group of death’ clashes like Bayern Munich against Manchester United and PSG against Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
The Champions League group stage may also pose a big challenge for newbies like Newcastle United and Union Berlin. On the other hand, the title holders, Manchester City, will be heavily favoured with potential opponents like Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys
Thomas Muller reacts to Bayern Munich UEFA Champions League draw
The most prominent clubs from the top European leagues are gearing up to vie for the ultimate continental trophy; the Champions League. They will kick off their quest in the group stage. The ULC group stage draw took place yesterday, Thursday, where every qualified team learnt their possible opponents. Upon such a context, Thomas Muller and other Bayern Munich personnel have expressed their delight about the Champion League’s return.
Thomas Tuchel, reacting to their return to the Champions League, said, “Every opponent represents a challenge in the Champions League, which we take on with great desire and dedication. Manchester United, Copenhagen and Galatasaray are extremely appealing group opponents for the team and fans. We’re excited and can’t wait to get going on the European stage soon.”
Thomas Müller upon the similar context expressed his bubbling thrill, saying, “We’re excited that the Champions League is starting again. We’ve got some big clashes with three clubs from top cities. Manchester United are an entity in world football. They have a former Bayern reserves coach in Erik ten Hag. Copenhagen and Galatasaray have exciting teams. Those midweek games are extra on our calendar, so let’s go!”
Bayern Munich are a force to be reckoned with in the UCL because of their mammoth presence throughout. Albeit their UCL journey last season was upsetting, failing to surge past Pep’s champion side, but they shall bounce back and every time they did, the other clubs have not certainly enjoyed the carnage. With Harry Kane spearheading their attack, this season sure holds some interesting fixtures.
Bayern Munich set to face a team they last played 51 years ago
The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League is unique because it features some teams that have either never played in the competition or haven’t secured a spot in the competition for more than half a century.
Union Berlin will be playing in the Champions League for the first time, while Newcastle United were also able to book their place in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2002-03 season. However, it is quite unfortunate that Newcastle United is stuck in Group F, a group regarded as “the group of death”. In that group, they are set to play top-flight teams like, PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
Bayern Munich and Manchester United will go head-to-head in Group A. Other members of the group include; Galatasaray and Copenhagen. United will certainly be wary of Copenhagen and Galatasaray, having suffered group-stage defeats against both teams in the past. But a bigger concern for them will be Bayern Munich.
It is also interesting that Bayern Munich will face Galatasaray, whom they have not faced in 51 years. The last encounter between Bayern and Galatasaray was in 1972/73. It was also their first encounter.
Leave us your thoughts on this exciting season ahead and Bayern fans, make some noise in the comments.
