Last week, the qualifying rounds for the three big European competitions were completed. Following those games, UEFA held the draw for the Group Stages of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
This week, we are going to look at the draw for all three competitions, starting here with a look at the biggest and most lucrative; the Champions League.
Holders Manchester City are one of four English teams (the others being Manchester United, Arsenal & Newcastle United) who, along with Scottish Champions Celtic, will be the British interest in the Group Stages of the competition.
As usual, we have looked through the odds available from bet365 Sport for each of the groups. The odds listed below were correct at the time of writing, but may well have changed in the meantime.
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Let’s now begin our look through the Champions League groups in alphabetical order.
Group A
- Bayern Munich
- Manchester United
- FC Copenhagen
- Galatasaray
Fixtures
20th September
- 5.45pm – Galatasaray v FC Copenhagen
- 8.00pm – Bayern Munich v Manchester United
3rd October
- 8.00pm – FC Copenhagen v Bayern Munich
- 8.00pm – Manchester United v Galatasaray
24th October
- 5.45pm – Galatasaray v Bayern Munich
- 8.00pm – Manchester United v FC Copenhagen
8th November
- 8.00pm – FC Copenhagen v Manchester United
- 8.00pm – Bayern Munich v Galatasaray
29th November
- 5.45pm – Galatasaray v Manchester United
- 8.00pm – Bayern Munich v FC Copenhagen
12th December
- 8.00pm – FC Copenhagen v Galatasaray
- 8.00pm – Manchester United v Bayern Munich
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Bayern Munich – 8/15 fav
- Manchester United – 2/1
- FC Copenhagen – 33/1
- Galatasaray – 10/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Bayern Munich – 1/8
- Manchester United – 1/6
- FC Copenhagen – 11/2
- Galatasaray – 5/2
Group Preview And Tips
Bayern Munich and Manchester United won’t be too disappointed to be drawn in this Champions League group. Copenhagen and Galatasaray could be tricky away games, but I think the big two should qualify easily from Group A.
Group B
- Sevilla
- Arsenal
- PSV Eindhoven
- Lens
Fixtures
20th September
- 8.00pm – Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven
- 8.00pm – Sevilla v Lens
3rd October
- 8.00pm – PSV Eindhoven v Sevilla
- 8.00pm – Lens v Arsenal
24th October
- 8.00pm – Lens v PSV Eindhoven
- 8.00pm – Sevilla v Arsenal
8th November
- 8.00pm – Arsenal v Sevilla
- 8.00pm – PSV Eindhoven v Lens
29th November
- 5.45pm – Sevilla v PSV Eindhoven
- 8.00pm – Arsenal v Lens
12th December
- 5.45pm – Lens v Sevilla
- 5.45pm – PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Sevilla – 9/2
- Arsenal – 1/2 fav
- PSV Eindhoven – 6/1
- Lens – 7/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Sevilla – 10/11
- Arsenal – 1/6
- PSV Eindhoven – 7/4
- Lens – 7/4
Group Preview And Tips
Arsenal will start as favourites in this Champions League group, but this is a tricky group with all three opponents for the Gunners being tough. Sevilla’s slow start in La Liga could see them up against it unless they can find form. As such, I am going for Arsenal and PSV to perhaps take the two qualifying spots.
Group C
- Napoli
- Real Madrid
- Braga
- Union Berlin
Fixtures
20th September
- 5.45pm – Real Madrid v Union Berlin
- 8.00pm – Braga v Napoli
3rd October
- 5.45pm – Union Berlin v Braga
- 8.00pm – Napoli v Real Madrid
24th October
- 8.00pm – Braga v Real Madrid
- 8.00pm – Union Berlin v Napoli
8th November
- 5.45pm – Napoli v Union Berlin
- 8.00pm – Real Madrid v Braga
29th November
- 5.45pm – Real Madrid v Napoli
- 8.00pm – Braga v Union Berlin
13th December
- 8.00pm – Napoli v Braga
- 8.00pm – Union Berlin v Real Madrid
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Napoli – 9/4
- Real Madrid – 8/15
- Braga – 12/1
- Union Berlin – 12/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Napoli – 2/7
- Real Madrid – 1/9
- Braga – 10/3
- Union Berlin – 10/3
Group Preview And Tips
Group C in the Champions League should be pretty straightforward with Napoli and Real Madrid the clear favourites here. Braga and Union Berlin are probably playing for third spot in the group behind the top two.
Group D
- Benfica
- Inter Milan
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Real Sociedad
Fixtures
20th September
- 8.00pm – Benfica v Red Bull Salzburg
- 8.00pm – Real Sociedad v Inter Milan
3rd October
- 5.45pm – Red Bull Salzburg v Real Sociedad
- 8.00pm – Inter Milan v Benfica
24th October
- 5.45pm – Inter Milan v Red Bull Salzburg
- 8.00pm – Benfica v Real Sociedad
8th November
- 5.45pm – Real Sociedad v Benfica
- 8.00pm – Red Bull Salzburg v Inter Milan
29th November
- 5.45pm – Real Sociedad v Red Bull Salzburg
- 8.00pm – Benfica v Inter Milan
12th December
- 8.00pm – Red Bull Salzburg v Benfica
- 8.00pm – Inter Milan v Real Sociedad
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Benfica – 5/2
- Inter Milan – 4/5 fav
- Red Bull Salzburg – 8/1
- Real Sociedad – 11/2
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Benfica
- Inter Milan
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Real Sociedad
Group Preview And Tips
On paper, Benfica and Inter are the teams to go through from this Champions League group, but I think both the other two teams are capable of an upset and this group could be the one where a surprise occurs. I think Inter will make it through, but Sociedad could perhaps grab second ahead of Benfica.
Group E
- Feyenoord
- Atletico Madrid
- Lazio
- Celtic
Fixtures
19th September
- 8.00pm – Feyenoord v Celtic
- 8.00pm – Lazio v Atletico Madrid
4th October
- 5.45pm – Atletico Madrid v Feyenoord
- 8.00pm – Celtic v Lazio
25th October
- 5.45pm – Feyenoord v Lazio
- 8.00pm – Celtic v Atletico Madrid
7th November
- 8.00pm – Atletico Madrid v Celtic
- 8.00pm – Lazio v Feyenoord
28th November
- 5.45pm – Lazio v Celtic
- 8.00pm – Feyenoord v Atletico Madrid
13th December
- 8.00pm – Atletico Madrid v Lazio
- 8.00pm – Celtic v Feyenoord
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Feyenoord – 6/1
- Atletico Madrid – 8/13 fav
- Lazio – 3/1
- Celtic – 9/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Feyenoord – 13/8
- Atletico Madrid – 1/5
- Lazio – 8/11
- Celtic – 13/5
Group Preview And Tips
This looks like a group where Atletico Madrid should dominate, but it will be a closely fought race between the other teams to earn second spot in the table. I can see this group going down to the final day of action with Feyenoord perhaps doing just enough to pip Lazio to second and a place in the Champions League knockout phase.
Group F
- Paris St Germain
- Borussia Dortmund
- AC Milan
- Newcastle United
Fixtures
19th September
- 5.45pm – AC Milan v Newcastle United
- 8.00pm – Paris St Germain v Borussia Dortmund
4th October
- 8.00pm – Borussia Dortmund v AC Milan
- 8.00pm – Newcastle United v Paris St Germain
25th October
- 8.00pm – Newcastle United v Borussia Dortmund
- 8.00pm – Paris St Germain v AC Milan
7th November
- 5.45pm – Borussia Dortmund v Newcastle United
- 8.00pm – AC Milan v Paris St Germain
28th November
- 8.00pm – AC Milan v Borussia Dortmund
- 8.00pm – Paris St Germain v Newcastle United
13th December
- 8.00pm – Borussia Dortmund v Paris St Germain
- 8.00pm – Newcastle United v AC Milan
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Paris St Germain – 11/10
- Borussia Dortmund – 11/2
- AC Milan – 5/1
- Newcastle United – 9/4
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Paris St Germain – 4/11
- Borussia Dortmund – 6/4
- AC Milan – 6/5
- Newcastle United – 4/5
Group Preview And Tips
The group of death of this Champions League draw, Paris St Germain are still the team to beat here and I can’t see the French side not winning this group. However, it is a very close call between the remaining teams as to who finishes second and I have a sneaky feeling Newcastle can get the job done here.
Group G
- Manchester City
- Red Bull Leipzig
- Red Star Belgrade
- Young Boys
Fixtures
19th September
- 5.45pm – Young Boys v Red Bull Leipzig
- 8.00pm – Manchester City v Red Star Belgrade
4th October
- 8.00pm – Red Star Belgrade v Young Boys
- 8.00pm – Red Bull Leipzig v Manchester City
25th October
- 8.00pm – Red Bull Leipzig v Red Star Belgrade
- 8.00pm – Young Boys v Manchester City
7th November
- 8.00pm – Manchester City v Young Boys
- 8.00pm – Red Star Belgrade v Red Bull Leipzig
28th November
- 8.00pm – Manchester City v Red Bull Leipzig
- 8.00pm – Young Boys v Red Star Belgrade
13th December
- 5.45pm – Red Bull Leipzig v Young Boys
- 5.45pm – Red Star Belgrade v Manchester City
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Manchester City – 1/10
- Red Bull Leipzig – 13/2
- Red Star Belgrade – 66/1
- Young Boys – 66/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Manchester City – 1/100
- Red Bull Leipzig – 1/6
- Red Star Belgrade – 7/1
- Young Boys – 7/1
Group Preview And Tips
Manchester City probably could not have picked an easier Champions League group themselves than the one they have been drawn in. It’s hard to see City doing anything less than winning all six of their games in this group. Leipzig should be the team to qualify alongside them in a distant second spot.
Group H
- Barcelona
- FC Porto
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Royal Antwerp
Fixtures
19th September
- 8.00pm – Barcelona v Royal Antwerp
- 8.00pm – Shakhtar Donetsk v FC Porto
4th October
- 5.45pm – Royal Antwerp v Shakhtar Donetsk
- 8.00pm – FC Porto v Barcelona
25th October
- 5.45pm – Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk
- 8.00pm – Royal Antwerp v FC Porto
7th November
- 5.45pm – Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona
- 8.00pm – FC Porto v Royal Antwerp
28th November
- 5.45pm – Shakhtar Donetsk v Royal Antwerp
- 8.00pm – Barcelona v FC Porto
13th December
- 8.00pm – FC Porto v Shakhtar Donetsk
- 8.00pm – Royal Antwerp v Barcelona
Latest Odds To Win Group
- Barcelona – 4/11
- FC Porto – 11/4
- Shakhtar Donetsk – 20/1
- Royal Antwerp – 22/1
Latest Odds To Qualify for Champions League Knockout Phase
- Barcelona – 1/16
- FC Porto – 1/3
- Shakhtar Donetsk – 7/2
- Royal Antwerp – 4/1
Group Preview And Tips
The Spanish champions will be hoping for a better Champions League campaign this year and they should have enough to come top of this group. FC Porto should come second but watch out for Royal Antwerp, they could really push the other teams hard for second spot in the group.
