Full guide to the Champions League 2023/24 ahead of Tuesday’s big kick-off

European football is making a welcome return (Picture: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Champions League football is back for the 2023/24 season with some of the finest teams on the continent set to do battle in the group stage over the next three months.

Defending champions Manchester City are the favourites to defend their crown having won the competition for the very first time in their history in the previous campaign.

But Pep Guardiola’s men will face stiff competition from European royalty such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and a Harry Kane inspired Bayern Munich.

Arsenal have returned to the top table of European football for the first time since the 2016/17 season and the Gunners will fancy a deep run to the latter stages of the knockout rounds, which take place after Christmas.

Newcastle have had to wait even longer to return to the Champions League, having last played in the tournament all the way back in 2002/03.

Depending on which way Geordies look at it, Eddie Howe’s team have been given a dream – or horrid – draw with PSG, Milan and Borussia Dortmund all set to make the trip to a raucous St James’ Park.

Manchester United, meanwhile, will hope their horrible domestic form doesn’t translate to their European travels with tricky looking away days looming at Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

Here is everything you need to know about the Champions League 2023/24, including the groups, fixtures, schedule, final and odds.

Champions League groups

Champions League Matchday 1 fixtures

Tuesday, September 19

Milan vs Newcastle United (5.45pm)

Young Boys vs RB Leipzig (5.45pm)

Feyenoord vs Celtic (8pm)

Lazio vs Atletico Madrid (8pm)

Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund (8pm)

Manchester City are the current Kings of Europe (Picture: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Manchester City vs Red Star Belgrade (8pm)

Barcelona vs Royal Antwerp (8pm)

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Porto (8pm)

Wednesday, September 20

Galatasaray vs Copenhagen (5.45pm)

Real Madrid vs Union Berlin (5.45pm)

Bayern Munich vs Manchester United (8pm)

Sevilla vs Lens (8pm)

Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven (8pm)

Braga vs Napoli (8pm)

Benfica vs Salzburg (8pm)

Real Sociedad vs Internazionale (8pm)

Champions League schedule

How to watch the Champions League on TV

Every Champions League game from the 2023/24 season will be shown live and exclusive on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport).

The action will be shown across the TNT Sports TV channels, including the popular Goals Show, which returns once again for the group stage.

TNT Sports subscribers can live stream the Champions League at no extra cost on discovery+ and via the web player.

Those without a subscription can do so by joining through discovery+ for £29.99 per month, which includes access to Eurosport and entertainment.

Alternatively, fans can sign up for a 30-day, contract free TNT Sports pass for £29.99, with the action immediately available to watch on discovery+ and via the web player.

TNT Sports is available through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

Where is the Champions League final being held?

The Champions League final will take place at Wembley on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

This will be the third occasion in which the iconic venue has hosted the Champions League final, having done so in 2011 and 2013.

Odds

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