These are the champions! Die Meister! Die Besten! Les grandes équipes! The champions!That is proper, the UEFA Champions League is again and soccer followers all over the world are already struggling to get the long-lasting anthem out of their heads.Manchester Metropolis are the defending champions in 2023/24 after finishing their historic treble with victory within the ultimate over Inter in Istanbul. Pep Guardiola’s aspect are among the many favourites once more this yr, although European giants Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona will hope their summer season switch enterprise can energy them to glory this season.However earlier than anybody begins dreaming of subsequent yr’s ultimate at Wembley, the group stage should first be navigated. Listed below are 90min’s predictions for the primary matchday of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League.Tuesday 19 SeptemberCity want to retain the UCL this yr / Visionhaus/GettyImagesThree Premier League sides are returning to the Champions League this week after varied durations of absence however it’s Newcastle who’ve been given arguably the largest billing of the English groups.The Magpies open their first UCL group stage marketing campaign since 2002/03 within the iconic environment of San Siro as they tackle an AC Milan aspect that was simply battered 5-1 by Inter within the Derby della Madonna. It is one among two video games kicking off at 17:45 on Tuesday alongside Youngs Boys vs RB Leipzig.Paris Saint-Germain proceed their perennial quest to win a primary Champions League with an attractive encounter with Borussia Dortmund. There was drama of a niggly nature once they met within the final 16 in 2019/20 as PSG accomplished a comeback and mocked Erling Haaland’s meditation celebration.Kick-off Time (BST)FixtureGroupPrediction17:45Young Boys vs RB LeipzigG0-217:45AC Milan vs Newcastle UnitedF1-020:00Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia DortmundF3-220:00Manchester Metropolis vs Crvena ZvezdaG4-020:00Lazio vs Atletico MadridE1-220:00Feyenoord vs CelticE3-020:00Barcelona vs Royal AntwerpH2-020:00Shakhtar Donetsk vs PortoH2-2Holders Man Metropolis begin their defence of the title towards Crvena Zvezda – AKA Purple Star Belgrade – on the Etihad. The environment will probably be extra sedate in Manchester than it will likely be at Rajko Mitic Stadium in mid December for the return fixture.Barcelona lastly burst into life with a complete victory 5-0 over Actual Betis on the weekend, which must be the proper preparation earlier than their house conflict with Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp. Supervisor Xavi has misplaced 4 of his eight Champions League video games however a better group this time round ought to assist the legendary midfielder enhance that poor private file.Wednesday 20 SeptemberBellingham’s Actual Madrid journey continues within the Champions League / Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/GettyImagesJude Bellingham has all types of Champions League data to his identify having damaged by way of at such a younger age with Dortmund. Having since moved to Actual Madrid, the England worldwide will get his first style of UCL soccer on the Bernabeu towards Union Berlin in one among Wednesday’s early kick-offs.Arsenal‘s final recreation in Europe’s premier membership competitors was a second 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich of their 2016/17 final 16 tie however such a result’s removed from anticipated once they host Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners are fancied for the win on the Emirates, like they had been earlier than a 1-0 victory over the identical opposition in final season’s Europa League.Kick-off Time (BST)FixtureGroupPrediction17:45Galatasaray vs CopenhagenA2-017:45Real Madrid vs Union BerlinC2-020:00Braga vs NapoliC0-320:00Benfica vs SalzburgD2-120:00Real Sociedad vs InterD1-220:00Arsenal vs PSV EindhovenB2-020:00Sevilla vs LensB1-020:00Bayern Munich vs Manchester UnitedA3-1Manchester United are going through drawback after drawback proper now, however the subsequent puzzle for Erik ten Hag to aim to resolve is a visit to Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich, now new and improved with Harry Kane up entrance. Off the again of a 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Outdated Trafford, the Purple Devils could lose once more by an analogous scoreline.Elsewhere, there will likely be eyes on Sevilla, who not often take the competitors severely and as a substitute give attention to the Europa League, with the Spaniards taking over French aspect Lens. Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may even be hoping for a quick begin when Napoli journey over to Portugal to face Braga.READ 90MIN’S FULL MATCH PREVIEWS HERE
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