The group stage of the Champions League 2023/24 have been one of the most thrilling ever. Even the unexpected has given the favourites a run for their money to qualify for the Round of 16. However, the usual names has made it to the next round with PSV Eindhoven being the only side out of the regular list.
Twelve sides have booked their place in the Round of 16 ahead of the final match day. The remaining four teams will have to wait for the group stage conclusion in December to know their faith.
Everything is wide open in groups A and F with the English sides in it looking the most vulnerable to miss out. Manchester United are rock-bottom in their group and the situation is like even a victory cannot help them progress to the next round. Newcastle United was denied a victory at PSG in the last minute thanks to VAR and Kylian Mbappé forcing them to secure a win in the final group match and other results favour them. While it is more direct battles in Group C and Group H in which winners take all.
Group A
A victory will seal the runners-up spot for Copenhagen in the group and qualification to the Round of 16. While, a draw will remove both them and Galatasaray in third from contention if bottom-placed Manchester United secures all three points against already qualified leaders Bayern Munich at Old Trafford. In that case, goal difference will come into force to decide the team qualifying for the Europa League, as both played a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture, to continue their continental journey. Only a victory in the final game could keep the Red Devils in contention for the last-16. Otherwise, a draw will require either Copenhagen or Galatasaray to win, in the clash between them, to help them qualify for the Europa League at least.
Pos | Teams | PL | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
Q 1 | Bayern Munich | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
2 | FC Copenhagen | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 5 |
3 | Galatasaray | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 5 |
4 | Manchester United | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
Fixtures
Wednesday, 13 December 2023
FC Copenhagen vs Galatasaray - Parken, Denmark
Manchester United vs Bayern Munich - Old Trafford, Manchester
Group C
Napoli is in pole position to qualify for the round of 16 after group winners Real Madrid, holding the second spot in Group C. Avoiding defeat against third-place Braga at home in the direct battle for qualification will get their job done. The Serie A winners could also qualify even after a defeat, leading the Portuguese outfit by three points, due to a better head-to-head record. However, Artur Jorge’s side will make history if they can better their reverse fixture result which was a 2-1 defeat in the season opener next month.
Pos | Teams | PL | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
Q 1 | Real Madrid | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 |
2 | Napoli | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 7 |
3 | Braga | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 4 |
4 | Union Berlin | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -3 | 2 |
Fixtures
Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Napoli vs Braga - Diego Maradona Stadium, Naples
Group F
A three-way battle in Group F or ‘the group of death’ with only Dortmund having their position finalized in the last-16 before the final game. PSG currently in second with seven points are in the best possible place to qualify for the Round of 16 followed by Newcastle in third and last-placed AC Milan, both on five points. The Parisians will secure knockout qualification if they beat the leaders in the final game and go top of the group. A draw will still be enough if Newcastle and Milan also play a draw against each other or if the Rossoneri wins. PSG have a better head-to-head record against Stefano Pioli’s side so they will qualify if both end on equal points.
Defeat for Luis Enrique’s team and a victory for any of the side in the other match will eliminate the Ligue 1 giants from contention. A PSG victory will see already qualified Dortmund taking the second spot and eliminating both Milan and Newcastle. The Magpies will take the second spot if they win against Milan at home and PSG fail to beat Dortmund away. Newcastle will qualify if they end on same points as PSG due to a superior head-to-head record. For the Italian outfit to qualify, they first need to defeat Eddie Howe’s men and hope Dortmund does them a favour by beating PSG.
Pos | Teams | PL | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
Q 1 | Dortmund | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
2 | PSG | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
3 | Newcastle | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
4 | Milan | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 5 |
Fixtures
Thursday, 14 December 2023
Dortmund vs PSG - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Newcastle vs Milan - St James’s Park, Newcastle
Group H
With Barcelona progressing to the last 16 and Belgian champions Royal Antwerp eliminated, it is down to FC Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk to decide the last spot in the knockouts. The Portuguese side are slight ahead in that regard as they only have to avoid defeat against Shakhtar to qualify whereas the Ukrainian side needs to win. Shakhter will also top the group if they win and Barcelona lose in a catastrophic way to bottom-placed Royal Antwerp which wipes out their seven goal-difference. Porto cannot come top due to their inferior head-to-head record with the Catalan giants. The loser of the tie will still continue their journey in Europe by finishing third and qualifying for the Europa League.
Pos | Teams | PL | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
Q 1 | Barcelona | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
2 | FC Porto | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
3 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
4 | Royal Antwerp | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -12 | 0 |
Fixtures
Thursday, 14 December 2023
Royal Antwerp vs FC Barcelona - Bosuilstadion, Antwerp
FC Porto vs Shakhtar Donetsk - Estadio Dragao, Porto
