Champions League 2023/24: Schedule, groups, fixtures and match dates
Newcastle United face a brutally tough draw on their return to the Champions League after being dropped in group F with Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. Manchester United are up against Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich in group A along with Turkish champions Galatasaray, and new striker Rasmus Hojlund will also face his old side Copenhagen. Arsenal will play Europa League champions Sevilla as well as PSV Eindhoven and Lens, while holders Manchester City will take on RB Leipzig, Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade. Like Newcastle, Celtic were in pot four and also face a tricky group against Dutch champions Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio. The fixtures will begin on Tuesday 19 September and wrap up on Wednesday 13 December. Champions League 2023/24 group stage schedule Matchday 1 19 September AC Milan vs Newcastle (17:45) Young Boys vs Leipzig (17:45) Feyenoord vs Celtic (20:00) Lazio vs Atlético de Madrid (20:00) Paris vs Dortmund (20:00) Man City vs Crvena zvezda (20:00) Barcelona vs Antwerp (20:00) Shakhtar Donetsk vs Porto (20:00) 20 September Galatasaray vs Copenhagen (17:45) Real Madrid vs Union Berlin (17:45) Bayern vs Man United (20:00) Sevilla vs Lens (20:00) Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven (20:00) Braga vs Napoli (20:00) Benfica vs Salzburg (20:00) Real Sociedad vs Inter (20:00) Matchday 2 3 October Union Berlin vs Braga (17:45) Salzburg vs Real Sociedad (17:45) Man United vs Galatasaray (20:00) Copenhagen vs Bayern (20:00) Lens vs Arsenal (20:00) PSV Eindhoven vs Sevilla (20:00) Napoli vs Real Madrid (20:00) Inter vs Benfica (20:00) 4 October Atlético de Madrid vs Feyenoord (17:45) Antwerp vs Shakhtar Donetsk (17:45) Celtic vs Lazio (20:00) Dortmund vs Milan (20:00) Newcastle vs Paris (20:00) Leipzig vs Man City (20:00) Crvena zvezda vs Young Boys (20:00) Porto vs Barcelona (20:00) Matchday 3 24 October Galatasaray vs Bayern (17:45) Inter vs Salzburg (17:45) Man United vs Copenhagen (20:00) Sevilla vs Arsenal (20:00) Lens vs PSV Eindhoven (20:00) Braga vs Real Madrid (20:00) Union Berlin vs Napoli (20:00) Benfica vs Real Sociedad (20:00) 25 October Feyenoord vs Lazio (17:45) Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk (17:45) Celtic vs Atlético de Madrid (20:00) Paris vs Milan (20:00) Newcastle vs Dortmund (20:00) Leipzig vs Crvena zvezda (20:00) Young Boys vs Man City (20:00) Antwerp vs Porto (20:00) Matchday 4 7 November Dortmund vs Newcastle (17:45) Shakhtar Donetsk vs Barcelona (17:45) Atlético de Madrid vs Celtic (20:00) Lazio vs Feyenoord (20:00) Milan vs Paris (20:00) Man City vs Young Boys (20:00) Crvena zvezda vs Leipzig (20:00) Porto vs Royal Antwerp (20:00) 8 November Napoli vs Union Berlin (17:45) Real Sociedad vs Benfica (17:45) Bayern vs Galatasaray (20:00) Copenhagen vs Man United (20:00) Arsenal vs Sevilla (20:00) PSV Eindhoven vs Lens (20:00) Real Madrid vs Braga (20:00) Salzburg vs Inter (20:00) Matchday 5 28 November Lazio vs Celtic (17:45) Shakhtar Donetsk vs Antwerp (17:45) Feyenoord vs Atlético de Madrid (20:00) Paris vs Newcastle (20:00) Milan vs Dortmund (20:00) Man City vs Leipzig (20:00) Young Boys vs Crvena zvezda (20:00) Barcelona vs Porto (20:00) 29 November Galatasaray vs Man United (17:45) Sevilla vs PSV Eindhoven (17:45) Bayern vs Copenhagen (20:00) Arsenal vs Lens (20:00) Real Madrid vs Napoli (20:00) Braga vs Union Berlin (20:00): Benfica vs Inter (20:00) Real Sociedad vs Salzburg (20:00) Matchday 6 12 December Lens vs Sevilla (17:45) PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal (17:45) Man United vs Bayern (20:00) Copenhagen vs Galatasaray (20:00) Napoli vs Braga (20:00) Union Berlin vs Real Madrid (20:00) Inter vs Real Sociedad (20:00) Salzburg vs Benfica (20:00) 13 December Leipzig vs Young Boys (17:45) Crvena zvezda vs Man City (17:45) Atlético de Madrid vs Lazio (20:00) Celtic vs Feyenoord (20:00) Dortmund vs Paris (20:00) Newcastle vs Milan (20:00) Porto vs Shakhtar Donetsk (20:00) Antwerp vs Barcelona (20:00) When is the Champions League final? The final will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on 1 June 2024. Read More Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino understands Thiago Silva’s frustration Kyle Walker says Man City ‘start at the bottom of the mountain’ this season AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori relishing clash with former team-mate Sandro Tonali Pep Guardiola challenges Man City to win back-to-back Champions League titles Aaron Wan-Bissaka injury adds to Manchester United’s list of problems Manchester United are a mess — and it could be about to get even worse
2023-09-19 01:25
Deion Sanders confirms Colorado won’t have Travis Hunter for Oregon, USC
Deion Sanders has said that Hunter will be out for the next three weeks. With Hunter out for an extended period, does this spell doom for Colorado?
2023-09-19 00:58
Spain name majority of World Cup winners in new squad but Jenni Hermoso absent
Jenni Hermoso has not been included in Spain’s first squad since lifting the Women’s World Cup but 15 of her title-winning team-mates have been called up despite announcing a boycott last month. A group of 81 players, including all 23 members of the World Cup squad, indicated three weeks ago that they would not play for Spain again while Luis Rubiales remained Spanish football federation (RFEF) president as a result of his behaviour at the final. Rubiales caused a huge controversy after kissing midfielder Hermoso on the lips during the medal ceremony following the team’s 1-0 victory over England. Hermoso insists she did not consent to the kiss. Amid increasing pressure, Rubiales finally resigned from his post last week but 39 players, including 21 of Spain’s World Cup winners, released a statement on Friday saying that was not enough to trigger their return to national-team duty. The players said they were not yet “in a safe place” to return and that the problems at the RFEF ran far deeper than Rubiales. However, new Spain coach Montse Tome – who had been due to name her squad on Friday – has now included 15 of the world champions in her 23-player squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-09-19 00:58
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino understands Thiago Silva’s frustration
Mauricio Pochettino admitted he empathised with Thiago Silva’s frustration after the defender appeared to lose his temper with Chelsea teammates during their goalless draw at Bournemouth on Sunday. At one stage, whilst in possession of the ball during the first half at the Vitality Stadium, the defender was visibly angered by the team’s set-up, with little movement in front of him and huge gaps between forward players and the defence. Silva, who turns 39 on Friday, is one of the club’s most experienced and successful players having won seven Ligue 1 titles with Paris St Germain, the Serie A title with AC Milan and the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021. He has also collected 113 caps for Brazil during a 15-year international career. By contrast three of his teammates who started the draw with Bournemouth – Lesley Ugochukwu, Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto – were not born when Silva made his professional debut for Brazilian third-tier side RS Futebol in 2002. With an average age of just over 23 Chelsea have the youngest squad in this season’s Premier League, and an injury crisis that has left Pochettino without 12 first-team players has increased his dependency on youth. “We need to be more relaxed,” said Blues boss Pochettino. “Sometimes the defensive players want to help the team to score because the feeling is that we are creating chances but can’t score. “Then we need to be clever. Thiago has experience, but too many players (in the team) are still learning about the game. That is the construction and the building of a new team. There are many rules in football that you can’t write. “In these type of games when you are pushing, pushing, trying to score and if you don’t score, it’s normal (to be frustrated), you know.” Pochettino also clarified the absences of Marc Cucurella, Noni Madueke and Moises Caicedo, none of whom were in Sunday’s squad. Instead the manager was forced to name three players who were 19 and under with no first-team experience on the bench, as well as two goalkeepers. “Cucurella had a fever (on Saturday) and was at home and didn’t train,” said Pochettino. “Noni came from the national team with a muscle problem. Caicedo came with a knock in his knee. “We need to assess (on Monday). That’s why they weren’t available, plus another 10 or 11 players.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Paedophile former football coach Barry Bennell dies in prison George Williams keen to avenge England’s World Cup heartbreak with Tonga success Kyle Walker says Man City ‘start at the bottom of the mountain’ this season
2023-09-19 00:48
Bet $5, Win $200 GUARANTEED Plus $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket with FanDuel MNF Promo Tonight
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2023-09-19 00:28
Paedophile former football coach Barry Bennell dies in prison
Former football coach and serial paedophile Barry Bennell has died in prison, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed. The former Crewe Alexandra coach was serving a 34-year sentence after being convicted of a number of child sex offences. A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “Prisoner Barry Bennell died at HMP Littlehey on September 16. “As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.” Bennell, also known as Richard Jones, was jailed for 30 years in 2018 after being convicted of 52 child sexual offences against 12 boys. He was ordered to serve an additional four years in 2020 after pleading guilty to other offences against two boys. When he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court in 2018, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC said he “may well die in prison”. His final prison sentence, in 2020, was the fifth time he had been jailed. At that hearing, the court was told he had a detached retina after being attacked in prison and was in remission from cancer. Bennell, a former Manchester City scout, abused boys he coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-09-18 23:23
3 reasons Cowboys are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, 1 they’re not
The Dallas Cowboys have started 2-0 with an aggregate score of 70-10. They are starting to look like viable Super Bowl contenders in all but one way.
2023-09-18 23:17
Kyle Walker says Man City ‘start at the bottom of the mountain’ this season
Kyle Walker claims Manchester City consider themselves back at the bottom of the mountain again this season. City scaled the heights last term as they became only the second English team to win the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. Now, as City prepare to begin the defence of their European crown at home to Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, Walker has revealed manager Pep Guardiola wants them to prove themselves all over again. The England right-back said at a press conference: “It’s our job to stay motivated. We’re at a massive club for a reason, because the manager believes in us and we’re all great players. “It comes from within that you have to keep going. The hunger is still definitely in the changing room and from him as a manager as well. He still wants to win more. “You can see what he is like in games and training. He doesn’t settle for second and we need to follow in his footsteps because he has managed some great teams that have won fantastic things. “What we have done is in the past now. It is a new season, you draw a line under it. “The manager did a diagram for the first game of the season. We start at the bottom of the mountain and we are climbing to the top. “Our flag will always be at the top because we have won the Premier League and Champions League but we have to go again and again. It is what separates the good teams from the great teams.” I've been very honoured (so far) and it's a privilege to lead this special group of players out Kyle Walker Walker has captained the team so far this season and looks likely to retain the armband following a squad vote to find a permanent successor to the departed Ilkay Gundogan. Walker would not reveal who came top in the vote, which has taken place in recent days, other than to confirm he has been nominated as one of the group of five senior players who make up the captaincy group. However, with the other main contender for the job, Kevin De Bruyne, currently out injured, it would be a surprise if the 33-year-old did not lead out the team for the Group G clash against Red Star. Walker said: “The captains’ vote has come in and the five captains that have been chosen that will lead the team for the season and make sure all checks and fines are paid up. “I don’t think the order really matters but it’s down to myself, Kevin, Rodri, Ruben (Dias) and Bernardo Silva. “I’ve been very honoured (so far) and it’s a privilege to lead this special group of players out. “I will continue to do that and hopefully lead by example on and off the field to ensure we are collecting the trophies at the end of the season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori relishing clash with former team-mate Sandro Tonali Attacking play and big-game wins – Roberto De Zerbi’s first year at Brighton Paul Collingwood backs Zak Crawley to excel in role of England captain
2023-09-18 22:57
AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori relishing clash with former team-mate Sandro Tonali
England international Fikayo Tomori has warned Sandro Tonali that friendship will go out of the window when AC Milan and Newcastle head into Champions League battle on Tuesday night. The two men were team-mates last season as Milan made it to the semi-finals of the competition and finished fourth in Serie A, but they will be on opposing sides at the San Siro following midfielder Tonali’s £53million summer switch to St James’ Park. Former Chelsea defender Tomori, 25, admits it will be god to see his former colleague again – but only after the final whistle. He told a press conference: “Obviously it will be nice to see him again. We played a lot of games together. “It will be nice to see him again so soon after he left, but we are professionals. When the game starts, friendships go out of the window. We want to win. “After the game, we can start being friends again. During the game, though, we are not friends.” The Italians will hope for a positive start to the campaign as they attempt to bounce back from Saturday’s 5-1 derby mauling by Inter, the side which dumped them out of the Champions League last season. Tomori was a frustrated by-stander at the weekend as he sat out through suspension following his red card in the 2-1 win at Roma before the international break and is determined to make up for lost time after witnessing a horror show in the wake of three successive league wins. He said: “I was disappointed not to have been able to help my team-mates on the pitch. Watching the match on TV is tough, you can’t help the team. “Tomorrow I’ll be on the pitch, I hope. We’ll try to win and start the group well.” Milan, who received a visit from former player Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Monday morning as they finalised their preparations for the game, are expecting an all-action approach from the Magpies on their return to the competition after a gap of 20 years. Eddie Howe’s men warmed up for the trip to Italy with a narrow 1-0 Premier League win over Brentford, and the Rossoneri are in little doubt as to what will lie ahead. Boss Stefano Pioli said: “[Newcastle] seem like a classic English team to me with physicality, pressure and intensity. “They are very tall and dangerous on the dead ball, without neglecting their quality.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Attacking play and big-game wins – Roberto De Zerbi’s first year at Brighton Paul Collingwood backs Zak Crawley to excel in role of England captain Pep Guardiola challenges Man City to win back-to-back Champions League titles
2023-09-18 22:56
Attacking play and big-game wins – Roberto De Zerbi’s first year at Brighton
The eyebrows that were raised when Brighton replaced Graham Potter with Roberto De Zerbi have been put firmly in their place over the last 12 months. It was on September 18 a year ago, only 10 days after Potter’s departure for Chelsea, that the Seagulls announced their new boss would be a little-known Italian. Brighton chairman Tony Bloom had identified De Zerbi as his next managerial target some time before after being impressed by his work in Italy with Benevento and Sassuolo, which then continued when he moved to Shakhtar Donetsk. Arriving at Brighton with little English and big boots to fill, it was perhaps not surprising it was seen as a risky move but the only question now is how long the Seagulls will be able to hang onto him. De Zerbi did not win any of his first five games in charge but thumped Potter’s Chelsea 4-1 for his maiden victory and did not look back. Premier League highlights included the double over Chelsea and wins over Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal while they also beat Liverpool during a run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup that only ended with a penalty shoot-out loss to United. Brighton eventually finished sixth, securing European football for the first time in the club’s history with a place in the Europa League. And they have picked up where they left off this season, winning four of their opening five matches, including back-to-back 3-1 wins over Newcastle and Manchester United. That is despite again selling a number of their star performers, with Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez heading to Chelsea and Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool. Selling on players and reinvesting the money in potential stars of the future is central to the Brighton model. Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma, Leandro Trossard, Ben White and Dan Burn have all departed the Amex Stadium for bigger Premier League names in recent seasons while the likes of Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson are sure to be on many wishlists. The no-nonsense De Zerbi has clearly had a big impact on the players he has worked with, and Lewis Dunk opened up on the Italian’s methods after regaining his place in the England squad. “Football-wise, since the new manager at Brighton has come in I see football in a completely different way, I picture it in a different way and that is the biggest thing,” he said earlier this month. “Football is not what I thought it was. Just how we play now. The idea of what I did before, I thought it made sense. But when you learn something completely different, you believe in it and this makes sense. “You think, ‘Why didn’t I know this?’ and, ‘Why didn’t I do this before?’ “(I) know every position on the pitch and where they should be. The time they should move and what angles they should give. We see it every day and it makes life simpler.” That attention to detail and precision is at the heart of De Zerbi’s footballing philosophy, with Brighton widely praised for their attacking panache and high-energy game. Balancing trying to take another step forward in the Premier League this season with the demands of European football is a new challenge for De Zerbi but, based on the last 12 months, it would be no surprise if he found the right formula. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Paul Collingwood backs Zak Crawley to excel in role of England captain Pep Guardiola challenges Man City to win back-to-back Champions League titles Conor Murray: Ireland squad in ‘unbelievable nick’ ahead of South Africa clash
2023-09-18 22:50
Pep Guardiola challenges Man City to win back-to-back Champions League titles
Pep Guardiola has challenged his Manchester City side to achieve something special and win back-to-back Champions League titles. The treble winners begin the defence of their European crown as they host Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. City finally put years of near-misses behind them to win the competition for the first time last season but, while Guardiola is proud of their achievements, he feels their mission is not yet over. The City manager said at a press conference: “I’d like to say that for our club to win the Champions League is incredible – the first time in our history – but, in perspective, how many teams have won the Champions League once? “A lot have won two, three, four, five. In perspective, we did nothing special. It’s just one. “Let’s go. Let’s try to win tomorrow against a team so aggressive, so fast up front.” Guardiola is viewing the challenge as nothing different to past seasons, although he accepts the pressure of trying to defend the trophy will be easier than when trying to win it for the first time. “It’s most difficult to win the first one,” he said. “But every season we start the competition in the first game with the target to win the first game, then the group stage, then try to win the Champions League. Nothing changes from before. “The same for Red Star tomorrow. It depends on our performance and our level. “We’re incredibly happy to defend this crown but this competition doesn’t allow you mistakes. “But always we were so strong at home, nine points from nine. When that happens you can win just one game away and you qualify. Tomorrow is the first step.” City reached the European summit, and capped a glorious treble, when they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the final in Istanbul in June. Yet the club have not sat back and dwelt on their success, adding the UEFA Super Cup and starting the new Premier League campaign with five successive wins. Guardiola admits he has not even watched back the final, which was won with a single goal from Rodri. He said: “People say we won it and it’s done. It’s not done. They’re happy, we’re happy. Every time we come here, people take pictures with the four trophies. “That makes us so happy, you cannot deny, but if I wanted to live for the memories I wouldn’t be here. I’d be at home or on a beach. “I didn’t watch the game, no. Not at all. The competition gives us a new challenge so let’s at least try – and I don’t have any doubt we will try.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Conor Murray: Ireland squad in ‘unbelievable nick’ ahead of South Africa clash Eddie Jones says Australia ‘under the pump’ heading into crunch Wales showdown Scotland step up preparations ahead of second World Cup match with Tonga
2023-09-18 22:24
3 possible starting lineups for Thunder next season
The Oklahoma City Thunder are transitioning out of their rebuilding phase, and have a roster full of talent and versatility for the 2023-24 NBA season. There are a lot of different ways they can line up to start games.
2023-09-18 22:21