Now that the Champions League group stage is complete, let's review what we can expect from the knockout stages of this year's competition, and discover how you can support your team in style with matchday hospitality.
This year's Champions League group stage was one to remember, and now with the Round of 16 draw complete and the quarter finals on the horizon, we can start looking ahead to what comes next.
Here is the rundown of the Champions League 2023-24 competition, what we know so far, and how you can secure guaranteed premium matchday seats for the Premier League sides’ group stage home games through Seat Unique.
Buy Arsenal v Bayern hospitalityRegister your interest for Manchester City v Real MadridBuy Paris Saint-Germain v FC BarcelonaBuy Atlético Madrid v Borussia DortmundChampions League Knockout Stages
The Champions League group stage ran from the 19th of September to the 13th of December 2023.
Here are the teams who finished first and second in their group, and as such went through to the Round of 16:
Group A
In Group A, the teams contending were Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, and Galatasaray.
Bayern Munich asserted their dominance, finishing at the top of the group. FC Copenhagen secured their passage to the next stage by confirming their progress on the final matchday of the group stages.
Group B
In Group B, the teams in contention were Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RC Lens, and Sevilla. Arsenal exhibited their quality throughout the group stage, securing the top position.
Meanwhile, the battle for the second spot was closely contested between PSV Eindhoven and RC Lens. In a tight competition, PSV Eindhoven managed to secure qualification for the last 16 by beating RC Lens by a single point, finishing in second place.
Group C
In Group C, the competing teams were Real Madrid, Napoli, Sporting Braga, and Union Berlin. The European football powerhouse, Real Madrid, showcased their dominance by winning all six games in the group stage, securing the top spot, and finishing as group winners.
Napoli, with a commendable performance, claimed the second spot in the group by winning three out of their six games. The group witnessed strong performances from Real Madrid and Napoli, earning them well-deserved positions for advancement to the next stage of the competition.
Group D
Group D featured a competitive lineup with Real Sociedad, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, and SL Benfica. Despite Inter Milan being considered the favourites to top the group, Real Sociedad emerged as the group winners.
Both Inter Milan and Real Sociedad finished with 12 points each, but Real Sociedad secured the top spot based on goal difference across the six games in the group stage.
The tight competition and the importance of goal difference highlighted the intensity of the matches in Group D, ultimately determining the final standings and paving the way for Real Sociedad to advance as group leaders with Inter Milan progressing in the runner-up spot.
Group E
In Group E, the competing teams were Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Feyenoord, and Celtic. Atletico Madrid, showcasing their seasoned experience in the Champions League, comfortably claimed the top position in the group.
Meanwhile, Lazio, based in Rome, emerged as the group runners-up, becoming the third Italian side to progress to the next stage.
Group F
Group F, dubbed 'the group of death' before the commencement of the group stage, lived up to its billing with four formidable teams competing. The group featured European giants Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund, with the long-awaited return of Newcastle United to the Champions League.
The high level of competition was evident throughout the group stage, and heading into the final matchday, all four teams still had a chance to qualify for the knockout stage. In the end, Borussia Dortmund emerged as the group leaders, showcasing their strength.
Paris Saint-Germain managed to secure their spot in the round of 16 by finishing in second place, solidifying the intensity and unpredictability of 'the group of death.' The competitive nature of the group highlighted the caliber of teams involved, making it a captivating spectacle for football fans.
Group G
Group G featured Manchester City, Red Bull Leipzig, Young Boys, and Crvena Zvezda.
The group witnessed no surprises as the current Champions League holders, Manchester City, demonstrated their quality and secured the top position, finishing as group winners.
Red Bull Leipzig also displayed strong performances, comfortably clinching second place in the group.
Group H
In Group H, the teams in contention were FC Barcelona, FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Royal Antwerp.
While Shakhtar Donetsk put in spirited performances, including a notable victory over FC Barcelona, it was not enough to disrupt the anticipated outcome for the two sides expected to advance in FC Barcelona and FC Porto.
The five-time Champions League winners, FC Barcelona, showcased their experience and quality, securing the top position in the group and advancing as group winners. Meanwhile, the Portuguese outfit, FC Porto, claimed the second spot, confirming their progression to the next stage of the competition.
Which teams have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages?
Following the conclusion of the group stages, the Champions League Round of 16 draw took place on the 18th of December 2023.
Round of 16 ties ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/N3xvSSNw1w
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 18, 2023
There will also be another draw after the Round of 16 which will determine the paths for the remaining eight teams at this point through the Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Final. This draw will happen on the 15th of March 2024.
Champions League Round of 16 Matches
The Round of 16 draw threw up some interesting matches for the first knockout round, in particular tough draws for all 4 Spanish sides.
Here is the full list of matchups:
- FC Porto v Arsenal
- Napoli v FC Barcelona
- Paris Saint-Germain v Real Sociedad
- Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid
- PSV Eindhoven v Borussia Dortmund
- Lazio v Bayern Munich
- FC Copenhagen v Manchester City
- Red Bull Leipzig v Real Madrid
Champions League Knockout Stages Dates
The dates of the three knockout stages before the final will go as such:
Round of 16
- First Leg = 13th/14th of February 2024
- Second Leg = 20th/22nd of February 2024
Quarter-finals - First Leg = 9th/10th of April 2024
- Second Leg = 16th/17th of April 2024
Semi-finals - First Leg = 30th of April/1st of May 2024
- Second Leg = 7th/8th of May 2024
With the conclusion of the Semi-finals on the 8th of May, there will be just the two teams left who will be going on to the Champions League Final.
Champions League Quarter Final Draw 2024
Three teams from Spain, two each from England and Germany, and one from France have secured their places in the last eight of this season's competition.
Quarter-final draw:
- Arsenal (ENG) v Bayern (GER)
- Atlético de Madrid (ESP) v Dortmund (GER)
- Real Madrid (ESP) v Manchester City (ENG)
- Paris (FRA) v Barcelona (ESP)
Semi-final draw
- Atlético / Dortmund vs Paris / Barcelona
- Arsenal / Bayern vs Real Madrid / Man City
When is the Champions League Final in 2024?
The Champions League Final will take place on the 1st of June 2024.
BREAKING: The 2023 Champions League final is to be held at Wembley Stadium.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 24, 2019
The final signifies the end of the European domestic football season, as all leagues, domestic cup finals, and two other UEFA competitions will have concluded already by this point, leaving just the Champions League to be played.
Who is hosting the Champions League Final in 2024?
The venue for this year's Champions League Final will be Wembley Stadium in London, UK. It is the largest-capacity stadium in the country at roughly 90,000.
This will be Wembley’s third time hosting the Champions League Final, having previously hosted it in 2011 and 2013 since the new Wembley was built in 2007 (barring some unforeseen circumstance). The 2013 Champions League Final was an all-German affair with Bayern Munich taking on Borussia Dortmund.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA4ChhQ38GQ
The final saw the home of football packed out for domestic football’s biggest game of the season.
Champions League Hospitality Packages
Discover a world of unrivalled sports experiences with Seat Unique. As your go-to destination for official hospitality tickets, we provide access to a wide range of sporting events, including the prestigious Champions League.
Elevate your matchday experience with matchday hospitality, available for both Manchester City and Arsenal's highly anticipated Champions League fixtures.
Click below to secure these sought-after tickets. Experience the thrill of Champions League football like never before with Seat Unique!
Buy Arsenal v Bayern MunichRegister your interest for Manchester City v Real MadridBuy Paris Saint-Germain v FC BarcelonaBuy Atlético Madrid v Borussia DortmundIf you'd like to know more about how things are going in the Europa League and Europa Conference League, check out our blogs on them.
Comments