The UEFA Champions League draw largely fell in Manchester City's favor as the English giant faces a manageable path to the knockout stages in pursuit of a second straight European triumph.

Following Thursday's group-stage draw, City is joined by RB Leipzig, Crvena zvezda and BSC Young Boys in Group G. Star center-back Joško Gvardiol wiill get to face his old club on two occasions, having left RB Leipzig earlier this month.

Group F might generate the most excitement of the eight. Paris Saint-Germain is likely to come in first place, but you can see any one of Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan or Newcastle United punching a ticket to the round of 16.

2023-24 Champions League Groups

Group A

• Bayern Munich 
• Manchester United 
• FC Copenhagen
• Galatasaray
  

Group B

• Sevilla 
• Arsenal
• PSV
• Lens

Group C

• Napoli 
• Real Madrid 
• Braga
• Union Berlin

Group D

• Benfica 
• Inter Milan 
• Red Bull Salzburg 
• Real Sociedad

Group E

• Feyenoord 
• Atlético Madrid 
• Lazio
• Celtic

Group F

• Paris Saint-Germain 
• Borussia Dortmund 
• AC Milan 
• Newcastle United

Group G

• Manchester City 
• RB Leipzig 
• Crvena zvezda
• BSC Young Boys
  

Group H

• Barcelona 
• Porto 
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Royal Antwerp
  

2023-24 Champions League Schedule

Group Stage

• Matchday 1: Sept. 19/20, 2023 
• Matchday 2: Oct. 3/4, 2023 
• Matchday 3: Oct. 24/25, 2023
• Matchday 4: Nov. 7/8, 2023 
• Matchday 5: Nov. 28/29, 2023 
• Matchday 6: Dec. 12/13, 2023

Knockout Stages

• Round of 16: Feb. 13/14/20/21, 2024 and March 5/6/12/13, 2024 
• Quarterfinals: April 9/10 and 16/17, 2024 
• Semifinals: April 30/May 1, 2024 and May 7/8, 2024 
• Final: June 1, 2024

All of the usual suspects hover near the top of DraftKings Sportsbook's betting odds for the Champions League. Manchester City (+200) is the favorite followed by Bayern Munich (+500) and Real Madrid (+800).

Manchester City is the only club in the Premier League to open the new season with three straight wins. Its most recent victory, which came thanks to an 88th-minute goal by Rodri, has some wondering whether the title race is basically over already, such is the aura of inevitability that follows Pep Guardiola's squad.

But winning the Premier League alone may not be enough to qualify this campaign as a success if City fail to defend its European crown.

The same broadly applies to Bayern Munich, for which claiming the Bundesliga is all but rote after enjoying an 11th straight title in 2022-23. The club desperately covets a seventh European Cup, and the pressure might begin to build on manager Thomas Tuchel if he and his players struggle out of the gate in the group stage.

The Bavarians executed one of the biggest transfers of the summer when they signed Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, giving them the pure goalscorer they lacked after Robert Lewandowski joined Barcelona last year.

Kane already has three goals and an assist through two Bundelisga fixtures, and his presence is bound to pay big dividends in the Champions League.

For quite a few neutrals, Bayern Munich won't be the Bundesliga club that commands the most attention in the Champions League, however.

In 2019, Union Berlin earned promotion to Germany's top division for the first time ever. Now, it will be going toe to toe with the European elite. Union's rise is almost too storybook to believe.

To that end, supporters will relish the forthcoming matchups with Real Madrid, the most decorated club in Europe, and reigning Serie A champion Napoli. The fact that Union Berlin is a long shot to make any sort of deep run will be irrelevant.

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