Top 10 matches to watch out for in Champions League 2023-24 Group stage

The Champions League is back with some thrilling encounters

The Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in European football, and the group stages are always full of exciting matchups. This year is no exception, with some truly mouth-watering clashes on the cards.

Yesterday's Champions League draw has again come up with fixtures nobody was expecting. Basically, Group F, is "the group of death" because Newcastle, Dortmund, AC Milan and PSG will face each other in the group stages of this year's competition.

Here are the potential best matches fans can watch in this year's Champions League:

10. Inter Milan vs Benfica

Benfica, the 2022-23 Primeira Liga champions, were the Pot 1 side pulled out by former Chelsea and England winger Joe Cole and quickly joined by Italian giants Inter. Both these sides met in the quarter-finals of the competition last season. Inter came out on top last time these two sides faced each other, Benfica and Inter are the two favourites to qualify for knockout stages from Group D. Benfica will look to take revenge for last year's loss against the Italian club.

9. Arsenal vs Sevilla

Arsenal's last Champions League qualification came on the back of finishing as runners-up behind Leicester City in the 2015-16 Premier League. Mikel Arteta has led them to the Champions League after six years without being a part of the competition. Sevilla, are the holders for the most Europa League titles ever won by a club. This will be a match to watch because of the managerial experience that both clubs possess.

8. Newcastle United vs PSG

The last time Newcastle finished in the top four was in May 2002 under Sir Bobby Robson and it is 11 years since they last qualified for Europe. PIF and Saudi's takeover has helped the club sign players they want and have finally qualified for the competition this season. PSG's two-star men have left the squad, it'll be interesting to see how they can cope with the challenges Newcastle bring forward in this clash of Saudi owners.

7. PSG vs AC Milan

PSG's attack will look a lot more different than the last two seasons. PSG have acquired Asensio and Kang-in Lee after some of their notable players in the position of midfield and wing have left the club this season. AC Milan qualified for the knockout stages last time around and with the additions of Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Dest they can give tough competition to the French champions.

6. Dortmund vs Newcastle United

This is the first time that the two teams will meet in the European competition. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in Germany, having won the Bundesliga eight times. They are also one of the most exciting teams to watch in Europe, with a young and talented squad. Newcastle are a newly-rich club who have spent heavily in the transfer market in recent years. They are hoping to make an impact in the Champions League this season.

5. AC Milan vs Newcastle United

This will be a homecoming for the former AC Milan player Tonali. Tonali was signed by Newcastle this summer transfer window which turned out to be a shocking revelation for the player. Newcastle will try to survive in the group of death and try to compete for the top two spots in the group or worst case finish third in the group of Europe's heavyweights to at least be in the Europa League. Each of the teams are going to face a tough challenge to win games against each other.

4. PSG vs Borussia Dortmund

The best matches to look out for have been covered by the teams participating in Group F. Another fixture to look at from that group is PSG going against Dortmund. Both the clubs have not enjoyed success in the competition, the German club has won the Champions League title, and PSG on the other hand has never won the title. This match will be very interesting to watch, the most recent meeting between the two teams was in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League round of 16, where PSG won 2-0 at home and 2-1 away to advance 4-1 on aggregate.

3. Dortmund vs AC Milan

Milan have won the Champions League seven times, they have also met each other in the Champions League on four previous occasions, with Milan winning three of those matches. Dortmund's former young talent Pulisic will get to play in front of one of the most loyal fans in the world and against his former teammates. The two teams that have made it to the group stages for seasons now will face the test to come out on top in this fixture.

2. Napoli vs Real Madrid

The Scudetto champions have been drawn into the group of the 14-time Champions League winner this season. The draw is in particular a special affair for Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti who managed Napoli before returning to Madrid for his second spell in charge. The two sides met six years ago and Madrid won the tie with an aggregate scoreline of 6-2.

1. Bayern Munich vs Manchester United

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Manchester United have been drawn in Group A of the Champions League 2023-24 season. In the last campaign, Bayern was knocked out by eventual champion Manchester City in the quarterfinal, while Man United played in the Europa League, losing to eventual champion Sevilla in the quarterfinal. Harry Kane, who was in talks with Manchester United all this while will go up Erik ten Hag's team in the group alongside FC Copenhagen of Denmark and Galatasaray of Turkey.