The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage draw was made on Thursday, 25th of August 2022 at the Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey.
The biggest clubs across the top European leagues are set to compete for the top continental prize and they will start their journey with the group stage which is set to begin on the 6th of September 2022.
The final match of the 2022/23 Champions League final will be played on the 10th of June 2023 at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
The draw
In Group A, Dutch champions Ajax will play against Liverpool, Napoli and Rangers.
While Group B features FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Leverkusen and Belgian champions, Club Brugge.
Group C is the “Group of Death” where Bayern Munich will be up against Barcelona, Inter Milan and Czech Republic champions, Viktoria Plzen.
As for Group D, last season’s Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt have been drawn against Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille.
Group E sees Serie A champions AC Milan pitted against Chelsea, RB Salzburg and Croatian side Dynamo Zagreb.
In Group F Champions League holders Real Madrid will face RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic.
Group G features English champions Manchester City against Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Danish giants, Copenhagen.
In Group H, PSG will slug it out against Juventus, Benfica and Israeli side, Maccabi Haifa.
In this article, FootballOrbit looks at the winners and losers from the draw.
WINNERS: LIVERPOOL
Liverpool have had a nightmare start to the new season with several of their key players injured, the club struggling with the departure of Sadio Mane and haven’t won any of their league matches this season.
With an injury-depleted squad, Jurgen Klopp will have been praying to get an easy draw in the UEFA Champions League and his wish got granted when Liverpool got drawn against Ajax, Napoli and Rangers.
LOSERS: BARCELONA
Barcelona have been struggling since the departure of Lionel Messi last season coupled with their financial crisis.
The club embarrassingly crashed out of the group stage last season and will be hoping to avoid a repeat this time around.
But their task has been made more difficult after being drawn in the “Group of Death” that comprises of giants Bayern Munich and Inter Milan alongside Viktoria Plzen.
WINNER: ANTONIO CONTE
Antonio Conte has been doing pretty well since his appointment as Tottenham manager last season. Despite the club’s struggles before his arrival, the Italian managed to guide Spurs to secure Champions League qualification.
Conte — who doesn’t have a good record in European competitions — will be very relieved to see Tottenham drawn against Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille.
LOSERS: VIKTORIA PLZEN
Czech Republic side Viktoria Plzen last reached the Champions League group stage in 2018/19 but their return to the big stage couldn’t have been more worse as they got drawn in the “Group of Death” that contains heavyweights Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter Milan.
WINNERS: CHELSEA
2021 Champions League winners Chelsea have been struggling since the end of the last season majorly due to the effect of the Russian-Ukraine war, that saw Roman Abramovich stripped of ownership of the club.
The Blues have not had the best start to the new season, losing 3-0 to Leeds United in their last match.
Chelsea will be happy to have avoided the heavyweight clubs in their group, where they will face AC Milan, RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
LOSERS: MACCABI HAIFA
Israeli side side Maccabi Haifa return to the Champions League group stage after a 12 year absence — last appearing in 2009/10.
But their return has seen them handed an extremely tough group where they will face PSG, Juventus and last season’s quarterfinalists, Benfica.
WINNERS: REAL MADRID
Real Madrid won the trophy last season in dramatic style; defeating PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in the round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal and final respectively.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been handed a favourable group stage draw in their quest to defend their crown as they face RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and
Celtic in group F.
LOSERS: COPENHAGEN
Champions of Denmark, Copenhagen, last played in the Champions League group stage 5 years ago (2016/17). Their return to the competition as seen them handed a very tough draw in group G alongside Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund.
WINNERS: All the teams in Group B
Group B features Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Leverkusen and Club Brugge. All the team will be confident of progressing to the knockout stages.
