Champions League 2023/24: Will Man City defend the title?

Pep Guardiola. Erling Haaland. The Man City squad.

These are just three reasons why Man City can retain their UEFA Champions League title in 2023/24. Will they though? That is a question we wish we all knew the answer to. In that way we could throw our houses on them with the bookmakers and make use of the somewhat miserly odds on offer for the defending champions. 

Man City’s Biggest Competition

Although the Malaysian football team barely ever wins a game, football is huge in the country, with thousands of supporters of Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, all of which are competing in this years’ Champions League (source: https://www.basketballinsidersmalaysia1.com/online-gambling-sites/). But can any of them rival Man City?

Unfortunately, with the quality of some of the other teams in this year’s Champions League, it may be foolhardy to empty our bank accounts on the favourites at this early stage. The favourites? Yes, Man City are priced at 2/1 by most online sportsbooks. Of the other teams likely to compete for the title, the Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich (11/2), and La Liga’s Real Madrid (8/1) and Barcelona (14/1) catch the eye.

The Citizen’s English Premier League rivals Arsenal (10/1) and Man Utd (20/1) are also seeing money at the bookies. France’s Paris St-Germain (16/1), complete with a free-scoring Kylian Mbappé, and the top Italian sides should also never be discounted. 

The Groups

Let’s have a look at the teams contesting the eight Champions League groups and which teams are likely to progress to the second phase from each.

Group A

Bayern Munich should progress without any problems in a group also containing Man Utd, FC Copenhagen of Denmark, and Turkey’s Galatasaray. Man Utd should, on paper, provide their strongest opposition, but their Premier League form is sketchy at present. Neither Copenhagen nor Galatasaray can be written off – both have the capability to cause an upset.

Group B

This is a tough group to call, as all four sides have ability and come from major leagues in Europe. Europa League specialists Sevilla, EPL runners-up Arsenal and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven join French club Lens, who return to Europe’s premier competition after an absence of over two decades. Group B could well be regarded as one of two “groups of death” in this season’s Champions League.

Group C

Flamboyant Serie A winners Napoli should provide the sternest opposition to 14-time winners Real Madrid. With that being said, it’s hard to bet against the Spanish side topping the group. With 2023/24 being its third group stage appearance, Portuguese club Braga are Champions League veterans compared to Union Berlin, who makes its competition debut. 

Group D

Inter Milan, with a 100% record in Serie A to date, look to have the beating of Benfica, Salzburg and Real Sociadad in Group D. FC Benfica, holders of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, can never be written off though and should also qualify from the group. Real Sociadad are dangerous outsiders, though, and underestimating the La Liga team could leave one of the favoured teams found wanting.

Group E

Although champions of Scotland, Celtic will likely be underdogs in Group E as they take on Feyenoord, Lazio and Atlético Madrid. The Spanish club are favourites here, but second place isn’t easy to call. With Brendan Rodgers back in charge at Celtic, the Scots will not be easy to beat but then, neither will the Dutch champions. Lazio, at their best, can also beat anybody. A tough group to call.

Group F

Group F is definitely a “group of death” this season, along with Group B. Paris St-Germain will start as group favourites, but the French champions have flattered to deceive too often in the past. The door is definitely open for Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle, and AC Milan to upset the odds and top the group. If PSG fire though, there won’t be any stopping them. Any of these teams could qualify from Group F.

Group G

Man City are favourites to hold onto their Champions League crown, and if their group draw is anything to go by, it’s not surprising. Although a previous winner, Red Star Belgrade will battle to come through Group G, as will Swiss side Young Boys. City should win the group at a canter, with RB Leipzig joining them in the knockout stages.

Group H

Spanish champions Barcelona aren’t as well backed at the bookmakers as some may have thought. Despite this, they should hold too many guns for FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Antwerp of Belgium. Depending on what mood they’re in, Shakhtar can beat anybody but the upsets are too few and far between to rely on. Porto should provide the strongest resistance to the Spanish giants.