The upcoming UEFA Champions League season in 2023-24 is poised to deliver an extraordinary spectacle for football enthusiasts worldwide.
Following Manchester City’s historic triumph in the 2022-23 season, clinching their maiden UCL title with a 1-0 victory over Internazionale, the stage is set for a captivating narrative: Can the Cityzens emulate the feat of Real Madrid and secure back-to-back Champions League trophies? Real Madrid’s remarkable three successive titles between 2016 and 2018 serve as a testament to the monumental challenge ahead. With the participation of Europe’s elite clubs, the quest for continental glory promises to be fiercely contested and filled with drama.
As the UEFA Champions League resumes this week following a two-month hiatus, anticipation is high for the first leg of the Last 16 ties, featuring eight prominent clubs in the competition.
Among the teams in action this week are the reigning champions, Manchester City, who embark on a journey to Denmark, and perennial contenders Real Madrid, who confront a challenging away fixture.
In this edition, we delve into the Opta supercomputer’s match predictions for all four of this week’s encounters, offering insights into the potential outcomes of these highly anticipated clashes.
As the Champions League knockout stage commences, Manchester City, set to clash with FC Copenhagen, emerge as the frontrunners to clinch the prestigious title, boasting a formidable 32.1% probability according to the Opta Predictor. With the final showdown slated for Wembley in June, Pep Guardiola’s squad carries a staggering 93.9% likelihood of advancing to the next round, surpassing all other contenders.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, with their illustrious history of 14 European titles, brace themselves for a formidable challenge against RB Leipzig, with their prospects of triumph in the first leg exceeding 40%.
In another fixture, Bayern Munich, led by Manuel Neuer, aim to carve their path to victory against Lazio on Wednesday, with Neuer eyeing the opportunity to equal a longstanding record set by Iker Casillas.
UEFA Champions League schedule 2023/2024
| Stage | Draw | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playoff Round | Aug. 7, 2023 | Aug. 22 & 23, 2023 | Aug. 29 & 30, 2023 |
| Group Stage | Aug. 31, 2023 | Sept. 19 & 20, 2023 Oct. 3 & 4, 2023 Oct. 24 & 25, 2023 Nov. 7 & 8, 2023 Nov. 28 & 29, 2023 Dec. 12 & 13, 2023 | |
| Round of 16 | Dec. 18, 2023 | Feb. 13-21, 2024 | Mar. 5-13, 2024 |
| Quarterfinals | Mar. 15, 2024 | Apr. 9 & 10, 2024 | Apr. 16 & 17, 2024 |
| Semifinals | Apr. 30 & May 1, 2024 | May 7 & 8, 2024 | |
| Final | June 1, 2024 |
UEFA Champions League knockout round schedule, matches
| Round of 16 | Fixture | Date — First Leg | Date — Second Leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Copenhagen vs Man City | Feb. 13, 2024 | Mar. 6, 2024 |
| 2 | RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid | Feb. 13, 2024 | Mar. 6, 2024 |
| 3 | Lazio vs Bayern Munich | Feb. 14, 2024 | Mar. 5, 2024 |
| 4 | PSG vs Real Sociedad | Feb. 14, 2024 | Mar. 5, 2024 |
| 5 | Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid | Feb. 20, 2024 | Mar. 13, 2024 |
| 6 | PSV vs Borussia Dortmund | Feb. 20, 2024 | Mar. 13, 2024 |
| 7 | FC Porto vs Arsenal | Feb. 21, 2024 | Mar. 12, 2024 |
| 8 | Napoli vs Barcelona | Feb. 21, 2024 | Mar. 12, 2024 |
Quarter-finals
| Fixture | Date — First Leg | Date — Second Leg |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | Apr. 9/10, 2024 | Apr. 16/17, 2024 |
| TBD vs. TBD | Apr. 9/10, 2024 | Apr. 16/17, 2024 |
| TBD vs. TBD | Apr. 9/10, 2024 | Apr. 16/17, 2024 |
| TBD vs. TBD | Apr. 9/10, 2024 | Apr. 16/17, 2024 |
Final
| Date | Time (local) | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. | TBD vs. TBD |
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich-Q | 16 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 | +6 |
| Copenhagen -Q | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Galatasaray-X | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 13 | -3 |
| Man United-E | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 15 | -3 |
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal-Q | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 4 | +12 |
| PSV-Q | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 |
| Lens-X | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | -5 |
| Sevilla-E | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 12 | -5 |