Predicting UEFA Champions League 2022/23 group stage

Catch up on the latest previews and stats from UEFA Champions League 2022/23 groups

Real Madrid beginning their defence of the trophy and the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain starting to trace their routes to potential glory. Liverpool were drawn in a testing Champions League group as they attempt to move on from defeat in last season’s final, while Robert Lewandowski will be sure to grab the headlines when he suits up for Barcelona against his former side Bayern Munich, in the group of death.

Here is what to expect in Groups A-H:

Liverpool’s flirtation with a historic quadruple last season feels a distant memory after a rocky start this term, not helped by a string of injuries. Jurgen Klopp has guided the Reds to three of the past five Champions League finals, but only once come away with the trophy – twice losing to Real Madrid.

Ajax are going through a period of transition after the departure of Erik ten Hag to Manchester United and the habitual loss of key players. Napoli made a run at the Serie A title before fading badly down the stretch, but in Victor Osimhen they have one of the game’s most exciting young attackers.

Rangers are back at this stage for the first time in 12 years, having climbed back from the Scottish fourth tier after going into liquidation.

Porto and Atletico Madrid do battle for the second year running, with the Portuguese champions embarking on their 25th group stage campaign – second only to Real Madrid and Barcelona (26). Sergio Conceicao has led Porto to three Portuguese titles in five years, while Diego Simeone is into his second decade at the helm of Atletico.

Bayer Leverkusen scored a club-record 80 goals to finish third in the Bundesliga last season, but they currently find themselves rooted to the bottom without a point through three games of this campaign.