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Manchester United to face Bayern Munich away in opening Champions League game

Man United to face Bayern away in opening Champions League game
© Reuters
Manchester United will meet Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in their opening Champions League group-stage fixture, while Newcastle United are away to AC Milan.

Manchester United will kick off their quest for Champions League glory away to Bayern Munich in Group A.

The German champions were the first team drawn out of the pots before being joined in the section by Man United, who have been familiar foes to the Bavarians over the past few decades.

The 2023-24 season will see Man United and Bayern lock horns 24 years on from the Red Devils' infamous victory in the 1999 final, prior to which they had played out two draws in the group stage.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson led Man United to European glory in 1999, they have pitted their wits against Bayern on another eight occasions, most recently losing 4-2 on aggregate in the 2013-14 quarter-finals.

A 3-1 second-leg loss at the Allianz Arena ended Man United's hopes of reaching the semi-finals, but Erik ten Hag's crop of players will have the chance for vengeance when they meet the Bavarians in Munich on matchday one.

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and teammates celebrate on August 27, 2023© Reuters

The group-stage fixtures were confirmed on Saturday morning, and Man United face a trip to Bayern on September 20 in gameweek one, four days after a Premier League home game against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Ten Hag's team will then host Turkish giants Galatasaray at Old Trafford on October 3, three weeks before a Scandinavian sojourn to meet Danish champions Copenhagen on October 24.

The Red Devils' sixth and final group game sees Bayern travel to Old Trafford on December 12, while Newcastle United return to the top tier of European football in a tantalising group with AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

Milan are first up for Eddie Howe's side on September 19, as new signing Sandro Tonali returns to San Siro only a couple of months after leaving the Rossoneri for the Premier League.

The opening Champions League game at St James' Park in 2023-24 sees French champions PSG venture to the North East on October 4, exactly three weeks before Howe's men host Dortmund.

Sandro Tonali celebrates scoring for Newcastle United on August 12, 2023© Reuters

Meanwhile, defending champions Manchester City - who avoided a potentially troublesome draw in the group stage - will commence their title defence at home to Red Star Belgrade on September 19.

Matchweek two brings about arguably Man City's most challenging group encounter, as they travel to RB Leipzig away on October 4, before a visit to Swiss side Young Boys three weeks later.

Elsewhere, Arsenal - back in the Champions League following a seven-year exile - renew acquaintances with PSV Eindhoven on matchday one, only a year on from meeting the Dutch giants in the Europa League.

A trip to Lens awaits the Gunners in their first Champions League away match since 2017, before Mikel Arteta takes his side to Europa League winners Sevilla on the third matchday.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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