We outline the potential opponents Real Sociedad could face in the group stage of the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League.
Entering the new Champions League campaign, Real Sociedad aims to secure progression from the group stage and reach the knockout rounds for the first time since this century began. The San Sebastián club is back in Europe’s premier competition for the third time in the 21st century, and its goal is to show stronger performances on the continental stage, building on recent domestic success and attempting to translate it into sustained European form.
Guide to the 2023-2024 Champions League: when it starts, qualified teams, draws, format and calendar
Which teams would Real Sociedad’s possible rivals in the group stage of the 2023-2024 Champions League
Real Sociedad did not win the league title, the Champions League itself, or the Europa League, and its UEFA coefficient places it in a lower seed in the draw. This means the club entered Pot 4, affecting the range of opponents it could meet in the initial group phase. The arrangement reflects the broader structure of the draw, where teams from the same country and those from the higher pots are strategically separated to balance competition across groups and ensure variety in the matchups.
Teams that will not be in the same group as Real Sociedad
- Spanish rivals such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla are kept apart in the group stage due to national seeding rules.
- Also shielded from Real Sociedad in the group stage are Ligue 1 contenders Lens; Swiss champions Young Boys; Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray; Scottish champions Celtic; English clubs like Newcastle United; and German side Union Berlin, all of whom appear in Pot 4 or above, preventing early clashes with the Basque side.
Real Sociedad’s possible group stage rivals
- Pot 1 guests could include elite clubs such as Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Benfica, and Feyenoord, who typically occupy the top seeds in the draw due to their domestic success and UEFA coefficients.
- Pot 2 contains clubs like Manchester United, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Porto, and Arsenal, offering a mix of storied histories and recent competitiveness in European competition.
- Pot 3 features teams such as Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Bull Salzburg, AC Milan, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade, and SC Braga, providing potential tests with varying styles and European experience.