It only feels like a few weeks ago that Ilkay Gundogan was lifting the Champions League trophy for Manchester City and yet here we are, back again with European football's premier club competition about to kick into gear.
This will be the 69th season of the tournament formerly known as the European Cup but the 32nd year in its current Champions League format.
It will be the final one with the current format of 32 teams participating in group-stage section before its expansion next season.
Here is everything you need to know.
What is it?
The Uefa Champions League is the annual competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations – Uefa – and contested by top-division European clubs.
The group stage is contested by 32 teams consisting of eight groups of four who play each other in a round-robin format and look to qualify for the two-legged knockout phase.
When is it?
The first round of matches kick off on September 19 with the final games taking place on December 13. The knockout stages begin on February 13, 2024, while the final, being held at London's Wembley Stadium, is scheduled for June 1.
Who is playing?
GROUP A Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen, Bayern Munich, Manchester United.
GROUP B Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla, Lens.
GROUP C Real Madrid, Union Berlin, Sporting Braga, Napoli.
GROUP D Benfica, Red Bull Salzburg, Real Sociedad, Inter Milan.
GROUP E Feyenoord, Celtic, Lazio, Atletico Madrid.
GROUP F AC Milan, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund.
GROUP G Young Boys, RB Leipzig, Manchester City, Red Star Belgrade.
GROUP H Barcelona, Royal Antwerp, Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Porto.
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Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses for a picture with the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
A supporter of Inter Milan reacts after InterMilan's defeat against Manchester City at the Piazza Castello (Castello's square) fanzone in Milan after the UEFA Champions League final. AFP -
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland, wrapped in the Norwegian flag, celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League. AFP -
Manchester City's English midfielder #10 Jack Grealish celebrates with his girlfriend and relatives after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's players pose with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland wavers t the fans as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan kisses the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish midfielder #16 Rodri bites the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the winners' medal after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper #31 Ederson kisses the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP -
UEFA President President Aleksander Ceferin (R) presents the European Cup trophy to Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan after their win in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) celebrates with Manchester City's Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak after the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Portuguese defender #3 Ruben Dias (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
TOPSHOT - Manchester City's English midfielder #4 Kalvin Phillips celebrates at the final whistle after they won the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) -
Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez reacts to their defeat in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
TOPSHOT - Manchester City's English midfielder #47 Phil Foden (L) and Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. Manchester City won the match 1-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) -
Manchester City players celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Ferran Soriano, Manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City, celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images -
Manchester City's English defender #5 John Stones celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images -
Sergio Gomez of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images -
Manchester City player Kevin de Bruyne, his wife Michele de Bruyne and two of their children pose with the trophy after the team won the UEFA Champions League Final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. EPA -
Ilkay Guendogan of Manchester City lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images -
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola kisses the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. AP -
Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images -
Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker slides as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP -
Manchester City's Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP -
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is greeted by fans as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League final soccer match where Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. AP -
Manchester City players and staff celebrate with the Champions League trophy after their win over Inter Milan in the final on Saturday. Getty -
Rodri of Manchester City celebrates after scoring what turned out to be the match-winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Getty -
Inter Milan players look dejected after defeat in the Champions League final. Getty -
Manchester City's Rodri scores the opening goal past Inter Milan's Andre Onana in Istanbul. Reuters -
Rodri after scoring the opening goal for Manchester City. Getty -
Manchester City's Erling Haaland speaks to manager Pep Guardiola in Istanbul. Getty -
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland watches as Inter Milan's Francesco Acerbi heads the ball clear. AFP -
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne receives treatment during the match. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne leaves the pitch after being substituted due to injury. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne is consoled by Erling Haaland. Getty -
Jack Grealish of Manchester City and Denzel Dumfries of Inter fight for the ball. EPA -
Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco vies for the ball with Manchester City's Rodri. AP
Who qualifies for knockout stage?
There will be 16 teams who qualify for the round of 16: the eight group winners and eight runners-up. The eight teams who finish third in the table drop down to the Europa League, while the bottom eight sides see their European adventure come to an end this season.
How much is the prize money?
Reaching the group stage €15.64 million
Group stage wins €2.8 million each
Group stage draws €960,000
Round of 16 €9.6 million
Quarter-finalists €10.6 million
Semi-finalists €12.5 million
Runners-up €15.5 million
Champions €20 million
Who are the current title holders?
English side Manchester City are the reigning champions after they defeated Italian club Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul thanks to Rodri's second-half goal.
Where can you watch the games?
The Champions League is being broadcast in the UAE and throughout the Mena region on beIN Sports.
Fixture list
GROUP A
Wednesday, September 20
Galatasaray v FC Copenhagen (8:45pm) / Bayern Munich v Manchester United (11pm)
Tuesday, October 3
FC Copenhagen v Bayern Munich (11pm) / Manchester United v Galatasaray (11pm)
Tuesday, October 24
Galatasaray v Bayern Munich (8:45pm) / Manchester United v FC Copenhagen (11pm)
Wednesday, November 8
Bayern Munich v Galatasaray (midnight) / FC Copenhagen v Manchester United (midnight)
Wednesday, November 29
Galatasaray v Manchester United (9.45pm) / Bayern Munich v FC Copenhagen (midnight)
Tuesday, December 12
FC Copenhagen v Galatasaray (midnight) / Manchester United v Bayern Munich (midnight)
GROUP B
Wednesday, September 20
Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven (11pm) / Sevilla v Lens (11pm)
Tuesday, October 3
Lens v Arsenal (11pm) / PSV Eindhoven v Sevilla (11pm)
Tuesday, October 24
Lens v PSV Eindhoven (11pm) / Sevilla v Arsenal (11pm)
Wednesday, November 8
Arsenal v Sevilla (midnight) / PSV Eindhoven v Lens (midnight)
Wednesday, November 29
Sevilla v PSV Eindhoven (9.45pm) / Arsenal v Lens (midnight)
Tuesday, December 12
Lens v Sevilla (9.45pm) / PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal (9.45pm)
GROUP C
Wednesday, September 20
Real Madrid v Union Berlin (8:45pm) / Sporting Braga v Napoli (11pm)
Tuesday, October 3
Union Berlin v Sporting Braga (8:45pm) / Napoli v Real Madrid (11pm)
Tuesday, October 24
Union Berlin v Napoli (11pm) / Sporting Braga v Real Madrid (11pm)
Wednesday, November 8
Napoli v Union Berlin (9.45pm) / Real Madrid v Sporting Braga (midnight)
Wednesday, November 29
Real Madrid v Napoli (midnight) / Sporting Braga v Union Berlin (midnight)
Tuesday, December 12
Union Berlin v Real Madrid (midnight) / Napoli v Sporting Braga (midnight)
GROUP D
Wednesday, September 20
Benfica v Red Bull Salzburg (11pm) / Real Sociedad v Inter Milan (11pm)
Tuesday, October 3
Red Bull Salzburg v Real Sociedad (8.45pm) / Inter Milan v Benfica (11pm)
Tuesday, October 24
Inter Milan v Red Bull Salzburg (8.45pm) / Benfica v Real Sociedad (11pm)
Wednesday, November 8
Real Sociedad v Benfica (9.45pm) / Red Bull Salzburg Inter Milan (midnight)
Wednesday, November 29
Benfica v Inter Milan (midnight) / Real Sociedad v Red Bull Salzburg (midnight)
Tuesday, December 12
Red Bull Salzburg v Benfica (midnight) / Inter Milan v Real Sociedad (midnight)
GROUP E
Tuesday, September 19
Feyenoord v Celtic (11pm) / Lazio v Atletico Madrid (11pm)
Wednesday, October 4
Atletico Madrid v Feyenoord (8.45pm) / Celtic v Lazio (11pm)
Wednesday, October 25
Feyenoord v Lazio (8.45pm) / Celtic v Atletico Madrid (11pm)
Tuesday, November 7
Atletico Madrid v Celtic (midnight) / Lazio v Feyenoord (midnight)
Tuesday, November 28
Lazio v Celtic (9.45pm) / Feyenoord v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Wednesday, December 13
Atletico Madrid v Lazio (11pm) / Celtic v Feyenoord (midnight)
GROUP F
Tuesday, September 19
AC Milan v Newcastle United (8.45pm) / Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund (11pm)
Wednesday, October 4
Borussia Dortmund v AC Milan (11pm) / Newcastle United v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Wednesday, October 25
Newcastle United v Borussia Dortmund (11pm) / Paris Saint-Germain v AC Milan (11pm)
Tuesday, November 7
Borussia Dortmund v Newcastle United (9.45pm) / AC Milan v Paris Saint-Germain (midnight)
Tuesday, November 28
AC Milan v Borussia Dortmund (midnight) / Paris Saint-Germain v Newcastle United (midnight)
Wednesday, December 13
Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain (midnight) / Newcastle United v AC Milan (midnight)
GROUP G
Tuesday, September 19
Young Boys v RB Leipzig (8.45pm) / Manchester City v Red Star Belgrade (11pm)
Wednesday, October 4
Red Star Belgrade v Young Boys (11pm) / RB Leipzig v Manchester City (11pm)
Wednesday, October 25
RB Leipzig v Red Star Belgrade (11pm) / Young Boys v Manchester City (11pm)
Tuesday, November 7
Red Star Belgrade v RB Leipzig (11pm) / Manchester City v Young Boys (11pm)
Tuesday, November 28
Manchester City v RB Leipzig (11pm) / Young Boys v Red Star Belgrade (11pm)
Wednesday, December 13
Red Star Belgrade v Manchester City (9.45pm) v RB Leipzig v Young Boys (9.45pm)
GROUP H
Tuesday, September 19
Barcelona v Royal Antwerp (11pm) / Shakhtar Donetsk v FC Porto (11pm)
Wednesday, October 4
Royal Antwerp v Shakhtar Donetsk (8.45pm) / FC Porto v Barcelona (11pm)
Wednesday, October 25
Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk (8.45pm) / Royal Antwerp v FC Porto (11pm)
Tuesday, November 7
Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona (9.45pm) / FC Porto v Royal Antwerp (midnight)
Tuesday, November 28
Shakhtar Donetsk v Royal Antwerp (9.45pm) / Barcelona v FC Porto (midnight)
Wednesday, December 13
FC Porto v Shakhtar Donetsk (midnight) / Royal Antwerp v Barcelona (midnight)
