Champions League Group B Preview, Prediction & Odds

We have a Champions League Group B preview for you plus a prediction and betting odds after the draw was made for this year’s competition.

Teams in Champions League Group B 2023/24

Sevilla

Arsenal

PSV

Lens

Champions League Group B Betting Odds

Champions League Group B Preview

Sevilla

The Europa League specialists return following their (you guessed it) 22/23 Europa League success. They beat Roma in the final on penalties to secure that latest Europa League title.

Last season, they started their European journey in the Champions League before being eliminated to the Europa League following a third-place finish in a group with Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen.

Despite their Europa League success the club were disappointed with their 12^th place finish in the league last season. As a result the summer pre-season was always going to be crucial.

The Andalucians on the surface have recruited shrewdly with the likes of Loic Baldé, Boubakary Soumaré, Mariano Diaz and the headline homecoming of Sergio Ramos (three of those coming in the last week of the transfer market). The only major loss from their squad last season is Gonzalo Montiel who is on loan to Nottingham Forrest.

It’ll be interesting to see how Sevilla do this season and with them losing their first three La Liga games the league could be a struggle against this season as they sit bottom of the table. It isn’t out of the question they are consigned to the Europa again with a third placed finish in Group B. However, I think the recent additions will bring on the team a lot.

Sevilla are 66/1 to win the tournament, 4/1 to win Group B and 10/11 to qualify out of the group stage.

Arsenal

The strong favourites to win Group B of this year’s Champions League are Arsenal at odds of 8/15.

Arsenal are returning to the Champions League this season following their surprise second-place league finish under Mikel Arteta last season in the Premier League. This means that The Gunners will return to the competition for the first time since their 16/17 season appearance when they were eliminated at the Round of 16 stage by Bayern Munich.

Arsenal have gone big with their recruitment this summer spending roughly £208.6 million (excluding undisclosed figures) on Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice. Their squad is considerably stronger than last season with the only real departure being Granit Xhaka.

With that said, it remains to be seen how Arteta will choose to prioritise the different competitions this year after pretty much-abandoning cup competitions last year for their league title “challenge”.

Arsenal are 10/1 to win the 2023/24 Champions League, 8/15  to win Group B and 1/6  to qualify out of the group stage.

PSV

The club initially qualified for the Champions League third qualifying round following their second-place Eredivisie finish last season. In that competition they came seven points back of winners Feyenoord.

They won their first leg against Sturm Cruz 4-1 and their second leg 1-3 to overcome them comfortably 2-7 on aggregate. The dutch outfit then faced Rangers in the playoff round (who eliminated them at the same stage last year). Following a 2-2 first-leg draw they demolished them 5-1 in the second leg to avenge last year’s defeat and qualify for the Champions League Group Stage.

It has been almost a one-in and one-out policy at PSV during the summer with seven coming in and six leaving the club. Unfortunately, their top-scorer from last season Xavi Simons (22 in all competitions) returns to PSG for just €6,000,000 following them using the clause in his contract.

Ibrahim Sangaré has gone to Southampton for €30,000,000. The club seem to have strengthened though particularly with Sergio Dest from Barcelona and the return of Hirving Lozano from Napoli.

They can be gotten at 200/1 to win the competition, 5/1 to win Group B and 6/4 to qualify out of the group stage.

Lens

Lens’s heroics last season almost brought them to a shock Ligue 1 victory. Unfortunately from their point of view they were pipped at the post after finishing a point behind PSG. However, their season this year has started poorly with one point earned from their opening four league games.

While plenty of clubs have improved during the summer, it remains to be seen what Lens has done as a club following their shock season last year (their league results would suggest a regression).

They’ve lost their top scorer from last year with Lois Openda (21 goals) going to RB Leipzig for €43,000,000 and Seko Fofana going to Al Nassr for €19,000,000. It’ll be interesting to see if Elye Wahi €30,000,000 from Montpellier and Andy Diouf €15,000,000 from Basel fill that void.

Lens are 150/1 to win the tournament, 7/1 to win Group B and 13/8 to qualify out of the group stage.

Game of the Group

3^rd October – PSV vs Sevilla

Player to Watch

Boubakary Soumaré (24) has joined the club on loan from Leicester City in recent days following plenty of interest across Europe. Soumaré is an excellent midfielder who is a product of the PSG Academy.

If Sevilla are to get out of this group and turn their season around his performances will be key.

Champions League Group B Prediction

Arsenal should have enough to top this group, but I am expecting a blood bath for the remaining qualifying spot. I have a sneaky suspicion that PSV sneak in and Sevilla inevitably return to the Europa League for another go.

1st – Arsenal

2nd – PSV

3rd – Sevilla

4th – Lens

2023-24 Champions League Format

This is the final season of the Champions League as we know it, with a new format coming for the 23/24 season, which we have previewed here.

Click Below For All Our 2023/24 Champions League Group B Odds

*Prices Subject To Fluctuation

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