Champions League's deadliest 'Group of Death': What has happened so far?

The Champions League group stage often delivers thrilling encounters between elite teams, but rarely does a group present such an intimidating challenge from top to bottom as Group F in the 2023/24 edition of the showpiece event. Boasting the likes of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Newcastle, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, this group presents a formidable challenge from top to bottom.  

PSG, hailed as one of the strongest powerhouses in Pot 1, pose a significant threat with the likes of superstar Kylian Mbappe leading their charge. Dortmund, having fiercely contended for the German Bundesliga title last season, emerged as a formidable force in Pot 2.  

Milan, who reached the semifinals in the previous edition and clinched the Italian Serie A title two seasons ago, are clearly the most forbidding team among those in Pot 3. Furthermore, the emergence of Newcastle as an up-and-coming power in English football, placed in Pot 4, was bound to present challenges no matter where they ended up.  

The convergence of these factors has resulted in this year's "Group of Death," creating a perfect storm of intense rivalry and high stakes.

As expected, after the conclusion of Tuesday night's matches, the dynamics within this group remain incredibly unpredictable. Milan, who began the day at the bottom of the group with two draws and a loss, have now firmly entered the race for the knockout stages.  

Their fortunes took a positive turn as Olivier Giroud's powerful header against PSG secured Milan's first victory in the Champions League this season. With this important win under their belt, Milan has significantly bolstered their chances of progressing to the next phase of the competition.  

Milan's triumph served as sweet revenge for their previous 3-0 defeat at the hands of PSG in Paris just two weeks ago. It also marked Milan's first goal in the competition this season, with Rafael Leao's overhead kick restoring parity for the hosts in the 12th minute after former Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar had given PSG an early lead with a header. 

The winning goal duly came from the prolific Giroud, who notched his seventh goal of the season across all competitions.  

There seems to be a recurring pattern when it comes to PSG and their away games in the Champions League this season. While they are sensational when playing at home in the Parc des Princes, their performances on the road have been quite concerning. This trend was once again evident on Tuesday, as PSG struggled, and their star player Kylian Mbappe was unable to make his usual impact on the match. 

As Milan find themselves granted a lifeline in the competition, Newcastle's prospects in the "Group of Death" appear to be hanging by a thread. Their aspirations of progressing to the knockout stages took a major blow as they suffered a second defeat to Dortmund, coupled with another failure to find the back of the net on their travels. 

Niclas Fullkrug broke the deadlock for the hosts in the middle of the first half, while Julian Brandt sealed the victory with a superb counter-attack goal late in the game. 

Newcastle's return to the pinnacle of European competition began on a promising note, sealing an encouraging draw against Milan away from home, followed by an impressive victory over PSG on their home turf at Tyneside.  

However, their path to qualifying for the knockout rounds has become significantly challenging. Dortmund's back-to-back wins against Newcastle have propelled them three points ahead in the group standings. With only two matches remaining, Newcastle faces a daunting task as they travel to face PSG in their next group fixture.  

A defeat in Paris would leave Newcastle, currently situated at the bottom of the group, unable to progress any further in the tournament, primarily due to their inferior head-to-head record against Dortmund, having suffered two defeats against them. 

Nevertheless, if Eddie Howe's side can secure win away to PSG, they have a chance to climb to second place in the group with their final fixture, at home to Milan, remaining. The challenge for Newcastle is now not only to salvage their hopes of advancing but also to overcome the stiff competition that lies ahead. 

Newcastle's squad, even back in September, appeared to be lacking depth for a club competing in the Champions League. However, their situation has become even more precarious with the loss of Sandro Tonali due to a 10-month ban and a mounting list of injuries. The team are now being pushed to their limits.

However, in the midst of this challenging situation, one thing remains clear - in the "Group of Death," all teams still have a fighting chance.