2023/24 is very much the season of long-awaited Champions League returns. As this infographic shows, two clubs, Newcastle United and RC Lens, will be gracing Europe's elite competition once again after failing to qualify for the group stage 20 times in a row.
Having finished fourth in the Premier League last season, the first step of the Magpies' European comeback takes place in Italy on Tuesday where they face AC Milan at the San Siro: A stadium they played in last time round, when in the 2002/03 season they faced Inter Milan before failing to progress to the knockout stages. This year promises to be no less challenging, with Eddie Howe's team drawn in what many consider to be the 'group of death'.
Lens pushed the mighty PSG all the way in Ligue 1 last season, ending with just one point less than the French champions and securing their Champions League ticket. After five games of the current season though they are languishing at the bottom of the table with just one point on the board. Fans will now be hoping that the glamour of European nights against Sevilla, Arsenal and PSV can provide some respite from the realities of their domestic woes.
Arsenal themselves are seeking to make a renewed impact on the competition after missing out on six seasons at the top level. Ending even longer waits this year though are Portugal’s SC Braga who have endured ten seasons without the Champions League, and Spain’s Real Sociedad with an almost equally painful nine years away.
