When is the Champions League draw?

Source www.marca.com

Hello football fans! The UEFA Champions League draw is just around the corner, and the excitement is building. With some of the biggest clubs in Europe set to battle it out for the most prestigious trophy in club football, we can\’t wait to see who will be drawn against each other. In this article, we\’ll give you all the details you need to know about the draw, including the date, time, and how to watch it live. So without further ado, let\’s get started!

When is the Champions League Draw?

Draw Date and Time

The draw for the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage will take place on Monday, August 25, 2023, at 11:00 AM CET (Central European Time) in Istanbul, Turkey. The venue for the draw will be the Haliç Congress Center.

Draw Procedure

The draw will be conducted by UEFA officials and will involve the following steps:

• The 32 qualified teams will be divided into four pots based on their UEFA club coefficients.
• The teams in Pot 1 will be drawn first, followed by the teams in Pot 2, Pot 3, and Pot 4.
• The teams will be placed in eight groups of four teams each, with one team from each pot being drawn into each group.
• Teams from the same national association cannot be drawn into the same group.

Following the draw, the fixtures for the group stage will be released. The group stage matches will take place on the following dates:

• Matchday 1: September 6/7, 2023
• Matchday 2: September 13/14, 2023
• Matchday 3: October 4/5, 2023
• Matchday 4: October 11/12, 2023
• Matchday 5: October 25/26, 2023
• Matchday 6: November 1/2, 2023

The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout rounds, while the third-placed teams will enter the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs.

Where to Watch the Champions League Draw

Live Streams

If you\’re unable to attend the draw ceremony in person, there are several ways to watch it live online or on TV.

UEFA.com: The official website of UEFA will provide a live stream of the draw, allowing you to follow the proceedings from anywhere with an internet connection. You can access the live stream at uefa.com/en/champions-league/draws-fixtures-results/

BT Sport (UK): For viewers in the United Kingdom, BT Sport will be broadcasting the draw live on its TV channels. You can find the schedule and channel information on the BT Sport website.

ESPN+ (US): In the United States, ESPN+ will be streaming the draw live for its subscribers. You can access ESPN+ through the ESPN website or app.

How to Enter the Champions League Draw

Qualification Routes

To enter the Champions League draw, teams must qualify through one of the following routes:

Winning the UEFA Champions League: The winner of the previous season\’s Champions League automatically qualifies for the following season\’s tournament.

Finishing in the top four of the domestic league: The top four teams in the domestic league of each UEFA member association qualify for the Champions League based on their final standings.

Winning the UEFA Europa League: The winner of the UEFA Europa League also qualifies for the Champions League.

Format

The Champions League draw is a two-step process. In the first step, the teams are divided into four pots based on their UEFA coefficients. The pots are as follows:

1. Pot 1: The top-seeded teams
2. Pot 2: The second-seeded teams
3. Pot 3: The third-seeded teams
4. Pot 4: The fourth-seeded teams

In the second step, the teams are drawn into eight groups of four teams each. The teams from the same pot cannot be drawn into the same group.

The draw is held in Monaco, France, in late August or early September. The exact date and time of the draw vary from year to year.

Teams Involved in the Champions League Draw

Pot 1

– Real Madrid (Spain)
– Manchester City (England)
– AC Milan (Italy)
– Bayern Munich (Germany)

Pot 2

– Chelsea (England)
– Liverpool (England)
– Paris Saint-Germain (France)
– Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Pot 3

– Inter Milan (Italy)
– Juventus (Italy)
– FC Porto (Portugal)
– Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Pot 4

– Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
– RB Leipzig (Germany)
– Tottenham Hotspur (England)
– Club Brugge (Belgium)

Pot 4 Teams in Detail

The teams in Pot 4 represent a mix of established names and up-and-coming challengers. Eintracht Frankfurt, the reigning UEFA Europa League champions, have proven their mettle on the European stage. RB Leipzig, backed by Red Bull\’s financial muscle, have emerged as a force to be reckoned with in recent years. Tottenham Hotspur, under the stewardship of Antonio Conte, will be looking to make a deep run in the competition after a disappointing group stage exit last season. Finally, Club Brugge, the Belgian champions, will be hoping to make a splash in the Champions League after a strong showing in the group stages.

The draw for the Champions League knockout stages will take place on Monday, November 7th, 2022, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The event will determine the pairings for the Round of 16 and the potential paths to the final in Istanbul.

Significance of the Champions League Draw

Group Stage Matchups

The Champions League draw plays a crucial role in determining the fate of the teams involved. The outcomes of the draw shape the group stage matchups, which have a significant impact on the difficulty level of each group and the path to the knockout stages.

– **Groupings:** The draw determines which teams will face each other in the group stage. This can have a major effect on the competitiveness of each group. For instance, a group with multiple strong teams will likely be more challenging than one with a weaker side or two.

– **Strength of Opposition:** The draw also influences the overall strength of each group. Teams that are drawn into groups with a higher number of strong opponents will have a tougher time qualifying for the knockout stages. Conversely, teams drawn into groups with weaker opponents will have a better chance of advancing.

– **Knockout Stage Implications:** The draw not only affects the group stage but also has implications for the knockout stages. Teams that perform well in the group stage have a better chance of securing a favorable draw in the knockout rounds. This can give them a significant advantage in their quest for the Champions League title.