What Time is the Champions League Draw?

Source rorymacrae.co.uk

Good morning or evening, football fans and betting enthusiasts! Are you ready for one of the most highly anticipated events in European soccer? The Champions League draw is just around the corner, and it\’s sure to bring plenty of excitement, drama, and surprises. In this article, we\’ll delve into all the details surrounding the draw, including when and where it will take place, how it works, and what to expect from this year\’s proceedings. So, grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and let\’s immerse ourselves in all the information you need to know.

What Time is the Champions League Draw?

CET Time Zone

The draw will take place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, at **12:00 pm CET (Central European Time)**. This time zone is commonly used in most of Central and Eastern Europe, including countries like Germany, Italy, France, Poland, and Turkey. It is important to note that CET operates on the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) standard during the winter months but switches to Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer. For the Champions League draw, CET will be used, as it is typically held in the winter or early spring.

To assist those in different regions, here are the corresponding times for the draw based on other time zones:

• 11:00 am GMT (Greenwich Mean Time): Used in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Ireland
• 6:00 am EST (Eastern Standard Time): Observed in the Eastern United States and Canada
• 3:00 am PST (Pacific Standard Time): Used in the Western United States and Canada

Understanding the time differences is crucial for those planning to watch or follow the draw live. By using the CET time zone as a reference, individuals in various regions can adjust accordingly to ensure they don\’t miss any of the draw\’s proceedings.

How to Watch the Champions League Draw

Live Stream

The draw will be streamed live on UEFA\’s official website and YouTube channel, ensuring that fans worldwide can witness the exciting event as it unfolds. For those seeking an alternative platform, the draw will also be broadcasted live on various select TV channels across the globe.

Broadcast Channels

To accommodate the global audience of the Champions League, the draw will be aired on a wide range of TV channels around the world. In the United Kingdom, viewers can tune in to BT Sport, while fans in the United States can catch the draw on CBS Sports Network. Other notable broadcasters include Sky Sport (Italy), beIN Sports (France), and DAZN (Germany). By providing multiple viewing options, UEFA ensures that fans from all corners of the world can follow the draw and stay updated on the latest Champions League developments.

Teams in the Champions League Draw

Group Stage Winners

The following teams have secured their places in the knockout stages as group winners:

• Real Madrid
• Manchester City
• Bayern Munich
• Inter Milan

Group Stage Runners-up

The following teams have qualified for the knockout stages as group runners-up:

• Chelsea
• Tottenham Hotspur
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Eintracht Frankfurt
• RB Leipzig
• Liverpool
• AC Milan
• Club Brugge

Teams in the Europa League Playoffs

The following teams will compete in the Europa League playoffs to determine the remaining two teams that will advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League:

• Juventus
• Bayer Leverkusen
• Barcelona
• Sevilla
• Ajax
• Salzburg
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Sporting CP

The Europa League playoffs will consist of two-legged ties, with the first leg taking place on 16th February and the second leg on 23rd February 2023. The winners of the playoffs will then join the eight group winners in the Round of 16.

Champions League Draw Procedure

Pot System

The 16 teams will be divided into two pots based on their UEFA coefficients. Teams from the same country will not be drawn against each other in the Round of 16.

Draw Procedure

The draw procedure for the Champions League Round of 16 will follow a specific format to ensure fairness and transparency.

1. Pot Division

The 16 teams are split into two pots, with the top eight ranked teams placing into Pot 1. The remaining eight teams occupy Pot 2. This seeding system ensures that the higher-ranked teams are less likely to face each other in the Round of 16.

2. Pot Selection

A representative from UEFA will draw one team from Pot 1 and one team from Pot 2. These teams will form the first tie in the Round of 16. This process is repeated until all 16 teams have been paired up.

3. Home and Away Leg Order

Once the pairings have been established, the order of the home and away legs is determined. The team drawn from Pot 1 will host the second leg of the tie at their home stadium.

4. Avoiding Country Clashes

UEFA regulations prevent teams from the same country being drawn against each other in the Round of 16. If the draw results in two teams from the same nation being paired up, the team with the lower UEFA coefficient will be transferred to Pot 2. The draw process is then repeated to ensure there are no country clashes in the Round of 16 fixtures.

5. Draw Time and Location

The Champions League Round of 16 draw typically takes place in mid-December following the conclusion of the group stage matches. The specific date and location of the draw are announced by UEFA in advance.

History of the Champions League Draw

Inaugural Draw

The first Champions League draw was held in Zurich, Switzerland on 4 September 1955, to determine the fixtures for the inaugural tournament known as the European Cup. Sixteen teams entered the competition, which was won by Real Madrid after defeating Stade Reims 4-3 in the final.

Format

The format of the Champions League draw has evolved over the years, but it generally follows a similar structure.

The clubs are seeded based on their UEFA coefficients, which are calculated based on their performances in previous European competitions. The seeded teams are then drawn into groups, with each group containing four teams. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout phase, where they are paired off in two-legged ties.

The draw for the knockout phase is held after the conclusion of the group stage. The teams are seeded based on their results in the group stage, with the top-seeded teams facing the unseeded teams in the Round of 16. The draw for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final is held after each round of the knockout phase has been completed.

The Champions League draw is a highly anticipated event that captivates the attention of football fans around the world. It is a chance for teams to learn their opponents and plot their path to glory in the most prestigious club competition in Europe.