Champions League Draw Looms: All You Need to Know
The moment of truth is almost here! On Thursday at 5pm UK time, some of the biggest clubs in the world will find out who they’ll be facing in the 2024/25 Champions League group stage. And we’ve got all the information you need to know.
This season, we’re seeing a new format with an increase from 32 to 36 teams. According to UEFA, the clubs will be seeded in four pots based on their individual club coefficient at the start of the season. Each team will then be drawn against two opponents from each pot, with one match being played at home and one away.
But that’s not all. There are some key rules to keep in mind. Teams can’t be drawn against opponents from their own country, and they can’t be matched up with more than two teams from the same country. All 36 teams will be manually drawn using physical balls, with a designated automated software randomly selecting their opponents and revealing them on screen.
So, who’s in the mix? The final four teams to book their place in the next round are Dinamo Zagreb, Lille, Crvena Zvezda, and Slovan Bratislava. And here’s how the pots are looking:
Pot One:
- Real Madrid
- Manchester City
- Bayern Munich
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Liverpool
- Inter Milan
- Borussia Dortmund
- RB Leipzig
- Barcelona
Pot Two:
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Atletico Madrid
- Atalanta
- Juventus
- Benfica
- Arsenal
- Club Brugge
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- AC Milan
Pot Three:
- Feyenoord
- Sporting Lisbon
- PSV Eindhoven
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Young Boys
- Celtic
- Dinamo Zagreb
- Lille
- Crvena Zvezda
Pot Four:
- Monaco
- Sparta Prague
- Aston Villa
- Bologna
- Girona
- Stuttgart
- Sturm Graz
- Brest
- Slovan Bratislava
And in other news, UEFA will be recognizing Cristiano Ronaldo’s "remarkable legacy in the world’s most prestigious competition" during the Champions League draw. The 39-year-old is set to be presented with an award by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, a testament to his five Champions League titles and unparalleled success in the competition.
Stay tuned for all the action as it happens. And don’t forget to follow us on all social media platforms for more updates and behind-the-scenes insights into the world of football.