All you need to know ahead of the UEFA Champions League group stage draw
How does the group stage draw work?
” The 32 teams have been split into four seeding pots. Pot 1 will consist of the holders, the Uefa Europa League winners and six domestic champions. Pots 2 to 4 are determined by the club coefficient rankings.
No team can play a side from their own association. Paired clubs from the same country will play on separate days. Any other restrictions will be announced ahead of the draw.
Pot 1
Manchester City (ENG) – pairing A
Sevilla FC (ESP) – B
FC Barcelona (ESP) – C
SSC Napoli (ITA) – D
FC Bayern München (GER) – E
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – F
SL Benfica (POR) – G
Feyenoord (NED) – H
Pot 2
Real Madrid CF (ESP) – C
Manchester United (ENG) – A
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) – I
Borussia Dortmund (GER) – E
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) – B
RB Leipzig (GER) – J
FC Porto (POR) – G
Arsenal FC (ENG) – K
Pot 3
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Salzburg (AUT)
AC Milan (ITA) – I
SC Braga (POR)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) – H
S.S. Lazio (ITA) – D
FK Crvena zvezda (SRB)
F.C. Copenhagen (DEN)
Pot 4
BSC Young Boys (SUI)
Real Sociedad de Fútbol (ESP)
Galatasaray A.S. (TUR)
Celtic FC (SCO)
Newcastle United FC (ENG) – K
- FC Union Berlin (GER) – J
Royal Antwerp FC (BEL)
RC Lens (FRA) – F
Where is the Champions League draw?
After three years away, the draw returns to the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
What happens after the draw?
Fixtures will be confirmed after the draw, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the round of 16. The third-placed sides in each group transfer to the Uefa Europa League knockout round play-offs, where they will face the Uefa Europa League group runners-up for places in the last 16.
What are the Champions League group stage dates?
Matchday 1: 19/20 September 2023
Matchday 2: 3/4 October 2023
Matchday 3: 24/25 October 2023
Matchday 4: 7/8 November 2023
Matchday 5: 28/29 November 2023
Matchday 6: 12/13 December 2023
What else happens during the draw ceremony?
The 2022/23 Uefa Men’s Player of the Year, Uefa Women’s Player of the Year, Uefa Men’s Coach of the Year and Uefa Women’s Coach of the Year awards will also be presented during the group stage draw ceremony.
The 2023 Uefa President’s Award will also be presented to Miroslav Klose by Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin.
