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Champions League 2025/26 draw: Date, format and teams confirmed as Europe’s elite await fate

Sports 66 days ago Participants (2)
  • Godspower

    The stage is set for another dramatic season of European football as the draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase takes place later this week in Monaco.

    ‎According to a report by talkSPORT, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed their first-ever crown after sweeping aside Inter Milan in May, will lead the line as top seeds. With Luis Enrique’s side now carrying the weight of expectation, Europe’s elite will be eager to knock them off their perch.

    ‎This season continues with the revamped format introduced last year. Instead of the traditional group stage, the competition features a single 36-team league phase. Clubs are split into four pots of nine according to UEFA’s coefficient rankings. Each side will play eight matches — four at home and four away — against two opponents from each pot. Unlike the old system, not all teams face each other, with a computer program ensuring the draw’s balance.

    ‎Clubs from the same country cannot be paired in the league phase, and no team can face more than two clubs from a single nation. The new structure is designed to provide greater variety and competitiveness across the tournament.

    ‎Premier League representatives are well represented, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal already confirmed, alongside Newcastle United, who make their return after finishing fifth domestically. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, are back in the competition following a two-year absence.

    ‎Elsewhere, Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise will make their debut in the league phase, marking a historic moment for the Brussels-based side. Traditional heavyweights Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter Milan are all in Pot 1 alongside PSG, while Pot 2 contains dangerous contenders such as Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Juventus.

    ‎Before the draw, several play-off ties remain to be settled, with clubs including Benfica, Rangers, and Celtic all battling for a place in the competition.

    ‎With anticipation building, representatives from across Europe will descend on Monaco to discover their paths in this season’s tournament.

    ‎The draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, starting at 5pm Nigerian Time.

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