The group stage will consist of a total of 32 teams: 26 of Europe’s top teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, PSG, and Liverpool entering the fray alongside the six teams that emerged from the playoffs.
Before play begins, the groups will need to be constructed. That will take place at the group stage draw, where the 32 teams will be split up into groups of four. After the group stage only the top two teams in each group will advance to the knockouts.
The Sporting News brings you everything you need to know to take in the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw to find out who your team will be paired up against.
MORE: Champions League qualifier results and matchups so far
How to watch 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw
Viewers in all countries will be able to watch the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage draw.
Champions League broadcasters in several countries will carry the draw. For the rest of the world, fans can watch live on UEFA’s YouTube channel.
How does the Champions League group stage draw work?
The draw will see 32 teams split into eight groups of four. During the draw, UEFA will select one team from each of four pots to make up each group.
Pot 1 will consist of the defending Champions League and Europa League title winners, plus the reigning league champions from each of the top six nations as ranked by UEFA country coefficient list.
Since Real Madrid are the Spanish league champions (a top-six nation) as well as defending UEFA Champions League holders, the Pot 1 spot reserved for the Spanish champions is assigned to the next best nation in the coefficient list. In this case, the Netherlands and its reigning Eredivisie champion Ajax were elevated to Pot 1.
As for Pots 2, 3, and 4, those are based on the UEFA club coefficient list, which is a mathematical formula to evaluate a specific club’s performance in domestic and continental competitions over the past five years.
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Champions League pots for group stage draw
Each club’s UEFA club coefficient ranking is included for Pots 2-4 since club seeding in those pots is based on the ranking.
Pot 1 includes the Champions League winners (Real Madrid), the Europa League winners (Eintracht Frankfurt), and the champions from the top six nations in the UEFA country coefficient rankings.
Since Real Madrid are both Champions League winners and Spanish league champions, the Pot 1 seed designated for Spanish league champions is taken by the Netherlands (Dutch champions Ajax), which is the next country on the UEFA country coefficient list.
One club is selected from each pot to make up the eight groups of four teams.
Clubs from the same country cannot be drawn in the same group and must be moved to the next available group.
Champions League playoff round qualifiers
The winners of the following aggregate-goal playoff series joined the 26 other clubs in the Champions League group stage draw.
The first team listed hosted the first leg.
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Champions League schedule 2022/23
With the six teams emerging from the playoffs officially confirmed, the 2022/23 Champions League will commence in earnest with the 32-team group stage.
All six group matchdays will wrap up before the World Cup break with the knockout rounds kicking off in February 2023.
Qualifying schedule
Group stage schedule
The draw for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage will take place on Aug. 25, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockouts.
Knockout schedule
The draw for the 2022/23 Champions League Round of 16 will take place on Nov. 7, 2022. The draw for the remainder of the 2022/23 Champions League knockout bracket (quarterfinals and semifinals) will take place on March 17, 2023.
The final will be held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10, 2023.
