The excitement for football enthusiasts around the world is reaching its peak as the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Group Stage Draw is just around the corner. The stage is set for a thrilling competition as 32 top-tier teams battle it out for supremacy in the most prestigious club football tournament. Here, we delve into the key details about the draw – from the participating teams to the dates, pots, and where to catch all the live action.
When UCL Draw taking place?
In the upcoming edition of the Champions League, reigning champions Manchester City will lead the charge, aiming to defend their title against a lineup of formidable opponents.
Among the 32 teams, 26 had secured their spots earlier, while other booked their places through the UCL play-offs. This finalizes the pots for the group stage draw, which took place after the conclusion of the UCL playoffs.
Where and how to watch UCL 2023/24?
The Champions League group stage draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 31, 2023, at the illustrious Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. The proceedings will commence at 6 PM CEST, 4 PM GMT, 5 PM BST, and 9:30 PM IST.
The live streaming will be accessible on the official UEFA Champions League website and YouTube Channel. For fans in India, the draw will be broadcast live on Sony Sports TEN 2 SD and Sony Sports TEN 2 HD channels from 9:30 PM IST, with the option of streaming on Sony LIV.
How does the UCL group stage draw work?
The draw follows a meticulous structure that ensures fair and intriguing matchups. The 32 teams are divided into four seeding pots.
Pot 1: includes the reigning champions, Europa League victors, and champions of the six highest-ranked nations that did not qualify through the 2021/22 titles.
Pots 2 to 4: are determined by the club coefficient rankings. To facilitate scheduling, associations with two representatives will have their matches spread across Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Certain restrictions are in place, such as teams not facing opponents from their own association.
As for the qualified teams and pots for the draw, they are as follows:
| POTS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| TEAM-1 | Manchester City | Real Madrid | Shakhtar Donetsk | Real Sociedad |
| TEAM-2 | Sevilla | Manchester United | Red Bull Salzburg | Galatasaray |
| TEAM-3 | Bayern Munich | Inter Milan | Milan | Celtic |
| TEAM-4 | Paris Saint-Germain | Borussia Dortmund | Braga | Lens |
| TEAM-5 | Barcelona | Atletico Madrid | Lazio | Union Berlin |
| TEAM-6 | Benfica | RB Leipzig | Crvena Zvezda | Newcastle United |
| TEAM-7 | Napoli | Porto | FC Kobenhavn | Royal Antwerp |
| TEAM-8 | Feyenoord | Arsenal | PSV | Young Boys |
What are the Champions League 2023-24 start?
However, matches are scheduled as follows:
- Matchday 1: September 19 & September 20
- Matchday 2: October 3 & October 4
- Matchday 3: October 24 & October 25
- Matchday 4: November 7 & November 8
- Matchday 5: November 28 & November 29
- Matchday 6: December 12 & December 13
The knockout stages commence as follows:
- Round of 16: February 13 & 14, February 20 & 21 (First Leg Ties) / March 5, 6 & March 12, 13 (Second Leg Ties)
- Quarter-finals: April 9 & April 10 (First Leg Ties) and April 16 & April 17 (Second Leg Ties)
- Semi-finals: April 30 & May 1 (First Leg Ties) and May 7 & May 8 (Second Leg Ties)
- Final: June 1st, 2024
UCL 2023-24 season will reach its pinnacle at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. This venue, steeped in football history, will play host to the Champions League final for the third time in the UEFA Champions League era.
Read Also: https://www.sportsunfold.com/where-to-watch-asia-cup-2023-live-streaming/