Champions League group stage draw LIVE: All the action as it happens, as clubs learn their fate
The Champions League group stage draw for this season begins at 5pm UK time, as six British sides learn who they'll face this autumn
Welcome to the Champions League group stage draw for the 2022/23 season.
This afternoon, six British sides will all be finding out their fate for the autumn. Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have all qualified from the Premier League, while Scottish sides, Celtic and Rangers are both in the competition together for the first time in over a decade.
- Manchester City have drawn into Group G with Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen.
- Tottenham are in Group E with Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting and Marseille.
- Liverpool are in Group A with Ajax, Napoli and Rangers.
- Chelsea are in Group C with AC Milan, Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
- Celtic are in Group F with Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk.
If you need reminding of the pots for today's draw, they are as following…
Pot 1
- Real Madrid
- Eintracht Frankfurt
- Manchester City
- AC Milan
- Bayern Munich
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Porto
- Ajax
Pot 2
- Liverpool
- Chelsea
- Barcelona
- Juventus
- Atletico Madrid
- Sevilla
- RB Leipzig
- Tottenham Hotspur
Pot 3
- Borussia Dortmund
- Red Bull Salzburg
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Inter Milan
- Napoli
- Benfica
- Sporting
- Bayer Leverkusen
Pot 4
- Rangers
- Dinamo Zagreb
- Olympique Marseille
- Copenhagen
- Club Brugge
- Celtic
- Viktoria Plzen
- Maccabi Haifa
So what's the best and worst possible outcome for the English sides involved today?
This season is a particularly tough competition, with some massive clubs stacked across the draw. We've worked out the easiest and hardest groups that the British teams could possibly face…
Confused about coefficients? We've all been there. We've got a short guide on how the Champions League draw is made…
Here's a fact for you.
For first time since 1995/96, no Turkish sides have qualified for the the group stage. Ironic, given that the final this time is in Istanbul.
Who are the favourites this year?
The two favourites for the Champions League this season have never won it before. Weird, huh…
There will be awards given at the draw…
✨ NOMINEES: UEFA Men's Player of the Year 2021/22 ✨🇲🇫 Karim Benzema🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois🇧🇪 Kevin De Bruyne🗓️ #UEFAawards winners announced today at the #UCLdraw 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AZ0JbTJUmzAugust 25, 2022
So we've got that to look forward to!
Let us know your three
Give us three names that you think will be picking the balls in the #UCLdraw today – if anyone gets one right, we'll be mighty impressed…Our three: Michel Salgado, Rustu Recber and Jay-Jay OkochaAugust 25, 2022
Who will be top scorer this time?
This is looking likely to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s first season outside the Champions League since 2002/03, when he was playing for Sporting, who were knocked out in that season’s third qualifying round by Inter Milan.
Take careful note, then, of Paris Saint-Germain’s group. Lionel Messi is 15 goals behind his old rival in the all-time Champions League goalscorers chart, and will be looking to close the gap by racking up a few against any weaker competition in the early stage.
Other current players on the top scorers list include Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema, both on 86, and now at rival clubs since the former’s move to Barcelona. Can they be separated this season?
Bayern’s Thomas Muller is on 52 goals, AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on 48, PSG’s Neymar is on 41 and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is on 36. With 33 Champions League goals, Kylian Mbappe sits just outside the top 20 – two short of Edinson Cavani, who is currently without a club.
Manchester City new boy (and FourFourTwo cover star) Erling Haaland currently has 23 Champions League goals from 19 appearances – so if City get a decent run in the competition, he too could break the top 20.
Just one debutant this year…
The only team making their debut in the 2022/23 Champions League are Eintracht Frankfurt, who won the Europa League last season when they defeated Rangers on penalties in Seville.
This will be the first time that there have been five German sides in the group stage of the competition, with Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen also there this time around.
They're ready…
The stage is set 🙌#UCL || #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/7YlTCcFnAHAugust 25, 2022
So when are the Europa League and Europa Conference League draws?
Tomorrow at 12. Sometimes they all take place together but not this year!
What if there was no Champions League final?
This might be controversial… but perhaps the Champions League should have a two-legged final.
Istanbul is hosting the final this year, as you can see
Istanbul was due to host the final both times that COVID-19 changed plans. It went to Portugal in both cases.
You can watch the draw on YouTube now
Look who's here…
Juventus Vice-President and former Ballon d'Or winner Pavel Nedved is here…
AC Milan legend Franco Baresi is there, too
When Slavia Prague were drawn in a group with Barcelona, Dortmund and Inter – and their delegates burst into laughter.
Sometimes, all you can do is laugh 😂The reaction of the Slavia Prague delegates when drawn in a group with Barcelona, Dortmund and Inter Milan...Priceless! 👏 pic.twitter.com/cJU4iEPMa7August 29, 2019
Quiz! How many of the 145 clubs to appear in the Champions League group stage can you name?
15 minutes on the clock…
We've now crossed over to Pedro Pinto and Reshmin Chowdhury in Istanbul…
A certain Fulham (and Ajax and Manchester United) legend is in attendance
Edwin van der Sar, CEO of Ajax, is in attendance.
Aleksander Ceferin is here to present the first award
The UEFA president is dedicating an award to Arrigo Sacchi.
Sacchi wins the President's Award this season, while Luis Figo takes a photo on his phone.
Let's release those midweek balls!
The draw doesn't always go smoothly – here's a reminder of last season…
Hamit Altintop is being welcomed to the stage.
Altintop played for Schalke, Bayern and Real Madrid – and the former Turkey star is bringing the trophy to the stage.
Yaya Toure's here to help with the draw!
The Manchester City and Barcelona legend comes to the stage.
The presenter has taken to the stage…
No, we're kidding. Just Toure and Altintop for this one.
Toure and Altintop are heading towards the draw tables. Are we ready?
UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti is here.
It wouldn't be a draw without the lad.
Here's the most Altintop brought out the trophy.
The teams in Pot 1 are about to be drawn. They are as follows…
Real Madrid
Eintracht Frankfurt
Manchester City
AC Milan
Bayern Munich
Paris Saint-Germain
Porto Ajax
The first club drawn is… Ajax
Porto are drawn into Group B
Group C's first team is… Bayern Munich
Group D begins with… Eintracht Frankfurt
AC Milan are drawn next.
It's Real Madrid in Group F.
Manchester City in Group G.
And finally, Paris Saint-Germain in Group H.
That's pretty meaningless so far but we'll be filling these groups up pretty sharpish.
Now Pot 2…
Liverpool
Chelsea
Barcelona
Juventus
Atletico Madrid
Sevilla
RB Leipzig
Tottenham Hotspur
RB Leipzig are first out from Pot 2.
They will be in Group F with Real Madrid.
Juventus are next out.
They will be drawn into Group H with Paris Saint-Germain.
Next… Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs are in Group E, with Eintracht Frankfurt. Not bad for Antonio Conte's side.
Liverpool next up…
They're in Group A with Ajax.
Sevilla next out of the hat. Well, bowl.
They're in Group G with Manchester City.
Barcelona, now.
Group C for them. They'll face Bayern Munich again.
Chelsea are the last English side to be drawn.
They'll play AC Milan.
Finally, Atletico Madrid.
They'll be with Porto in Group B.
The Pot 3 clubs are…
Borussia Dortmund
Red Bull Salzburg
Shakhtar Donetsk
Inter Milan
Napoli
Benfica
Sporting
Bayer Leverkusen
Napoli are the first group out of Pot 3.
They're in Group A with Liverpool and Ajax.
Red Bull Salzburg next…
They're in Group E with AC Milan and Chelsea.
Benfica out the pot, now.
They're facing Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus in Group H.
Borussia Dortmund are next.
They're in Group G with Man City and Sevilla. Erling Haaland returning back to Germany, then…
Bayer Leverkusen are in Group B.
They'll play Atletico Madrid and Porto.
Sporting up next.
Group D for them. They'll play Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Shakhtar Donetsk, now.
They're in Group F with Real Madrid and RB Leipzig.
Finally, Inter Milan.
Inter will play Bayern Munich and Barcelona in Group B. Cripes.
Finally, Pot 4. It features…
Rangers
Dinamo Zagreb
Marseille
Copenhagen
Club Brugge
Celtic
Viktoria Plzen
Maccabi Haifa
First out of Pot 4… it's Celtic.
They will be in Group F with Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar. Blimey…
Marseille, now.
They complete Group D with Tottenham, Frankfurt and Sporting.
Copenhagen, now.
They're in Group G with Manchester City, Sevilla and Dortmund.
Club Brugge, now.
They're facing Porto, Atletico and Leverkusen in Group B.
Rangers are out the pot.
The Gers will be in Group A with Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli.
Dinamo Zagreb, next.
They're in Group E with Chelsea, Milan and Salzburg.
Maccabi Haifa drawn.
They're with PSG, Juventus and Benfica in Group H.
Viktoria Plzen are the last out.
They will play against Barcelona, Inter and Bayern. Poor things.
The draw in full…
Now, Sarina Wiegman has been given the Women's Coach of the Year award.
Congrats to Sarina!
Now the Men's Coach of the Year… which will be presented by President Ceferin.
Congrats, Carlo Ancelotti – it goes to the Real Madrid boss.
Barça looking at this draw…
Group C looking good #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/YFnaFcOQbKAugust 25, 2022
The only final since 1993 – when the tournament rebranded – that will have a rematch in this season's group stage, is 2010's…
Back then, Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan triumphed over Louis van Gaal's Bayern Munich. The pair will face off again this season in Group C.
Now the Women's Player of the Year award
It's between Beth Mead, Lena Oberdorf and Alexia Putellas.
…and on the men's side…
Karim Benzema, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne are all in the running.
The Women's Player of the Year is Alexia Putellas
Putellas missed the entirety of the Euro 2022 competition through injury but was a whirlwind for Barcelona all of last season and is a deserved winner of the gong.
Now, in the least most surprising turn of the evening… Karim Benzema is the winner of the men's award.
That's about it from us.
Thanks for joining us and remember to join in the conversation with us on Twitter!
