In practice, the list of 32 teams for the 2022-2023 Champions League is shaping up as the group stage approaches. With Wednesday, August 24th free of matches, attention turns to final decisions that will determine the last three entries into the elite European competition. By that point, twenty-nine clubs will already be settled in four pots, setting the stage for the draw that will decide which teams face each other in the group phase on Thursday, August 25. The process hinges on performances across domestic leagues, European campaigns, and the clubs’ five-year coefficients that gauge recent form and consistency.
As things stand, only three spots remain unfilled. Those remaining spots will be slotted straight into pot four of the draw. From the top down, pots one to three have already been defined, reflecting which clubs have earned their places based on their achievements and ongoing results. The structure rewards success across their leagues, their performances in continental tournaments, and the historical standing derived from the last five seasons. This dynamic means the composition of each pot tells a story about the clubs’ prestige, recent form, and the level of competition they have demonstrated at the highest level of European football.
When the draw takes place, the Spanish clubs will feature strongly in the second pot alongside several other heavyweights. Real Madrid, as the reigning domestic and European champions, is positioned in pot one, securing a top seed status that mirrors their recent dominance. The balance between pots reflects a mix of tradition, achievement, and current momentum, ensuring a fair and exciting distribution of matchups across the group stage. The pot structure is designed to protect parity and maintain geographic variety while preserving the thrill of the draw for fans and clubs alike.
To understand how the draw is organized, it helps to learn how each pot is formed and what it signifies. Pot one contains the champions of the major European leagues, along with the holders of the Champions League title and the Europa League trophy from the previous season. This pot represents the elite tier and typically features clubs with proven track records in European competition. The intention is to seed the strongest teams so that they do not meet in the earliest rounds, allowing for compelling group matches and long-running narratives across the fall season. The following list illustrates the kind of clubs that usually populate pot one, highlighting the balance between domestic success and European pedigree.
1st cap:
- Real Madrid
- Manchester City
- AC Milan
- Bayern Munich
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Porto
- Ajax
- Eintracht Frankfurt
Pot two typically brings a mix of teams that have demonstrated consistent high-level performance in Europe and their domestic leagues. This pot often includes clubs from major European nations with recent strong showings in the Champions League and capable rosters. The composition aims to maintain competitive balance, offering fans a wide range of intriguing matchups without submerging teams with overwhelming advantages too early in the competition. The clubs in this tier are renowned for their competitive spirit, tactical versatility, and the ability to deliver memorable results on big occasions.
2nd container:
- Barcelona
- Atlético Madrid
- Seville
- Liverpool
- Chelsea
- Tottenham
- Juventus
- RB Leipzig
Pot three brings another wave of storied teams that have shown the capability to compete at Europe’s summit. These clubs often include a mix of household names and rising powers that have earned their spots through solid performances in their leagues and respectable continental campaigns. The pot is known for producing tense group-stage matchups and a range of tactical approaches, from high pressing to patient build-up play, which keeps fans engaged and coaches testing different strategies early in the season.
3rd container:
- Inter
- Napoli
- Borussia Dortmund
- Bayer Leverkusen
- RB Salzburg
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Sporting Lisbon
- Benfica
Pot four traditionally contains the teams that have earned their place through qualification campaigns or by virtue of their coefficient standings. These clubs are often hungry for a strong showing in their first taste of the group stage or their return to elite European competition after absence. The draw aims to balance opportunities and risks, allowing emerging teams to prove themselves against well-established powers while still preserving the prestige and seriousness of the tournament as a whole. The matchups at this stage can spark surprise results and create the kind of narratives that fuel the season’s title race and fantasy football buzz.
4th container:
- Maccabi Haifa
- Viktoria Plzen
- Olympique Marseille
- Witches
- Celtic
- Dinamo Zagreb or Bodø/Glimt
- PSV or Rangers
- Trabzonspor or Copenhagen
In summary, the upcoming draw will determine the precise composition of the four pots, reflecting both historical success and current form. This process shapes the calendar of fixtures, the travel journeys for clubs and fans, and the overall drama of Europe’s premier club competition. As teams prepare to find out their group stage destiny, supporters can anticipate a blend of familiar rivalries and fresh clashes that underscore the evolving landscape of European football. The excitement builds as the clubs await the moment when the drums will roll, revealing the groups and setting the stage for a season of high-stakes football across the continent.