The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage draw took place in Istanbul, Turkey, on August 25 and was broadcast from 18:00 CET. The event outlined that the group stage would feature 32 teams, with 26 clubs earning direct entry and six playoff winners to be confirmed on August 23 and 24.
Teams were presented in a parsed order that highlighted the defending champions, titleholders from the previous seasons, and notable participants from across Europe. The lineup included Real Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Ajax, Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, RB Leipzig, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund, Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter, Napoli, Sporting CP, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Club Brugge, and Celtic. The teams slated for classification through prior rounds included Viktoria Plzen, Benfica, and Maccabi Haifa, awaiting confirmation of their group stage fate. (Source: UEFA)
How does the draw work?
The draw determines the group stage setup for 32 clubs, with 26 earning direct admission and six advancing from the playoffs. The participants are divided into four pots, with pot one hosting the reigning champion, the Europa League winner, and the top clubs from the federation rankings. Pots two through four are decided by club coefficient rankings. In federations with multiple representatives, matches are scheduled to mix evenings across different days to optimize television audiences. In general, clubs are placed so they do not meet rivals from the same federation during the group stage. Additional restrictions are announced closer to the event.
What happens next?
After the group stage draw, matches are confirmed and scheduled over an eight week window in the autumn. The tournament proceeds with the top two teams from each group moving on to the round of 16. The third-placed teams drop into the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, where they face the Europa League group runners-up in a knockout format.
What are the important dates?
- First day: 6/7 September
- Second day: 13/14 September
- Day three: October 4/5
- Day four: 11/12 October
- Fifth day: 25/26 October
- Sixth day: 1/2 November
- Last 16 draw: 7 November
The 2022/23 Champions League final was scheduled for June 10, 2023, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, reminding fans of memorable clashes such as Liverpool’s comeback against AC Milan in 2005.