After the end of Champions League second Leg qualifier last night, 32 teams have been finalised who’ll compete in this year’s Champions’ League campaign. Twenty two of those teams qualified automatically for the group stages and 10 qualified through play-off round. So, once again European elites will go head to head in the most famous competition at club level. This year draw welcomes Liverpool, who has won this competition 5 times and will feature in competition after a long absence. Last time Liverpool competed in this glamorous competition was way back in 2010.
#454280936 / gettyimages.com
This draw comprises of 4 pots. Each pot consists of 8 teams. These pots are based on Clubs Performances in European Competitions over last 5 seasons plus their national association coefficient. 1st pot will have the strongest teams of Europe over last 5 seasons. But this doesn’t portray a regular picture of pots. There can be some deviations in it. Big teams who haven’t qualified for this competition over last few season can sit in lower pots and this makes these draws very interesting. This is where group of deaths are being made.
Pot 1:
It consists of Arsenal (ENG), FC Bayern (GER), Real Madrid (ESP), FC Barcelona (ESP), Chelsea (ENG), Benfica (POR), Atletico Madrid (ESP) (Defending Champions) and Porto (POR).
It consists of Arsenal (ENG), FC Bayern (GER), Real Madrid (ESP), FC Barcelona (ESP), Chelsea (ENG), Benfica (POR), Atletico Madrid (ESP) (Defending Champions) and Porto (POR).
Pot 2:
It involves Borussia Dortmund (GER), Schalke (GER), Manchester City (ENG), Juventus (ITA), PSG (FRA), Shakhtar (UKR), Basel (SWI) and Zenit (RUS).
It involves Borussia Dortmund (GER), Schalke (GER), Manchester City (ENG), Juventus (ITA), PSG (FRA), Shakhtar (UKR), Basel (SWI) and Zenit (RUS).
Pot 3:
It includes Liverpool (ENG), Leverkusen (GER), Olympiakos (GRE), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Ajax (NED), Sporting Lisbon (POR), Galatasary (TUR) and Athletic Bilbao (ESP).
It includes Liverpool (ENG), Leverkusen (GER), Olympiakos (GRE), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Ajax (NED), Sporting Lisbon (POR), Galatasary (TUR) and Athletic Bilbao (ESP).
Pot 4:
It is comprised of Roma (ITA), Anderlecht (BEL), Monaco (FRA), Maribor (SLO), Malmo (SWE), BATE (BLR), APOEL (CYP) and Ludogorets (BLG).
It is comprised of Roma (ITA), Anderlecht (BEL), Monaco (FRA), Maribor (SLO), Malmo (SWE), BATE (BLR), APOEL (CYP) and Ludogorets (BLG).
One team from each pot will feature against one team each from 3 different pots. It means no 2 teams from a single pot can feature in a same group. Also no two teams from same league can be drawn in same group. For example a group of death can be as follows.
Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool and Roma.
So it really will be an exciting draw which will take place in Monte Carlo tonight. With the return of some Former Champions and ever strengthening of teams with Money Power, this year’s Champions League will be exciting to watch for every football fan.
Amir Bashir follow him on Twitter.
No comments