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.
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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.
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