The pots for the UEFA Champions League draw were finalised after the playoff round. The draw uses the new single 36-team league table format and will start at 5 p.m. UK / midday ET, with first fixtures on Sept. 16-18 and the league phase running into January. Each club receives eight fixtures, playing two matches (home and away) against teams from each of the four pots. Pot composition now relies primarily on UEFA club coefficients, with only the Champions League holders guaranteed Pot 1. Same-country rules force six non-English Pot 1 teams to face two Premier League clubs. The final is set for May 30 at Puskas Arena in Budapest. Fenerbahce is listed as reserve.
It will be the second time a draw takes place under the new format, which sees all 36 teams in one league table. The draw will begin at 5 p.m. UK / midday ET, with the first fixtures scheduled for Sept. 16-18. UEFA is expected to publish the full order of matches on Saturday. The league phase will stretch into January, with all 18 games on the final matchday on Jan. 28 being played at the same time.
Rather than placing teams into groups, the draw will create eight fixtures for each club. There will be two matches, one at home and one away, against teams from each of the four pots. As teams now play games against clubs from their own pot there is no benefit from being in Pot 1. In previous seasons, being in Pot 1 meant you would avoid playing matches against the strongest clubs in the tournament.
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