Champions League draw: How it works, who's involved and how ...

13 Mar 2024

The Athletic

Champions League draw How it works whos involved and how

There will soon be just eight teams left in this season’s Champions League, as the competition reaches its quarter-final stage. A handful of Europe’s biggest clubs look set to make up a stellar cast after a largely underwhelming first knockout

There will soon be just eight teams left in this season’s Champions League, as the competition reaches its quarter-final stage.

A handful of Europe’s biggest clubs look set to make up a stellar cast after a largely underwhelming first knockout round.

Six teams have already booked safe passage to the quarter-final and they will be joined by two other teams after the conclusion of Wednesday’s action.

So here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Champions League draw.

When is the Champions League draw?

The draw will take place on Friday, March 15 at 11am GMT/12pm CET/7am ET/4am PT.

It will be hosted at the UEFA headquarters — officially known as the House of European Football — in Nyon, Switzerland.

More Champions League on The Athletic…

Which rounds will be drawn?

Interest will be highest for the quarter-final as that is the round that will be played first, but UEFA will also include the semi-final draw as part of Friday’s event.

It means that the road to the final can be fully mapped out for the eight teams that have made into the quarter-final and avoids everyone having to fly back into Switzerland in a few weeks for four balls to be pulled out of a Champions League-branded bowl. It is an open draw — meaning teams from the same nation can now face one another.

There is also a ‘draw’ for the final, which is largely irrelevant. But it is used to determine which side of the draw will produce the ‘home’ team for the final at Wembley Stadium.

An hour later (12pm GMT/8am ET/5am PT), the same will be done for the Europa League and at 1pm GMT (9am ET/6am PT), the draws for the Europa Conference League will be made.

How to follow the Champions League draw

The Athletic will provide live updates from the draw in Nyon as they happen.

Otherwise, you will be able to follow a stream for the draws on UEFA.com while, in the UK, TNT Sport will be broadcasting the draws for all three competitions.

Paramount+ will be doing the same in the US.

Which teams will be involved?

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the quarter-finals after making relatively light work of their last-16 ties against Copenhagen and Real Sociedad.

They will be joined in that draw by Bayern Munich and Real Madrid who, despite favourable draws, were far from convincing across their two-legged ties against Lazio and RB Leipzig.

Confirmed quarter-finalists

On Tuesday, Arsenal defeated Porto 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 aggregate scoreline to advance to a first Champions League quarter-final since 2010. Barcelona, meanwhile, beat Napoli 3-1 after drawing 1-1 in the first leg.

Then, on Wednesday, Inter will look to maintain their 1-0 advantage as they travel to Madrid to face Atletico. The other tie sees Dortmund host PSV after a 1-1 draw in Eindhoven three weeks ago.

Remaining last-16 ties