With the 2018/19 Premier League season already three weeks old, attention this week turns to the draw for the Champions League and Europa League competitions.
The Spanish city of Madrid dominated the two tournaments last season, with Real winning Europe’s top prize and Atletico picking up it’s second in May.
From a British point of view, last season’s Champions League campaign was a successful one with Liverpool making the final and Man City the semi-final. Tottenham, Chelsea and Man United all made it through their group stages and into the round of 16.
But as mentioned, attention turns to this season’s tournament and with the draw just hours away, we take a look at everything you need to know.
From key rule changes, the possibility of VAR and a new schedule, this season’s campaign is likely to be an exciting one!
New Ball
This season there will be a new ball that was released by UEFA ahead of the group stages.
This year’s ball reverts the traditional colour way of white ball and dark stripes. Looks like it’s been coloured in with a blue ink berol pen!
Champions League Final Venue
After the 2018 campaigns were dominated by Madrid teams, it is fitting that the 2019 Champions League final will be hosted in Spanish capital.
Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium which only opened in 2017 will host over 67,000 fans on Saturday June 1st.
Europa League Final Venue
On May 29th, three days before the showcase event in Madrid, Azaerbaijan’s Olympic Stadium in Baku will host the Europa League final.
Final Squad Size Change
At those two finals, the finalists will be allowed to name 23 players in their squad, meaning Managers and Coaches alike will have up to 12 substitutes to choose from.
This is an increase from the standard of seven substitutes which will be implemented for the rest of the two tournaments.
Second Chance
Every team eliminated in UEFA Champions League qualifying was given a second chance in the UEFA Europa League Qualifying.
Draws On Different Days
For the first time ever, the Champions League and Europa League draws will be made on different days.
The Champions League draw will start at 6pm in Monaco tonight (August 30th), whereas the Europa League draw will be made on Friday 31st August at midday.
Fourth Substitute
As soon as the competitions enter the knock-out stages, coaches will also be allowed to make a fourth substitution if the game goes into extra-time.
This rule was also implemented in the World Cup this summer.
Pot 1 & 2 Champions League Teams
As always the draw will be seeded, to avoid the possibility of the ‘big’ teams being drawn in the same group. Holders Real Madrid and Europa League winners Atletico Madrid go in as the top seeds in Pot One:
Real Madrid (holders), Atletico Madrid (UEFA Europa League winners), Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Lokomotiv Moscow.
Pot Two features Tottenham and Man United:
Borussia Dortmund, Porto, Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Benfica, Napoli, Tottenham Hotspur and Roma.
Pot 3 & 4 Champions League Teams
Beaten 2017/18 finalists Liverpool are in Pot 3, alongside Valencia and draw hosts Monaco:
Liverpool, Schalke, Lyon, Monaco, Ajax, CSKA Moscow, PSV Eindhoven and Valencia.
This year’s Pot Four is arguably the strongest for many years, with Inter Milan and Galatasary the ones to watch:
Viktoria Plzen, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Young Boys, Inter, Hoffenheim, Red Star Belgrade and AEK Athens
