The Champions League draw for the upcoming season is set to undergo significant changes, with Arsenal notably absent from Pot 1.
In a departure from tradition, the competition will adopt a new league format, replacing the traditional group stage. Additionally, the tournament has expanded to include 36 teams.
Scheduled for August 29, the draw will categorize all qualified teams into four seeding pots based on their UEFA club coefficient.
Manchester City and Liverpool are anticipated to secure spots in Pot 1, while Arsenal will be relegated to Pot 2. Meanwhile, Aston Villa is expected to find themselves in Pot 4. However, depending on the outcome of qualification rounds this summer, Unai Emery’s side could potentially land in Pot 3.
Here’s a predicted breakdown of the pots for the 2024/25 Champions League draw:
POT 1: Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Barcelona
Pot 2: Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Juventus, Benfica, Arsenal, AC Milan, Club Brugge (subject to qualification), Shakhtar Donetsk (subject to qualification)
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Sporting CP, PSV, Celtic, (Lille, PAOK, Fenerbahce, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys – all contingent on qualification)
Pot 4: Monaco, Aston Villa, Bologna, Girona, Stuttgart, Sturm Graz, Stade Brestois, Galatasaray (subject to qualification), Sparta Prague (subject to qualification).
The absence of Arsenal from Pot 1 highlights the competitive landscape of European football and sets the stage for an intriguing Champions League campaign.
