When is the Champions League draw? Date and time as Man City discover league phase opponents

Manchester City's journey in the Champions League for the 2024/25 season officially kicks off this week as they find out their opponents for the group phase of the prestigious European competition.

This year, the Champions League is undergoing a significant change. The traditional group stages are being replaced with a league phase.

City will face two extra matches in the first round, but instead of being grouped with three other teams, they will play eight different opponents, half at home and half away. All teams will then be ranked in a league, with the top eight automatically progressing to the knockouts.

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Those ranked ninth to 24th will qualify for a two-legged knockout play-off to join the eight automatic qualifiers in the Round of 16. Teams finishing 25th and below will be eliminated from Europe entirely.

The Champions League draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 29, taking place in Monaco at 5pm UK time.

No team can play a club from their own association, and the Blues will not face clubs from the same association more than twice in the league phase.

Here is a list of teams who will be in the draw on Thursday:

England - Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City

Scotland - Celtic

Spain - Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, Real Madrid

Germany - Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart

Italy - AC Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Inter, Juventus

France - Brest, AS Monaco, PSG

Portugal - Benfica, Sporting Lisbon

Netherlands - Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven

Austria - Sturm Graz

Belgium - Club Brugge

Ukraine - Shakthar Donetsk

The final seven spots in the league phase will be determined by the