When is the Champions League group stage draw? Date, start time, how to watch, fixture dates and pots

Just one month on from last season’s final, the Uefa Champions League is back with teams set to learn their opponents for this season’s group stage this week.

Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea represent the Premier League this season with Uefa confident of squeezing in the full competition format into a tighter schedule after last season’s difficulties.

The competition gets underway a month later than usual with first group fixtures scheduled for October 21.

Here's all you need to know about this week's draw...

When is the Champions League draw?

The draw for the group stage of the Champions League takes place on Thursday October 1. The draw for the Europa League takes place the following day on Friday October 2.

When does the Champions League draw start?

He ceremony will take place in Nyon, Switzerland with proceedings getting underway at 4pm BST.

Where can I watch the Champions League draw?

The draw will be streamed live via Uefa’s official website.

BT Sport also have live coverage through BT Sport 1, with their coverage beginning from 3:45pm.

Champions League pots

Pot 1

• Bayern Munich

• Sevilla

• Real Madrid

• Liverpool

• Juventus

• Paris Saint-Germain

• Zenit

• Porto

Pots 2

• Barcelona

• Atlético Madrid

• Manchester City

• Manchester United

• Shakhtar Donetsk

• Borussia Dortmund

• Chelsea

• Ajax

Pot 3 or 4

• RB Leipzig

• Inter

• Lazio

• Atalanta

• Lokomotiv Moscow

• Marseille

• Club Brugge

• Mönchengladbach

• İstanbul Başakşehir

• Rennes

Six further teams will qualify via the play-offs.

Match dates

Matchday 1: 20/21 October

Matchday 2: 27/28 October

Matchday 3: 3/4 November

Matchday 4: 24/25 November

Matchday 5: 1/2 December

Matchday 6: 8/9 December