Europe's soccer elite brace for Champions League draw

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The draw for this season's European Champions League group stage takes place in Monaco on Thursday, with a repeat of last season's final between Real Madrid and Liverpool among the potential mouthwatering match-ups.

Real won the trophy for the third season running – and 13th time overall – when they beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev in May, although their hopes of making it four in a row were hit by the subsequent departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and resignation of coach Zinedine Zidane.

With Julen Lopetegui now in charge, Real's status as holders ensures they will be one of the top seeds in the draw, which will begin just after 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) at the Grimaldi Forum in the glittering Mediterranean principality.

They will be joined by Europa League holders Atletico Madrid and the champions of the six highest-ranked domestic leagues in Europe.

None of the top seeds can play each other, so Real will not be drawn in the same group as Ronaldo's new club Juventus. Teams from the same country will be kept apart in the group stage as well.

But Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, five-time European champions, are among the leading names not in Pot 1, along with fellow Premier League clubs Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

They will all be hoping to avoid the biggest names in Pot 1, with Russian champions Lokomotiv Moscow the least imposing name of all the top seeds.

Real Madrid are favorites to lift the Champions League in May. /VCG Photo

Fewer places for smaller leagues

The Champions League is now dominated more than ever before by clubs from the continent's biggest domestic leagues.

It was in August 2016 that plans were announced to guarantee four spots in the group stages to the top four leagues in Europe – Spain's Primera Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, England's Premier League and Italy's Serie A.

In addition, three French clubs qualified automatically, although that was only due to Atletico winning last season's Europa League.

As a result of the changes, only six clubs have come through qualifying round ties to make the group stage.

Red Star Belgrade players celebrate after their team qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 1992. /VCG Photo

Fresh faces

While the possibility of seeing a different name go all the way to the final becomes more and more remote, there are still plenty of fresh names appearing in the group stage.

Former winners Inter Milan make a notable return to the competition for the first time since 2011/12.

AEK Athens make their return after more than a decade, while Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade, Swiss champions Young Boys and German club Hoffenheim are in the group stage for the first time.

The first round of group games will be played on September 18 and 19, with the last matches on December 11 and 12.

This year's final will be staged at Atletico's Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on Saturday, June 1, 2019.

The draw for this season's Europa League group stage, featuring the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan, will take place in Monaco on Friday from 1100 GMT.

Teams by pot

Pot 1

Real Madrid (ESP), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Barcelona (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Manchester City (ENG), Juventus (ITA), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS)

Pot 2

Borussia Dortmund (GER), Porto (POR), Manchester United (ENG), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Napoli (ITA), Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), Roma (ITA), Benfica (POR)

Pot 3

Liverpool (ENG), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Schalke 04 (GER), Lyon (FRA), Monaco (FRA), Ajax (NED), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Valencia (ESP)

Pot 4

Club Brugge (BEL), Galatasaray (TUR), Young Boys (SUI), Inter Milan (ITA), Hoffenheim (GER), AEK Athens (GRE), Red Star Belgrade (SRB), Viktoria Plzen (CZE)

Fixture dates

September 18-19: Group stage, matchday one

October 2-3: Group stage, matchday two

October 23-24: Group stage, matchday three

November 6-7: Group stage, matchday four

November 27-28: Group stage, matchday five

December 11-12: Group stage, matchday six

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will progress to knockout rounds in February 2019.

(With input from agencies)