AC Milan are preparing to play in their second consecutive edition of the Champions League after winning the Scudetto last season, with the draw fast approaching.
As relayed by our colleagues at SempreMilan.it, here is all you need to know about the 2022-23 edition of Europe’s main club competition…
Draw
The 2022-23 UEFA Champions League group stage draw will take place in Istanbul (Turkey) on Thursday 25 August and will be streamed live from 18:00 local time. The 26 teams qualified by right in this round and the six winners of the play-offs, who will know each other on 23 and 24 August, participate in the draw.
32 teams participate in the draw: the 26 qualified by right and the six winners of the play-offs.
The teams are divided into four bands. Pot 1 includes the reigning champion, the UEFA Europa League winner and the league winners of the sixth highest ranked nation who did not qualify through one of the 2021/22 titles.
Pot 2-4 is determined by the club rankings. In the case of associations with two representatives, the teams are combined in order to divide their matches between Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the case of federations with four representatives, two matches are made based on the television schedules.
No team can play against a team from the same federation. Any other restrictions will be announced prior to the draw.
The teams
The list is subject to final confirmation by UEFA.
Qualified by right in the Champions League (Pot 1)
Real Madrid (ESP, Champions League holder)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER, Europa League holder)
Manchester City (ENG)
AC Milan (ITA)
Bayern München (GER)
Paris Saint-Germain ( FRA)
Porto (POR)
Ajax (NED)
Liverpool (ENG)
Chelsea (ENG)
Barcelona (ESP)
Juventus (ITA)
Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Sevilla (ESP)
RB Leipzig (GER)
Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Salzburg (AUT)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Inter (ITA)
Naples (ITA)
Sporting CP (POR)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Marseille (FRA)
Club Brugge (BEL)
Celtic (SCO)
Schedule of matches
The matches will be confirmed after the draw. This year, the group stage will take place within eight weeks due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The top two in each group qualify for the round of 16. The third-placed finishers in each group will go into the play-offs for the UEFA Europa League knockout stage, where they will face the runners-up in the UEFA Europa League groups for a place in the round of 16.
Dates
First game: 6/7 September
Second game: 13/14 September
Third game: 4/5 October
Fourth game: 11/12 October
Fifth game: 25/26 October
Sixth game: 1/2 November
Round of 16 draw: 7 November
I hope we avoid Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona in Pot 2
Barcelona may be a good variant for us. They are still struggling to build their new team. But I personally would prefer to face Atletico because their style has weakest spots against ours. Tonali and Bennacer could just cut their team in two halves as we usually do with defense-focused teams.
In sure we are ready to face any team, we are a team with good quality and we can for sure win most games and qualify for knockout stage
Not sure I want to face a team with Lewa in it. I hate Atletico style of play. At the same time, I don’t want a group that’s too weak. Maybe Sevilla or Spurs. Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona would top the group ahead of is easily and we would not get past a group winner lime Real or Man City at the next Rd.
One crappy team and one good and one fun. So Celtic, Barcelona and let’s say Dortmund
I reckon we could take em all,as long the refs is fair..i mean,just do their job like any other refs would do
The person that compile this images should be warned pls. Where is leao or Giroud pictures even the goalie or Kalulu those that worked hard for the UCL spot.
You just added people that joined new. You dey ment
Gents, we are Milan we can do it with any club….
AC Milan,Barcelona,Salzburg,Club brugge. That will be good for our young player . Xavi playstyle team are weak versus high press team
Chelsea can face any team in the champions league,though ,I think club like club brugge will be my own choice.
Let’s hope the official don’t slaughter Milan this season
We are ready to face any team I’m sure we will qualify for knock out round. I want us to be in a tough group so we see how we can cope. Forza Milan