When is the Champions League draw 2015/16? Time, where to watch and betting odds

Holders: Barcelona will be looking to become the first team ever to retain the Champions League
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James Benge27 August 2015

As the qualifying rounds come to an end we are fast-approaching the return of Champions League football proper, with mere hours until the draw for the group stages.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City will all be in the pot when the draw is made, and they are likely to be joined by Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United. It would take one of the most impressive comebacks in the competition’s history for Club Brugge to eliminate the three-time champions, who lead 3-1 after the first leg.

Barcelona will look to be the first team to defend their crown since Arrigo Sacchi’s great Milan side defeated Benfica in 1990. With Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar leading the line they may be the best-placed to retain the cup, but likely rivals Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have all strengthened over the summer.

English clubs are looking to rebuild their formidable reputation in Europe after a season in which none of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City made it past the first knockout round and Liverpool didn’t even make it out of the group stages.

There have been significant changes to the structure of the draw, with domestic champions now given preferential treatment. For more details scroll down below.

When and where is the draw?

The draw for the group stages takes place from 16:45 UK time in Monaco.

How can I found out who has drawn who?

The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website but you can follow Standard Sport’s live coverage on the day.

Who is seeded in which pot?

Chelsea will be seeded in Pot One whilst Manchester City, Arsenal and (should they make it) Manchester United are all set to be in Pot Two.

For the first time champions from the seven highest-ranked European leagues and the European cup holders will be seeded first. With Barcelona having won La Liga and the Champions League the eighth place in Pot One goes to PSV Eindhoven, champions of the Dutch league.

Pot One: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg, PSV Eindhoven

Pot Two: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Porto, Arsenal, Manchester City, Valencia, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen

Pot Three: Olympiakos, Galatasaray, Dynamo Kyiv, Lyon, Roma, Shakhtar Donestk, Sevilla, CSKA Moscow

Pot Four: Borussia Monchengladbach, Wolfsburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Gent, Malmo, BATE, Astana

Elimination: Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League last season by PSG
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Who could Chelsea face?

Seeded in the top group after winning the Premier League, Jose Mourinho’s side have avoided many of Europe’s most dangerous clubs but could still find themselves facing tough trips to Madrid. Were they to draw Real or Atletico the Special One would be up against his former side or their city rivals in a reunion for Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa.

The English champions cannot be drawn with the two or three English teams in Pot two.

Best possible draw: Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiakos, Gent

Worst possible draw: Real Madrid, Roma, Wolfsburg

Who could Manchester City face?

Manuel Pellegrini’s side could once more find themselves up against Barcelona, their conquerors in each of the past two seasons, in what could well be a tough assignment for the English runners-up. After four seasons in Europe’s premier competition City are yet to get past the round of 16, improvement will be expected.

Best possible draw: PSV Eindhoven, Olympiakos, BATE

Worst possible draw: Barcelona, Roma, Wolfsburg

The Gunners: Arsenal will be hoping to do one better than their last-16 finish against Monaco last term
Michael Steele/Getty Images

Who could Arsenal face?

Arsene Wenger’s side have found the knockout stage to be an impassable barrier in recent seasons, last winning a two-legged tie when Nicklas Bendtner scored a hat-trick against Porto in 2010.

The north London side have been on the receiving end of several kind draws in recent years but have too often laboured to second places. Could their luck be up this year?

Best possible draw: PSV Eindhoven, Olypiakos, BATE

Worst possible draw: Bayern Munich, Roma, Wolfsburg

Who could Manchester United face?

Louis van Gaal brought United back to the Champions League at the first time of asking and if, as expected, they make it past Club Brugge they will find themselves in the second pot. For van Gaal that means possible reunions with Barcelona or Bayern Munich.

Best possible draw: PSV Eindhoven, Olympiakos, BATE

Worst possible draw: Barcelona, Roma, Wolfsburg

New Blues boy: Chelsea's summer signing Pedro won the Champions League with Barcelona last season
(Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

Who are the favourites?

Barcelona are the favourites to retain their crown, priced at 3/1, with 4/1 odds for both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. These three are some distance ahead of the next group of chasers, led by Chelsea, PSG, Juventus, Arsenal and Manchester United.

When does the group stage take place?

The first round of group games start on September 15, with the final round on December 9.

When does it all reach its conclusion?

The knock-out rounds begin on February 16, with three rounds to take the competitors to the Stadio Guiseppe Meazza, also known as the San Siro, in Milan on May 28. The home of Internazionale and AC Milan last hosted the final in 2001, when Bayern Munich beat Valencia.

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