The Champions League group stage draw: Everything you need to know

The Champions League group stage has returned

The Champions League is back and ready for another year of dramatic football. Last year saw Real Madrid lift the title in Paris and this year's competition promises to be just as eventful. Teams have strengthened while some sides return to the tournament after a long absence. Some are even making their debut in the tournament. Here's everything you need to know about the Champions League, from when each round of group fixtures are and who is playing who in each group.

When are the fixtures played?

Here is the full list of dates you need to add to your diary for each Champions League game.

Gameweek One: September 6/7

Gameweek Two: September 13/14

Gameweek Three: October 4/5

Gameweek Four: October 11/12

Gameweek Five: October 25/26

Gameweek Six: November 1/2

The knockout stages

• Round of 16: February 14-15/21-22 and March 7-8/14-15
• Quarter-finals: April 11-12 & 18-19
• Semi-finals: May 9-10 & 16-17

When and where will the final take place?

This season's UEFA Champions League Final will take place in the city of Istanbul, Turkey at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on June 10.

Who are the teams competing in the Champions League?

Pot One:

• Real Madrid (Champions League holders and La Liga champions)
• Frankfurt (Europa League holders)
• Manchester City (Premier League champions)
• AC Milan (Serie A champions)
• Bayern Munich (Bundesliga champions)
• Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1 champions)
• Porto (Primeira Liga champions)
• Ajax (Eredivisie champions)

Pot Two:

• Liverpool (UEFA coefficient: 134.000)
• Chelsea (123.000)
• Barcelona (114.000)
• Juventus (107.000)
• Atletico Madrid (105.000)
• Sevilla (91.000)
• RB Leipzig (83.000)
• Tottenham Hotspur (83.000)

Pot Three:

• Borussia Dortmund (78.000)
• Red Bull Salzburg (71.000)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (71.000)
• Inter Milan (67.000)
• Napoli (66.000)
• Benfica (61.000)
• Sporting Lisbon (55.500)
• Bayer Leverkusen (53.000)

Pot Four:

• Rangers (50.250)
• Dinamo Zagreb (49.500)
• Marseille (44.000)
• Copenhagen (40.500)
• Club Bruges (38.500)
• Celtic (33.000)
• Viktoria Plzen (31.000)
• Maccabi Haifa (7.000)

The Groups

Group A:

• Ajax
• Liverpool
• Napoli
• Rangers

Group B:

• FC Porto
• Atletico Madrid
• Bayer Leverkusen
• Club Brugge

Group C:

• Bayern Munich
• Barcelona
• Inter Milan
• Viktoria Plzen

Group D:

• Eintracht Frankfurt
• Tottenham Hotspur
• Sporting Lisbon
• Marseille

Group E: 

• AC Milan
• Chelsea
• Red Bull Salzburg
• Dinamo Zagreb

Group F: 

• Real Madrid
• RB Leipzig
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Celtic

Group G:

• Manchester City
• Sevilla
• Borussia Dortmund
• Copenhagen

Group H:

• Paris Saint-Germain
• Juventus
• Benfica
• Maccabi Haifa

Related links:

• Mauricio Pochettino says PSG’s ‘obsession’ to win Champions League has hurt the club
• Safe standing to be trialled in Champions League next season
• Liverpool to face four of the ‘big six’ after Champions League fixtures