The UEFA Champions League league phase draw is set for Thursday, Aug. 27, at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Golazo Network, and trust me, you do not want to miss this one. Paris Saint-Germain might still be riding high after winning back-to-back titles, but the field for this new campaign is almost totally set, and it is absolutely loaded with a mix of familiar faces and some jaw-dropping surprises.
The Big Dogs Are Back and Hungry
Look, the heavy hitters are all here, and they are not messing around. Last season’s finalists, Arsenal, are back for another shot at glory. You know Barcelona and Bayern Munich, recent semifinalists, are going to be teams to watch from the jump. When you scan the list of the 32 qualified teams, it is packed with the usual suspects that make this tournament legendary. We are talking five teams from England alone: Aston Villa, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool. Italy is sending Inter, Napoli, Roma, and Como. Spain has Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, and Real Betis. Germany’s got Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Stuttgart. And of course, Paris Saint-Germain leads the French contingent alongside Lens and Lille. The Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Czechia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Norway are all represented too. These are the clubs we expect to see, the ones that usually command all the attention, and they are ready to battle it out once again.
Don’t Blink! Two Underdogs Just Crashed the Party
While the mainstays grab the headlines, the real story brewing for this draw has to be the wildcards. We have got some absolute shockers joining the big show. How about Sabah? This team not only snapped Qarabag’s insane streak of winning the Azerbaijan Premier League in 11 of the last 12 seasons, but they also fought their way through the Champions League qualification, which started even before the World Cup quarterfinals, to get here. This is their first time ever in Europe’s top club competition! Then there’s LASK from Austria. They celebrated their first Austrian Bundesliga title in 60 years and then punched their ticket to the Champions League in the most epic way possible. Seriously, they were down 3-0 in the first leg to Celtic, but somehow pulled off a ridiculous 5-1 win at home to seal the deal! And shoutout to Samuel Adeniran, that Houston-born forward, who bagged a brace on Tuesday to make that dream a reality for LASK. These teams are not just happy to be here; they earned it in unbelievable fashion.
This draw is not just about placing names in groups; it is about setting the stage for months of incredible football. With back-to-back champs, perennial powerhouses, and these two phenomenal underdog stories, you just know this Champions League season is going to deliver. Tune in Thursday at noon ET and let’s see how the league phase shakes out! It is going to be electric.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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