Barca head 32-team Champions League draw

When does the draw start? The ceremony includes the vote for – and presentation of – the 2014-15 UEFA Best Player in Europe Awards for men and women.

Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester United and Manchester City will get to know what is in store for them in the 2015/16 Champions League group stage when the draws are held on the 27th of August.

The four Premier League sides are among 32 teams entering this season’s elite European competition.

How will the draw be made?

The governing body has scrapped the previous policy, under which the top eight teams were determined by recent performances in the competition and would so comprise pot one in the draw and avoid each other in the group stage.

No two teams from the same nation can be in the same group.

After the last round of qualifying games are completed tonight, Arsene Wenger will turn his attentions to who his side may face this season, with the draw due to take place in Monaco at 5.45 tomorrow evening. Thus, current Europa League holders, Sevilla, will be the first club to feature in the Champions League thanks to this rule, as they finished fifth in Spanish La Liga, behind Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia. Also in Pot 2 will be Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Porto.

As a result, the Catalan club – who will hope to retain the trophy at the final at the San Siro next May – are joined by Chelsea, Bayern, Juventus, Benfica, Paris Saint-German, Zenit St Petersburg and PSV Eindhoven in the first pot. The sales of unsettled Mario Mandzukic to Juventus and Arda Turan to their rivals Barcelona were in the spotlight, but it is of note also that the likes Joao Miranda (Inter Milan) and Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham) have left the club. The top two teams from each group progress to the last 16 knock-out stages in February.

The three remaining pots are based on 2015 Uefa club coefficients – a situation that means the three remaining English teams (assuming Manchester United qualify) will be in Pot 2.

Pot 3 is yet to be finalised, with four fixtures still to take place this evening, however Arsenal would fancy their chances against Sporting Lisbon, if they qualify ahead of CSKA Moscow tonight.