The UEFA Champions League is officially back, with the draw being held this evening. There are a lot of changes surrounding this years competition meaning that there are a lot of changes to the draw as well. Each side will be drawn against eight random clubs, four home and away respectively, with most of the deciding being done by computer software.

The new format will arguably create more unpredictability as each team now faces eight opponents compared to the previous three, with the league table being an exciting way of deciding who goes through to the knock out phase. Here is an overview of each qualified British team’s recent history with the competition and who they will be playing.

Arsenal

Who will Arsenal be playing in this season’s UCL?

The eight teams that Arsenal will face in the league phase are: Paris Saint Germain (H), Inter Milan (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Atalanta BC (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Sporting Lisbon (A), Monaco (H) and Girona (A).

How did Arsenal do last time they were in the UCL?

Last season was the Gunners first time back amongst the big boys in six years after a long wait for Champions League football to return to the Emirates. After winning four of their six group stage games and topping their group, Arsenal edged past Porto on penalties in the round of 16 before finally falling to defeat against Bayern Munich in the quarter finals, losing 3-2 on aggregate. It was an applaudable first attempt from Mikel Arteta’s side but one they will surely be looking to better this season.

Our 24/25 UEFA Champions League journey starts here 💪 pic.twitter.com/LsCMZiXKwf

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 29, 2024

Liverpool

Who will Liverpool be playing in this season’s UCL?

The eight teams that Liverpool will face in the league phase are: Real Madrid (H), RB Leipzig (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), AC Milan (A), Lille (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Bologna (H), Girona (A).

How did Liverpool do last time they were in the UCL?

After a brief season of Europa League football, Liverpool are back in the Champions League. After finishing runners up in 2022, the 22/23 season was largely disappointing for the 2019 champions, drawing Real Madrid in the round of 16 and losing convincingly to them, 6-2 on aggregate. After disappointingly crashing out of the Europa League at the quarter final stage last April, the merseyside club will be hoping to bounceback this season.

Our opponents in the league phase of the 2024-25 @ChampionsLeague ✨ pic.twitter.com/5gMriXTaeB

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 29, 2024

Manchester City

Who will Manchester City be playing in this season’s UCL?

The eight teams that Man City will face in the league phase are: Inter Milan (H), Paris Saint Germain (A), Club Brugge (H), Juventus (A), Feyenoord (H), Sporting Lisbon (A), Sparta Praha (H) and Slovan Bratislava (A).

How did Manchester City do last time they were in the UCL?

Manchester City had a perfect Champions League groupstage last year, winning all six games a long the way. They brushed past Copenhagen in the round of 16 before - like Arsenal - failing to get past the quarter final stage losing out to Real Madrid on penalties. City had their first taste of European glory in 2023, and certainly have the squad to replicate that Champions League triumph again.

Here's who we will face in the 2024/25 #UCL league phase! 📋👇 pic.twitter.com/YPqtAcllZV

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 29, 2024

Aston Villa

Who will Aston Villa be playing in this season’s UCL?

The eight teams the Aston Villa will face in the league phase are: Bayern Munchen (H), RB Leipzig (A), Juventus (H), Club Brugge (A), Celtic (H), Young Boys (A), Bologna (H) and Monaco (A).

How did Aston Villa do last time they were in the UCL?

This is Villa’s first appearance in Europe’s top competition since 1983, 41 years ago! Back then in the 82/83 edition of the UEFA European Cup they were knocked out by Juventus in the quarter finals. Since then they have appeared in the Europa League (or UEFA Cup) 11 times and the Conference League once last season, reaching the semi final where they were knocked out by eventual champions, Olympiacos. There’s little pressure on Unai Emery’s men heading into this edition of the Champions League due to the amount of time spent away form the top, but that may be a major advantage at Villa Park as the Villains enter as potential surprise packages.

Back where we belong.

Our @ChampionsLeague fixtures are officially set! #ChampionsLeague || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/8zvZjisXTT

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 29, 2024

Celtic

Who will Celtic be playing in this season’s UCL?

The eight teams that Celtic will face in the league phase are: Leipzig (H), Borussia Dortmund (A), Club Brugge (H), Atalanta BC (A), Young Boys (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Aston Villa (A).

How did Celtic do last time they were in the UCL?

The last season that Celtic failed to appear in a European competition of any measure was the 94/95. A team with massive volumes of European experience that never seem to get up and running. Competing in the Champions League groupstage in both of the past two editions, Celtic finished bottom of their group in both campaigns with four points registered in the 23/24 season. Perhaps the new league format will finally see them reach the round of 16 in the UCL for the first time since 12/13.

✅ Our eight @ChampionsLeague opponents are confirmed ✨

⚪🔴 RB Leipzig (H)
🟡⚫ Borussia Dortmund (a)
🔵⚫ Atalanta (a)
🔵⚫ Club Brugge (H)
🟡⚫ Young Boys (H)
🔵🔴 Dinamo Zagreb (a)
🔵⚪ Slovan Bratislava (H)
🟣🔵 Aston Villa (a)#CelticFC | #UCLdraw🍀 pic.twitter.com/JFXe6NepG0

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 29, 2024

When does the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Group Stage Start?

The first round of league stage games will commence on the 17th and 18th of September which will see all teams above feature. The official calender for the fixtures will be published this Saturday, the current order in which these games will be played is undecided. The final round of fixtures will be on the 28th and 29th of January.