The official website for European football

That's all from us for tonight for the draw but the UEFA Europa League play-offs are in full swing, follow them in our MatchCentre. And of course on Friday morning we will do this all over again for the UEFA Europa League draw in Monaco, with build-up from the Grimaldi Forum and the draw itself at 13.00CET, followed by reaction and first news of the fixtures. Then at 20.45CET it's Chelsea v Atlético in the UEFA Super Cup, the last time it will be played at its traditional home of Stade Louis II. But for now, you can plan your UEFA Champions League watching with the full fixture list.

21.11

And to bring our round-up of the reaction to a close, the champions and Chelsea club secretary David Barnard: 'Shakhtar Donetsk are well organised, but we don't know much about them in terms of playing them before. Juventus we played in 2009 in the last 16 and we came out on top but since then they have new owners and have moved on so it will be a difficult tie. FC Nordsjælland are an unknown quantity."

21.03

Still the reaction pours in ... Ante Čačić, Dinamo Zagreb coach: "At first glance we have got attractive opponents, it can be said that we had a good draw. I already know that all of our opponents have already assumed the three points against us, but this year it will be much harder to do that against us than last season. I have gone 31 matches without losing and several weeks ago I told my players that the next match we will lose will be at Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-German. And now we really have got them in our group. But, now I will do all I can do to ensure we don't lose in Paris. "

20.50

Andoni Zubizarreta, Barcelona sporting director: "Whenever we are involved in a draw we are satisfied. I see our group as being what I would call a 'footballing' one and one that will be filled with passion, especially from the stands, and with different styles. Every team will look to test us. It's going to be an interesting section to start with."

20.40

On behalf of Manchester City, Patrick Vieira: "It is a very difficult draw but it should be fascinating as well. It is a really open group with four domestic champions. I think we’ll do much better than last year and playing Real Madrid twice will be a great occasion for the club."

20.38

Time to hear from the English clubs, starting with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the only coach to have overseen more than 100 wins in the competition: "We have the experience of playing against Galatasaray in the past ... it's always a difficult type of match. We have drawn Portuguese clubs a number of times over the past few years - the likes of Benfica, Sporting and Porto - so we have the experience of playing in Portugal on many occasions. Braga are one of the improving teams in that country. Obviously, we've never played Cluj before but, after the experience of last year, we don't want to make any stupid errors this time. We will play our strongest team to make sure we get through."

20.36

Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fernandinho: "We got a very strong group this season. We have the holders among our opponents. There are also Italian champions Juventus and the strongest team in Denmark who I know little about, but I think they are quite physical. But we are also strong and we need to prove it on the pitch. We need to avoid the mistakes we made last term. I think we'll be focused as the stronger the opponents, the more is the prestige of beating them."

20.34

Zenit midfielder Sergei Semak: "The draw was kind to us. I see groups much tougher than ours. If we evaluate clubs based on reputation, you have Milan and others, but everyone has chances to win. Last year everyone was quick to pick out favourites, but it all ended up differently. There are no weak teams in the tournament. Obviously you should respect Milan, but others are of the same level. We played Anderlecht not so long ago."

20.28

Leonardo Jardim, Olympiacos coach: "Our group is very balanced, every team can finish first or last. There is no powerhouse, no minnow in this group and that is positive for us. It’s also a good thing that we have our first match at home and it will be important to start with a victory against Schalke, because that will lift our spirits and give us confidence for the remainder of the group stage."

20.26

Francisco Martín Aguilar, Málaga director: "I think ours is a manageable group. There is one very strong team in Milan and then there are the rest of us. We have a lot of faith and belief that we can do something great in the tournament."

20.25

Spartak Moskva general manager Valeri Karpin: "Could have been worse, could have been better, so it's a normal group. Barcelona would have been clear favourites in any group, and they are in ours. The chances of all the other teams are more or less even. The game against Barcelona in Moscow will be interesting both for supporters and players. There's nothing to lose in matches against Barcelona. You can prove yourself and each positive episode would be treated as great luck."

20.25

Dynamo Kyiv coach Yuri Semin: "As soon as the lineup of Group A became clear I recalled our matches against Porto in 2008/09. We know Portuguese football relatively well and we have Miguel Veloso who will be especially motivated to play against his compatriots. We are also familiar with the Porto stadium where we won 1-0. "We played PSG in the same season, but in a different tournament - in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. I remember the match in Paris where we won confidently. But lately PSG have gone through big changes and signed a lot of high-profile players. So all the faces are quite familiar."

20.20

CFR Cluj owner Arpad Paszkany: “Any group would have been tough. Manchester United are a force, Braga have become a strong team in Portugal, Galatasaray are also very good. We will play each match in order to gain points. If last season a team from Cyprus reached the knockout stage, why shouldn’t we be able to do the same thing? We are not frightened of any of these opponents. We stand toe to toe with all of them. Of course, of lot will depend on the form of each player on the day of the match. If they will be as focused and committed as they were in the qualifiers, I think that we will have good results, including against Manchester United. I don’t think about third place. I think in the following order: first place, second place, third place."

20.18

Back to draw reaction from Rudi Garcia, Lille coach : "One of the groups, Group D, is very difficult and those who attended might have been relived not to be drawn in it. We got Belarusian side Borisov we know little about, the great Bayern, fantastic to welcome then in our Grand Stade and we'll meet Adil [Rami, at Valencia] at a club we played recently. We must demonstrate we took lessons from the previous campaigns by taking to to each of those teams."

20.16

You can already start predicting which teams you think will progress from the group stage with the new UEFA Champions League Group Predictor presented by MasterCard. Make the right predictions and you could some superb prizes, courtesy of MasterCard. And don’t forget that the new-look Match Predictor returns on 11 September.

20.14

The full fixture list is here

20.08

Fixtures hot off the press: matchday 1...
Tue 18 Sept - Dinamo v Porto, PSG v Dynamo, Monptellier v Arsenal, Olympiacos v Schalke, Málaga v Zenit, Milan v Anderlecht, Dortmund v Ajax, Real Madrid v Manchester City.
Wed 19 Sept - Shakhtar v Nordsjælland, Chelsea v Juventus, LOSC v BATE, Bayern v Valencia, Barcelona v Spartak, Celtic v Benfica, Manchester United v Galatasaray, Braga v CFR.
Full list shortly...

20.02

Next up, Schalke captain Benedikt Höwedes: “It’s a very interesting group. Clearly, I’m looking forward to the games against Arsenal. I get along great with Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker. Olympiacos and Montpellier are difficult to judge. The fact that both teams won their leagues does say something though.”

19.55

Manuel Llorente, Valencia president: "The group will demand a lot from our team. We played against Lille three years ago and they are a side for whom we have a lot of respect. A game in Belarus [against BATE] will be tricky."

19.53

Anderlecht general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck: “It could have been worse. This is a group in which as a Belgian club when may have the ambition to go for third place, and survive the winter in Europe. We are very happy just to be in this Champions League and we have the ambition to hurt our opponents in our home matches. But we have to keep our feet on the ground. We still have to prove we deserve this place in the Champions League. So let us not brag too loud just yet, the Champions League is on a different level to the Europa League.”

19.52

Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim: "Manchester United are a team who everybody must respect. Many years ago, Galatasaray had a success against Man United. I hope we can repeat that. Braga have done a good job in recent years. Football is a serious business and we shouldn’t underestimate anybody. This will be our key principle. We set our target as qualifying from the group long time ago. Matches are won on the pitch. Therefore we’ll prepare in the best way we can to achieve this. I was going to say the same regardless of the teams we were paired with. I don’t rely on luck. I never had. If you don’t put in enough effort, you may finish this group in fourth. Without thinking of the power of our opponents, we have to focus our own game. Let this be a good campaign for whole Galatasaray community. Europe missed Turkey and so do Galatasaray. I hope it will be a long European journey."

19.50

Last year's UEFA Best Player in Europe congratulates the 2012 vintage.

Emilio Butragueño, the Real Madrid director of institutional relations, declared: "We haven't had that much luck but then our opponents will be saying the same. We will see tight games in which there will be a lot of pressure. We are hoping to get to the final this year and the demands from the off will be enormous. Manchester City are a very strong team who have invested a lot over the years. Ajax have a good side and it will take a lot of effort to beat them."

19.47

Here's Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp on the story of the night, Group D: “This group give us pleasant anticipation, goose bumps and a certain thrill. Obviously Manchester City and Real Madrid have more financial power than we do, but that won't make us fear them. We want to be their most inconvenient opponents when we play them. This group is simply fantastic.”

19.46

Paris Saint-Germain full-back Christophe Jallet believes the French side have a decent change of reaching the round of 16: "It would have been tricky with some of the big fishes in this draw. We have avoided them. We can progress but beware of Porto; Portuguese clubs are tough for French ones. FC Porto are favourites, but we have a shot."

19.44

BATE Borisov midfielder Aleksandr Volodko was on the edge of his seat throughout the draw: "When I saw the group with Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak taken I breathed out with relief. I wanted Milan, Chelsea or Arsenal among our opponents, but we got Bayern, Valencia and Lille. It will be new for us to meet all of them, as we've never played them before. "Bayern of course stand apart, because they were finalists last year. They will be favourites. Valencia are a technically good team, so it will be interesting to play them. We'll study our opponents more closely before the matches. We need to get our first win in the group stage, as we didn't win any of the twelve previous games at this stage."

19.43

CFR Cluj coach Ioan Andone was in philosophical mood after the draw, explaining: "It could have been worse or much worse, but also a little bit smoother. Except Manchester United, who don't need any presentation or assessment, the other two opponents are acceptable. Of course we'll start each of the matches as outsiders, but I'll study the opponents thoroughly. There are several ways to do my homework, including speaking to people who know our opponents very well. Our target is to win more than eight points achieved by Unirea Urziceni three years ago and we will go for it."

19.39

The Best Player in Europe - official

The UEFA Europa League draw is at 13.00CET tomorrow, and the play-off second legs are being player now: follow them in our MatchCentre.

19.34

BATE Borisov midfielder Dmitri Baga was one of the draw's more relaxed observers, explaining: "There were no teams I especially wanted to meet, so I followed it calmly. All the teams in our group are of a good level, but we can match any of them. I see Bayern as the favourites because they played in the last final. Valencia showed fantastic performance last term. I saw Lille's match against København and they proved they're a solid outfit. It's even more interesting this way. We'll prepare and play. We want to achieve something better than last year when we finished only fourth."

19.28

Beckhmann's Nordsjælland team-mate, goalkeeper Jesper Hansen is similarly delighted, adding: "I hoped to meet Juventus, so my wish came true. That said, we've ended up in a very tough group, with Chelsea and Shakhtar, so we are in for some really tough challenges. It'll be very difficult for us to get through but maybe we can get some points at home, although the away matches will be very hard."

19.26

FC Nordsjælland midfielder Mikkel Beckhmann is in buoyant mood: "It is a great group! It has got to be the second hardest group, but also the second greatest, so I am pleased. Juventus are my favourite team, and I am really looking forward to the away match there and the one against Chelsea. Shakhtar Donetsk are also a really really good team who in advance I feared a little, but now we get two really big teams, so I am happy with the draw."

19.24

Alberto Cerruti of La Gazzetta dello Sport on his Best Player selection: "I voted for Iniesta because he was the best player at EURO, a symbol of the Spain team that made history by winning a third successive international tournament. On top of that, Iniesta is also a symbol of the Barcelona side, even if he gets overshadowed, through no fault of his own, by Messi."

19.23

Next up Olympiacos defender Pablo Contreras: "It's a balanced group, with no big differences between the four teams. We have high expectations and we want to achieve them, regardless of the opponents we have been handed. Arsenal are a big European club, however I trust in our side and believe that we can hold our own against them."

19.20

More Bayern reaction from coach Jupp Heynckes: “The group is manageable for us, at least on paper. But the Champions League is always a difficult challenge and every opponent has to be respected. We are looking forward to the first game."

19.19

Ajax coach Frank de Boer tweeted during the draw: “And now Dortmund and the party is complete," while after the draw he joked: “When is the final?”

19.17

"I voted for Iniesta. He was the outstanding player in the wonderful Spain team that triumphed at EURO 2012. Hugely talented but also remarkably modest, his conduct on and off the pitch was impeccable – a true role model for others to follow. " England's Best Player panel voter Gavin Hamilton of World Soccer.

19.13

Iniesta joins his club-mate Messi on the UEFA award.

René Girard, the Montpellier coach : "Obviously, we'll give our best. We haven't come all this way for nothing. Arsenal are a big club in Europe, Olympiacos's stadium has a hot atmosphere and Schalke are all about German riguour."

19.09

Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer: "It’s a semi-tough draw. Our goal is clear - qualify for the next round as group winners. If we are in good shape, we will prevail. If we are not in good shape, we could run into problems. Valencia are a top club in Spain, we will have to prepare ourselves well."

19.05

Neil Lennon, Celtic manager: "Delighted to be here. Barcelona are a real glamour club and the other two are huge teams in their own countries."

19.05

Here's some immediate reaction (via Twitter) from ‏@JoleonLescott of Manchester City... Group D highlights the fact why it's called Champions league. #TitleWinnersOnly

19.04

That's it from the draw ceremony..stay here for award and draw reaction and all the fixtures.

19.03

Iniesta: "I am very honoured and I dedicate this award to be Barcelona and Spain team-mates. I am privileged to be here with two such great footballers as Leo and Cristiano."

19.03

Iniesta had 19 votes, both the others 17 each...

19.02

"The winner of the 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe award is Andrés Iniesta."

19.01

UEFA President Michel Platini joins the nominees on stage to present the trophy.

19.00

Rainer Holzschuh of Kicker and ESM is on stage, and the trophy is also coming on. I can reveal the result is...very close!

19.00

Proof we were not lying about the groups - here they are displayed in the draw hall in Monaco...

Ronaldo: "We are in the most difficult group, but we are champions of Spain and ready to compete with anybody."

18.57

Here are the nominees in the audience a few minutes ago - the rows in which they are sit are purely random!

Engraver still hard at work on the screen above the stage, the three nominees have won many trophies but all look a little nervous at this moment.

18.54

Messi: "A lot of my success and goals are down to me being in such a great team that allow me to shine."

18.53

Ronaldo proud of his season despite losing in the UEFA Champions League and EURO semi-finals by the "lottery" of penalties.

18.53

Iniesta, on UEFA EURO 2012 victory with Spain: "I feel very privileged to be part of this generation of Spanish footballers."

18.51

Voting over, the engraver has been handed a card with the winner's name on...but we'll have to wait a few minutes as Ronaldo, Messi and Iniesta stroll up to the stage.

18.50

This is the trophy one of Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta will be lifting...the 53 voting journalists (one from each UEFA nation) are making their choice now.

Steve McManaman condemns a team to Group D.

Looking at the nominees, who need little introduction. First up Andrés Iniesta, then Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi (who won the inaugural award last year) and another prolific Liga talent, Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Tempted to vote for all three...

18.46

Full draw is above...stay here for first news of the fixture list. Now time for the UEFA Best Player in Europe award, the 53 journalists present will be voting in the Grimaldi Forum.

18.41

...Borussia Dortmund join fellow national champions Real Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City in Group D. #savebestuntillast

18.41

CFR Cluj are the penultimate team out, and are placed in Group H alongside Braga, Galatasaray and Manchester United, which means...

18.40

Málaga - in their second European season and making a competition debut - are in Group C with Milan, Zenit and Anderlecht.

18.39

BATE Borisov meet Bayern, Valencia and Lille in Group F.

18.38

Danish newcomers Nordsjælland have a baptism of fire: Chelsea, Shakhtar and Juventus in Group E.

18.38

Montpellier, the first of the three debutants to be drawn, join Arsenal, Schalke and Olympiacos in Group B.

18.37

GNK Dinamo Zagreb will hope to improve on last season's showing, playing Porto, near namesakes Dynamo Kyiv and PSG in Group A.

18.36

The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner selects Celtic - and they complete Group G with Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moskva. Barcelona ended Celtic's last UEFA Champions League proper campaign in the 2007/08 last 16.

18.35

Pot 4 will be drawn by Fabio Cannavaro, another former European Footballer of the Year.

18.31

Spartak Moskva await Barcelona and Benfica in Group G - just Pot 4 to go.

18.30

Juventus make Group E, already with Chelsea and Shakhtar, even tougher.

18.30

Ajax, four-time winners, and take on Real Madrid and Manchester City. Madrid beat Ajax 3-0 twice last year, and it'll be no easier in that section.

18.29

PSG are back in this season after eight years away and play Porto and Dynamo Kyiv in Group A.

18.28

Anderlecht will be playing Milan and Zenit in Group C.

18.27

Olympiacos join Arsenal and Schalke in Group B. Olympiacos and Arsenal were in the same group last season and in 2009/10.

18.26

Lille are in Group F with Bayern and Valencia, looking pretty tough.

18.26

The first team he selects is Galatasaray, who go into Group H with familiar mid-1990s opponents Manchester United and Braga.

18.24

Gullit, speaking about the 4-0 defeat of Steaua in the 1989 final, says: "In the semi-final against Real Madrid I had a meniscus tear and needed an operation and I needed to prepare well. To score two goals in a final after coming back from injury is a great feeling. There is no competition that can compare as a club."

18.23

Picking out Pot 3 will be Ruud Gullit, a winner with Zenit's opponents AC Milan.

18.22

Zenit St Petersburg are last out, in Group C with new opponents Milan. All taking shape.

18.20

Here's a corker: Manchester City in Group D with Real Madrid. Teams in Pots 3 & 4 - steer clear!

18.19

Dynamo Kyiv, who staged the UEFA EURO 2012 final, go in Group A with Porto (venue for the 2004 opener). Porto beat Dynamo in the 1987 semi-finals, 2-1 in both legs.

18.19

Schalke are in Group B with Arsenal, just as in 2001/02 (each won at home).

18.18

Braga have been put into Group H with Manchester United, who they have not played.

18.17

Benfica are going into Group G alongside Barcelona. Benfica beat Barcelona 3-2 in the 1961 final in Berne (and they are also the only clubs to have won both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Futsal Cup).

18.17

It is Group F and Bayern for Valencia. They met in the 2001 final in Milan, Bayern winning on penalties.

18.15

Valencia next to be picked by George Weah...and their 2000 nemesis Steve McManaman will select their group...

18.15

...and they are in Group E with holders Chelsea. Their first meetings.

18.14

Here are Shakhtar...whose group will they be in?

18.14

Among this pot: former champions Benfica, two-time finalists Valencia and English title-holders Manchester City. They cannot meet teams from their own country.

18.13

Frank Lampard brings the trophy on stage.

Another UEFA Champions League great appears to draw Pot 2 - Milan legend George Weah (1995 Ballon d'Or winner).

18.10

With Arsenal and Manchester United's appearance, the top seeds are drawn and the first fixtures are about to be set.

18.09

Here are the holders Chelsea... if they or Arsenal reach the final they will be the first London club to play in a Wembley European Cup decider.

18.09

Now AC Milan, who have been in a record six UEFA Champions League final (this is the 21st season). They are in Group C.

18.08

Barcelona, just drawn, are the only club to have been involved in a European competition every season since the European Cup and Fairs Cup began in 1955.

18.06

Now Bayern are out of Pot 1 - the full draw is being displayed live just above (a team in drawn and then their group letter is drawn).

18.05

Real Madrid first out...

18.04

Here we go with the draw...Denis Law take it away...

18.03

Pedro Pinto and Melanie Winiger present the draw ceremony.

Gianni Infantino speaks of the spirit of football, as UEFA marks the FA's 150th birthday by returning the final to Wembley, and also emphasises the Financial Fair Play rules which are soon to come into operation.

18.01

Gianni Infantino is now explaining how the draw will operate (if you look to the box to the right under the photo gallery, you can see for yourself).

17.59

McManaman, who scored for Real Madrid in the 2000 final against Valencia, says: "It was an incredible feeling, the fact I did it in my first year with Real Madrid, who have such an incredible history, meant so much."

17.57

And now the UEFA Champions League final ambassador, 2000 and 2002 winner Steve McManaman.

17.57

UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino and the UEFA Director of Competitions, Giorgio Marchetti, are now about to explain the draw procedure.

17.56

Law remembers: "The manager Sir Matt Busby came in with the trophy with all the team when I was lying in hospital, it gave me a real kick."

17.55

Now some competition legends will be making an appearance as they will be drawing the balls. First up: Denis Law, who helped Manchester United win in 1968 (he missed the final injured)

17.53

Lampard says: "It was the most amazing feeling. At Chelsea we had waited a long time...it was everything we thought it would be."

17.52

Frank Lampard now bringing the trophy on stage.

17.52

Chelsea lifting the trophy last May in Munich.

First off, some highlights of 2011/12 (spoiler: Chelsea won - can they become the first team to triumph in two straight UEFA Champions Leagues?)

17.49

The ceremony has begun in Monaco...

17.48

One of these 2012/13 adidas match balls is the real thing and one a replica - looks pretty good even if we do say so ourselves.

And if Ajax finish third in their group, they will have the chance to aim for the UEFA Europa League final at their Amsterdam ArenA.

17.34

A reminder that the final will be back at Wembley on 25 May 2013 - will it be Barcelona v Manchester United again?

17.33

Once the fixtures are confirmed tonight we will be launching our Predictor game with some great prizes - last season the overall winner got an all-inclusive trip for two to a UEFA Champions League semi-final.

17.27

Kevin Ashby, Grimaldi Forum
Just had a quick look in the draw hall - Vicente del Bosque, Carlo Ancelotti, Leonardo and Rui Costa were all heading in. Stay here for post-draw reaction.

17.26

Fernando Torres played a crucial role in Chelsea winning last season and hence they are in tomorrow's UEFA Super Cup - here he is in the pre-match press conference in Monaco.

With the countdown on to the Champions League draw, Rabah Madjer reflects on a classic goal for Porto from 1987

17.20

Right, 30 minutes to go to the draw ceremony in Monaco (which will including the UEFA Best Player Award). Expect big-name guests and some fascinating groups (as you can see from the draw pots above).

17.12

This is only Málaga’s second season in Europe: in 2002/03 they reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals via the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

17.07

Montpellier will be the tenth different French team to play in the UEFA Champions League group stage – only Spain has supplied more.

16.57

Fabio Cannavaro, preparing for his UEFA.com interview in Monaco, will be an interested spectator at the draw.

Also finishing fourth in their 2011/12 section were LOSC Lille, although they collected six points in Group B. This time round the French side, Ligue 1 champions and French Cup winners in 2010/11, came through a tense play-off tie against FC København in extra time thanks to Túlio De Melo's 105th-minute strike.

16.48

GNK Dinamo Zagreb are also back in the group stage, although the Croatian champions will be aiming to improve on their 2011/12 showing. The Zagreb club finished bottom of Group D without a point to their name, and concluded their campaign with a 7-1 home defeat at the hands of Olympique Lyonnais, their heaviest loss in UEFA competition.

16.45

FC Spartak Moskva will be involved for the first time since 2010/11 having held on at Fenerbahçe SK for a 1-1 second-leg draw in the play-offs last night, the Russian side coming through 3-2 on aggregate. With Spartak in Pot 3 for the draw, they could be paired with Valencia CF, who coach Unai Emery led to third place in last season's Spanish Liga before moving to Moscow.

16.35

We are just over an hour away from the UEFA Champions League group stage draw getting under way, and you will be able to watch and follow it all live here on UEFA.com.

16.31

Over on Twitter, UEFA.com is giving you the chance to quiz former Manchester United FC striker Denis Law - tweet your questions using #AskDenisLaw until 20.00CET.

16.22

Alfredo Rodríguez, Monaco
Following Ruud Gullit, the former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has dropped by to look ahead to tonight’s draw: “When I was playing I preferred to hear what had happened from other people, but I’ve really started to follow them in recent years. It’s interesting to see who will be drawn against whom in the Champions League, it’s a very important moment of the season. For the clubs, it’s a chance to think about how far you could go in the competition.”

16.12

Kevin Ashby, Monaco
Ruud Gullit has just taken time out from his 50th birthday celebrations to sit down for an interview with UEFA.com. Looking ahead to the draw, he said: “It’s always something special. As a player I never watched it live but always asked for the results. Last year’s winner was a surprise, of course, but a nice surprise for me.”

16.05

While the current Chelsea manager is finalising his preparations for the UEFA Super Cup, one of his predecessors Ruud Gullit has been sitting down for an interview with UEFA.com.

Di Matteo has made a number of signings this summer although Eden Hazard has caught the eye of the new arrivals with two goals and two assists in three appearances to date. "He’s brought a lot of creativity and different options but he’s not the only one," the Chelsea manager says of the Belgian. "He links up with Mata, Fernando and the other midfielders – they’ve got a good understanding. He's made an extremely positive impact but it's down to the rest of the team as to why he’s settled in so smoothly."

16.01

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo recognises it will be a tough task to claim the third trophy of his six-month reign at Stamford Bridge, adding: "It doesn’t matter if it’s a Spanish club or another one. They are a very good team – they won the Europa Leagueand have started in a good fashion in the league. I’ve seen both their games this season and they have lots of quality and a good coach."

15.59

The 28-year-old also knows the current Atlético coach well from his time at the club, saying: "Diego Simeone was a senior player when I was at Atlético and I looked up to him. What he's done for Atlético is great – he’s been a legend for Atléti as a player and a manager. He got through the idea of sacrifice, working hard for the team. He helped me a lot when I was captain at Atlético and taught me a lot."

15.54

Having won the adidas Golden Boot at UEFA EURO 2012 and started the season in fine form with Chelsea, Torres is optimistic he is back to his best. "I'm playing more, scoring more and the confidence is back – it’s as simple as that," he said. "I have become a better player here."

15.51

Mata adds: "It’s very special – we want to win for the club. Winning the Champions League was a special moment and now we have another opportunity. Fernando knows Atlético very well. They have a strong team, good strikers and defenders and quality midfielders."

15.49

Torres' compatriot Juan Mata also knows Atlético well from his time in his native Spain, and is optimistic Chelsea can claim this trophy for the second time. "A Super Cup is a special opportunity – it's a Spanish team as well, a team where I have good friends. We'd like to add the trophy to our list of achievements."

15.46

Torres managed only 11 goals for Chelsea in 2011/12 but already has three for the current campaign and admits the joy of lifting the UEFA Champions League in May made up for any personal travails. "Last season was difficult but I can’t say it was bad. The beginning was hard, the end was amazing. We must enjoy these moments as they won’t last forever. We’re enjoying a good run."

15.43

"This couldn’t be more special for me," Chelsea's Fernando Torres says of his reunion with Atlético. "Since I signed for them I feel the support for them – I am one of them and they know that. They're not only my former club but also the club I support. I have to leave all these things apart and the thing is to win this cup."

15.41

Back to the UEFA Super Cup, and the second pre-match press conference is about to start. The Chelsea FC manager Roberto Di Matteo will be joined by players Juan Mata and Fernando Torres, the latter's thoughts on opponents Club Atlético de Madrid sure to be particularly interesting.

15.29

Anderlecht certainly have plenty of European pedigree; the Brussels club reached two European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals and five quarter-finals and have also won the Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

15.26

Another team returning to the group stage are RSC Anderlecht, who last featured in 2006/07. The Belgian side overturned a 2-1 first-leg loss at AEL Limassol FC to win their play-off 3-2 on aggregate, the first time they have overturned a defeat in the opening match of a tie since 2004, ending a run of seven successive aggregate defeats when they lost the first leg.

15.23

Porto's domestic rivals SC Braga are in the group stage draw for only the second time, having finished third behind FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Arsenal FC in the 2010/11 competition. The Portuguese side therefore moved into the UEFA Europa League, and went on to reach the final, which they lost 1-0 in Dublin – to Porto.

15.19

Vítor Pereira is eager for FC Porto to improve on their showing in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League

"If we are amongst the best of Europe we have to be prepared to face every opponent," says FC Porto coach Vítor Pereira, with the Portuguese champions hoping to improve on their third-placed finish in last season's group stage. "Last year we didn't reach our goal. We have expectations, we know our quality and we know that regardless of the opponents we have the capacity to compete in every game with the best of Europe."

15.11

FC Dynamo Kyiv fans will be able to watch the draw live at Stadion Dinamo im. Valeriy Lobanovskyi together with players Miloš Ninković, Ognjen Vukojević and Niko Kranjčar who will stay after the draw to chat with the fans, asses the club's chances and answer questions.

15.00

A current representative of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, midfielder Henrik Mkhitaryan, is happy to take the draw as it comes: "I see no difference who Shakhtar are drawn against because we have to play whoever we get. This is a lottery; you just have to study your opponents and work to beat them."

14.55

FC Bayern München midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk has been looking forward to the draw on Facebook, and is keen to be reunited with either of his former clubs. "It is the Champions League draw today,” said the Ukrainian international. “To tell the truth I would love to play against Zenit or Shakhtar."

14.51

Having signed a five-year contract with SL Benfica earlier this month Eduardo Salvio, who had a loan spell at the Lisbon giants in 2010/11, is predicting a tough test for the Portuguese side. "We have to be prepared to face Barcelona or Real Madrid," said the 22-year-old, who has scored in his first two league games this season. "We have to believe that we can put in a good performance in the Champions League."

14.39

Meanwhile, preparations are continuing for the UEFA Champions League group stage draw which will be streamed live on UEFA.com from 17.45CET. Anticipation is mounting in Monaco and around Europe as the 32 qualified teams wait to discover their fate.

14.38

The Chelsea FC press conference, with coach Roberto Di Matteo and Spanish duo Juan Mata and Fernando Torres – the latter a hero at Atlético following 84 goals in 214 Liga games before his move to Liverpool FC in summer 2007 – in attendance follows at 15.30CET. Stick with UEFA.com, and follow Sam Adams on Twitter at @UEFAcomSamA, for all the details.

14.26

Key to the Spanish side's chances is likely to be Falcao, and the prolific Colombian striker is anticipating an open encounter. "Chelsea are a very organised side who defend well and come forward as a team well too. They are strong, but we can stand up to them and beat them. I think we could see an entertaining game."

14.21

If Atlético do triumph at the Stade Louis II tomorrow night, Gabi will lift the trophy although the captain acknowledges the size of the task at hand. "Chelsea are going to be tricky rivals," he explained. "They have signed very good players this summer to complete a competitive squad. We’re going to focus on our job because we deserve to be here after winning the Europa League."

14.14

UEFA.com's Sam Adams has the latest from the Atlético press conference, where coach Diego Simeone is playing down the opportunity to win the UEFA Super Cup for the second time in three years. "We know there’s an enormous prize at the end and what we want to delve into is how to achieve it," said the Argentinian. "We’re playing a game with high stakes but we need to focus on the match, not the cup."

14.09

Atlético's UEFA Super Cup press conference at the Grimaldi Forum is under way. UEFA.com's Sam Adams is there - follow him on Twitter @UEFAcomSamA.

13.49

Having failed to make it through the group stage in 2011/12, Manchester United are determined to make amends. Whoever the Reds are bundled with, qualification to the knockout phase will be the minimum target after a disappointing 2011/12 campaign when United failed to progress past the group stage - and later bowed out of the Europa League at the hands of Athletic Club. "We're better than that," Sir Alex Ferguson said. "That won't happen again. We'll qualify from the group stages. I'll make sure of it. We need to make a statement and show everybody last season was just a blip."

13.43

With Braga joining Porto and Benfica in this afternoon's draw, Portugal has three teams in the group stage for the third time, having previously reached that high-water mark in 2006/07 and 2007/08.

13.38

You can also keep up to date with news from across Europe by following @UEFAcom.

13.37

Nordsjælland sporting director Jan Laursen is philosophical about the Danish champions' draw prospects. "We can only meet big teams, so no matter who we get, there are some huge challenges ahead of us," he said. "That being said, I basically want as many points as possible, so if we get just one big team, from whom we can learn a lot, and then beat the two other teams in the group, it would be great! However, it is impossible to say who we will get, and all I know is that we will be very well prepared, no matter what teams come out of the hat."

13.07

Remember you can join over 3 million fans of Europe’s premier club competition on the official UEFA Champions League Facebook page.

12.55

Braga have qualified for the second time for the group stage and that historic achievement was underlined by the fans that waited through the night at Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport to welcome the team home. “Udine heroes received with a warm welcome,” wrote O Jogo. "Madness at the airport,” added Record), while A Bola leads with: “Warriors enjoy a day of euphoria – over a thousand fans welcome Udine heroes."

12.54

A shot of the UEFA Super Cup, back at UEFA headquarters in Nyon

A reminder of what we have coming up...
13.00, Grimaldi Forum – Atlético press conference
15.30, Grimaldi Forum – Chelsea press conference
17.45, Grimaldi Forum – UEFA Champions League group stage draw, including the presentation ceremony of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award
19.00, Stade Louis II – Chelsea training session
20.15, Stade Louis II – Atlético training session

12.47

There will be four European Footballers of the Year present at the draw. Each will be responsible for drawing teams from one of the pots, and the ambassador for the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley will be unveiled – before also helping out with the draw.

12.45

CFR coach Ioan Andone has already set himself a group-stage target, regardless of who the Romanian side get in the draw. “I know how hard it is, but our first and main aim will be to get more points than Romania’s points-record holders in the group stage, Unirea Urziceni, who won eight points three years ago.”

12.39

Two of the sides to progress this week, CFR and BATE, are the only ones amnong the 29 2012/13 contenders that have been in the group stage before who have never to have made the knockouts.

12.32

If Ajax finish third in their group they will transfer to the UEFA Europa League – the final of which will be at their Amsterdam ArenA.

12.30

This is Olympiacos’s 21st consecutive year in European club competition.

12.29

English champions Manchester City have never made it through a round of Europe’s premier club competition.

12.28

Schalke are the first team to qualify automatically by finishing third in the Bundesliga after Germany overtook Italy in the rankings.

12.28

Zenit won the Russian title after an unprecedented 18-month campaign

Zenit took their place after a marathon 18-month campaign as Russia’s league switched from a calendar year to summer-to-summer season.

12.27

Shakhtar had never appeared in the Europe's premier club competition before 2000 but have at least been in qualifying in every season since.

12.26

Benfica are the only side to have lost in five consecutive European Cup final appearances (1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, 1990).

12.25

In contrast to Porto, Valencia are the only club to reach multiple UEFA Champions League finals without winning.

12.25

Milan have appeared in a record six UEFA Champions League finals, sharing their mark of three wins with Madrid and Barcelona.

12.24

Porto are one of only two teams (along with Nottingham Forest) to appear in multiple European Cup finals and never lose (1987 & 2004).

12.23

Arsenal are the only team in the top-ranked Pot 1 not to have won the European Cup.

12.23

Real Madrid are one win away from becoming the first team to 100 UEFA Champions League victories (Manchester United have 98, Barcelona 97).

12.22

Manchester United are making a record 17th consecutive appearance in the competition (Arsenal and Real Madrid are on 16).

12.21

Barcelona are the only club to have been involved in a European competition in every season since the European Cup and Fairs Cup began in 1955.

12.21

Chelsea’s 2012 win made London the sixth capital to welcome the European Cup after Madrid, Amsterdam, Belgrade, Lisbon and Bucharest.

12.20

Hans Joachim Watzke, Borussia Dortmund general manager, is in Monaco, and said: "It would be false to talk about easy and tough opponents. But if we get Barcelona, Manchester City and Juventus, I wouldn't be really satisified. Our goal is clear: We want to progress from the group stage."

12.18

Turin newspaper Tuttosport has a curious headline: "Juventuuuus", with musical notes before and after. It is a reference to the famous UEFA Champions League anthem to mark the return of the Bianconeri to Europe's most prestigius club competition. "In Europe, we will have to face new economic powerhouses but we are Juventus and we want to win every competition we are in, Champions League included," said president Andrea Agnelli.

12.15

In the group stage for a 14th time, Olympiacos are looking ahead to the draw with a mix of anticipation and nerves. Coach Leonardo Jardim said: “I would like to avoid the Spanish sides, because of their quality and competitive rhythm.” Algerian winger Djamel Abdoun disagreed. “It’s good for the players and for the fans to have a really big club in the group,” he explained. “I would like Real Madrid in our group - they are my favorite team.” Spanish attacking midfielder David Fuster concluded: “No matter which clubs we are drawn against, it will be very tough – this is the most important club competition in the world.”

12.14

East coast daily Las Provincias can’t help to raise a little “morbo” or “dark fascination” with the prospect of former Valencia coach Unai Emery returning to the region with Spartak Moskva. “The ex-Valencia boss saw his Russian Premier League side suffer before edging past Fenerbahçe in last night’s play-off,” the paper explained before saying there was every possibility the sides, in pots two and three respectively, could meet. “Will new Valencia coach [Mauricio] Pellegrino be able to make a better start to the tournament than Emery did last season when Valencia followed draws against Genk and Chelsea with a defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen?” Las Provincias wonders. “There is excitement at the prospect of Valencia reaching the last 16, but why can’t the team even dream of a place in the quarter-finals?”

12.11

BATE Borisov - the team Anderlecht are keen to meet again

Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler is happy to take on Spain's big two, but maybe not just now. "We want to achieve something and hope to get a group where we can progress," he said. "If I could decide, I would like to play against Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, but I would rather not have them in the group stage - maybe in the semi-finals..."

12.08

Anderlecht general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck has an unexpected favoured opponent in the draw - the side that knocked the Belgian club out in qualifying in 2008. "I am hoping for a draw against BATE Borisov, because I want revenge for our elimination a few years ago," he told Het Nieuwsblad newspaper, who also have forward Milan Jovanović, who played with Standard Liège in Champions League in 2009, saying he would not be too happy with a tie against Barcelona. “Then(with Standard) we really had a good team. In the Champions League now I do not dream about drawing three absolute top teams. On top team and two subtop teams, that would be ideal. Barcelona? Pfff…. That might me pleasant for you journalists, but not for us”

12.02

Barcelona cannot be paired with Bayern, but Catalan daily El Mundo Deportivo warned the four-time European champions that they faced, “a dangerous draw” today, pointing out that “last season’s semi-finalists are among the top seeds but could come up against serious contenders in each remaining pot”. It adds: “The biggest danger for the Azulgrana and the rest of the sides in the top tier is Manchester City.” Madrid-based sports daily AS insists that “all of Europe fear Real Madrid and Barça” in its pre-draw coverage.

11.57

Bayern for their part are determined to atone for losing the 2011/12 final to Chelsea at their own stadium, with the 2012/13 competition to conclude at Wembley. "We will reclaim in London, what they stole from us in Munich," said defender Daniel Van Buyten. "Despite being in the toughest group last year, we finished top and made it to the final. Everyone can see what we've acchieved. We were in the final twice in three years - at least once we should have won. So the others have great respect for us. For me there is no bogey team. Of course no one wants to play against Barcelona, but we can't anyway."

11.54

Danish champions Nordsjælland are also awaiting a first group stage campaign, and captain Nicolai Stokholm knows what he wants to see at the draw. "I hope to meet Bayern München, as I have always felt that they stood for some interesting football," he explained. "Furthermore, I am sure that it would be a great place to play, and they would be a fine opponent for us."

11.51

Editors at southern daily El Diario Sur could not hide their excitement as local team Málaga FC prepare to discover their fate. “As of today, Málaga begin a new dream,” the newspaper explained in this morning’s edition. “Los Boquerones will be in pot four with a co-efficient far inferior to other teams competing as we have to remember it was back in 2002/03 that the side last played in Europe.”
“We could see a group containing Málaga, Bayern München, Manchester City and Juventus,” it adds. “Or what about Chelsea, Zenit St Petersburg, Paris Saint-Germain and Málaga? Whatever the result, Pellegrini said he would be targeting the last-16 after getting through the play-off.”

11.50

LOSC celebrated an important victory in their first European game at their new stadium

The new Grand Stade Lille Métropole, LOSC’s new home, played host to plenty of drama in its first European fixture, with the home side overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit against FCK after the game went into extra-time. “It's mission accomplished,” said defender Franck Béria. “This is why we do this job – the emotions are intense because this is the best-case scenario.” Forward Dimitri Payet continued: “It's great [to have won this first European match at the new stadium], particularly as it was a very difficult match and there was a lot of pressure surrounding this match. We created a connection with our fans and you could say we've made ourselves at home in our new stadium.”

11.46

Spartak Moskva had a tough Wednesday appointment in Istanbul, with their Spanish coach Unai Emery relieved to have fought off a late rally from Fenerbahçe. “We came to Istanbul with the advantage of our 2-1 win at home,” said the former Valencia boss. “We had a very positive energy, and thanks to that we managed to advance into the group stage.”

11.44

Cluj made it through at the expense of Basel, with their Greek striker Pantelis Kapetanos saying: “It is a true privilege to play in the Champions League.” Coach Ioan Andone could only salute his players for their achievements, with the Romanian side having accounted for Slovan Livberec in the previous round. “Let’s not forget that we won all four of our qualifying matches against the champions of countries which have stronger leagues than ours,” he explained.

11.42

Dynamo Kyiv lived on their nerves as they finally got the better of Mönchengladbach, with coach Yuri Semin just relieved to be in the group stage after a trying night. “In general, this qualification was very difficult,” said the Russian. “I mean both matches against Feyenoord and Mönchengladbach. And today you could see that our opposition was top-class. We reached group stage of Champions League after a long break, and that is the most important thing. The Ukrainian newspapers said that failure would be a catastrophe. We didn’t let it happen."

11.37

Celtic's return to the group stage brought much joy in Glasgow, but forward Gary Hooper is not too concerned about who the Hoops draw in Monaco today. "We will take anyone in the draw.," he said. "We will give everyone a good game here at Celtic Park. Obviously you want the big names like Barcelona, Manchester United and so on, but we will watch the draw together and take it from there." Anthony Watt, just 18, was excited to be in the mix. "It’s every player’s dream to be playing at that level," the forward said. "I have not really thought about the draw that much. All I know is that we will be playing against some of the best players in the world, so we will be happy with whoever we get."

11.28

Dinamo's players celebrate Tuesday's success against Slovenian champions Maribor

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb came through three rounds to get to the group stage, and defender Domagoj Vida saluted their achievement. "We are thrilled because it is a great achievement to play in the Champions league again.," he said. "We won five out of six European games and did not lose once so we qualified in style." Team-mate Duje Čop added after Tuesday's success against Maribor: "We are delighted to play in the UEFA Champions league for the second successive season. I'm simply lost for words. When I came here a couple of months ago, I dreamed of a moment like this, and now it has happened."

11.20

Braga's famous quarry stadium will grace the group stage for a second time after they confirmed their progress on Tuesday. Striker Lima said: "I am happy that I have helped Braga reach the group stage for the second time - for me it is wonderful. We were truly warriors." Coach José Peseiro also felt a sense of vindication. "We had the quality - we believed it was possible to go through and reach the group stage. That is the most important thing and it is another moment in Braga’s history."

11.15

Here are Málaga, celebrating earning their first shot at the group stage.

With Montpellier, Nordsjælland and Málaga poised to make their group stage debuts, the number of clubs to take part in the group stage will be 127 in 21 years. On Tuesday, Málaga goalkeeper Willy said: "Now it is time to enjoy ourselves in this competition, because it has been a long and tough ride for us to reach this stage. I don't have a preference for the draw. Málaga are in the UEFA Champions League for the first time and we are already in the history books. Whatever we achieve from now on, depends on ourselves." His midfield team-mate Joaquín added: "This success is vindication for the work ethic, the attitude and the modesty of this team."

11.12

Belarusian champions BATE are now regulars in the group stages of the big European club competitions, and ousted Israeli champions Kiryat Shmona on Tuesday to stake their place for 2012/13. "I really wanted to qualify to the group stage for the first time and I'm very happy to be there," said striker Dmitry Mozolevski. Coach Viktor Goncharenko - still just 35 - added: "I am happy to be rubbing shoulders again with elite teams like Barcelona."

11.09

Anderlecht are thrilled to be back in the mix, though midfielder Sacha Kljestan was not getting carried away. “We'll see after the draw and then we'll see how things go in our first couple of games," he said. "Obviously, our goal is to continue playing European football in the new year. Certainly, if we make third place and go through to the Europa League, we'll be happy.” Team-mate Massimo Bruno added: “Everything from now on will be a bonus, but being drawn against Juventus would be my dream.”

11.03

On Wednesday, LOSC Lille, CFR Cluj, Spartak Moskva, Dynamo Kyiv and Celtic completed the starting grid - click the links to see their match reports.

10.48

The ten final places in the group stage were decided over the last two nights with the conclusion of the play-off round. On Tuesday, Anderlecht, Dinamo Zagreb, Braga, BATE Borisov and Málaga confirmed their places - click the links to read about how they made it.

10.46

Here's a shot of the Grimaldi Forum ahead of today's activities.

To find out more about the UEFA Best Player In Europe voting panel, click here.

10.39

Here is a close-up of Messi with the top individual prize in European football.

Lionel Messi receives the 2011 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award from UEFA President Michel Platini

The draw will also include the presentation of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, with football experts from each of UEFA's 53 member nations to take part in a live vote to decide between the three short-listed players: Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

10.33

Here are some important times for today's activities in Monaco.
13.00, Grimaldi Forum – Club Atlético de Madrid press conference
15.30, Grimaldi Forum – Chelsea FC press conference
17.45, Grimaldi Forum – UEFA Champions League group stage draw, including the presentation ceremony of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award
19.00, Stade Louis II – Chelsea training session
20.15, Stade Louis II – Atlético training session

10.27

There are 11 past winners taking part in this season's group stage – of those sides, Celtic are the only one that had to come through qualifying, and also the only former holders among the 32 not to have won the competition in the UEFA Champions League era.

10.23

As usual, the 32 teams will be drawn into eight groups. The clubs are split into four pots based on their club rankings established at the beginning of the season – entrants from the same association cannot be drawn into the same group.

10.08

The final ten group stage berths were decided this week as the play-off round came to a conclusion last night. Debutants such as Málaga will rub shoulders with the likes of established participants Bayern and there will be some clubs making a long-awaited return, such as Celtic and Anderlecht. We will have more in-depth profiles on all the competing clubs a little later.

10.03

UEFA.com reporters Kevin Ashby and Sam Adams are in Monaco and will bring us the latest from the Principality, including news ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA Super Cup between Chelsea and Atlético.

9.56

Hello and welcome to UEFA.com’s live coverage of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League group stage draw. We will have all the build-up as the great and good of European football descend upon the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco for today’s big event, which gets under way at 17.45CET.

9.55

Join the discussion