Seeds confirmed for Champions League group stage draw
The seeds for the Champions League group-stage draw were confirmed Friday after Sevilla won the Europa League.
With their 3-2 victory over Inter Milan, Sevilla secured the final seed in Pot 1, which is designated for European title winners and the champions of the top six leagues.
However, the eighth spot will be occupied by FC Porto, winners of the seventh-ranked league, as Champions League finalists Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain won their respective domestic competitions.
Pot 1: Bayern Munich, PSG, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus, Zenit St Petersburg, FC Porto
English clubs occupy three spots in Pot 2, which is determined by UEFA's five-year coefficient of performance in European competition.
Benfica will secure the last spot in Pot 2 if they are successful in the Champions League qualifying stage. If they stumble, Ajax will be promoted from Pot 3.
Pot 2: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Shakhtar Donetsk, Chelsea, Benfica or Ajax
The outcome of the qualifying rounds will determine who is placed in the last two pots.
So far, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, and Lazio have guaranteed places in Pot 3, while Dynamo Kyiv, Red Bull Salzburg, Olympiacos, and Celtic will join them if they advance past the qualifiers.
Atalanta, Marseille, Lokomotiv Moscow, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Club Brugge have a chance to join Pot 4, which will feature Stade Rennes and Istanbul Basaksehir.
The Champions League group stage draw takes place on Oct. 1 before the competition kicks off on Oct. 20.