Champions League Draw Sees Barcelona Return For Guardiola; Europe’s Top 4 Leagues Guaranteed Four Group Stage Passes From 2018-19

UEFA change the rules to guarantee four Champions League Group Stage passes to Europe’s top four leagues. Champions League draw sees Pep Guardiola reunited with his old club Barcelona.

UEFA has granted four of Europe’s elite leagues four guaranteed places in the UEFA Champions League Group Stages starting 2018-19.

The new regime will see the Top 4 teams from Spain, England, Germany, and Italy qualify for the group stages automatically. Currently, only the Top 3 teams from Spain, England and Germany gain an automatic qualification, with the fourth placed team qualifying for the play-off round. The Italians have two guaranteed spots, with the third place team also qualifying for the two-legged play-off. The new system will also see the winners of the Europa League gain immediate qualification to the Champions League Group Stages.

The draw for the 2016-17 Champions League groups created some compelling stories the pick of which is a return to his old club Barcelona for Pep Guardiola. Visits to the German side with the longest name in world football and the Scottish champions Celtic make Group C one of the toughest.