The Champions League always brings surprises, but this year’s line-up feels especially refreshing.
Four clubs are set to make their long-awaited debuts in the competition — and they could be facing off against England’s six representatives once the draw is finalized.
From Cyprus to Kazakhstan, and Norway to Belgium, these newcomers have fought their way through tough qualifying rounds to book their tickets to Europe’s biggest stage.
Pafos FC: Cyprus’ Rising Star
Perhaps the biggest fairytale of all belongs to Pafos FC, a club that was only founded 11 years ago.
Against all odds, they snatched a late equaliser against Red Star Belgrade to secure a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate win.
This triumph means Pafos are now just the third Cypriot club to ever reach the Champions League, following in the footsteps of Apoel and Anorthosis Famagusta.
Their journey began way back in mid-July, beating both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dynamo Kyiv along the way.
To add to the glamour, former Chelsea, Arsenal, and PSG defender David Luiz recently joined the team, with the club hailing his arrival as one of the most historic moments in Cypriot football.
Bodo/Glimt: Norway’s Arctic Warriors
Up in Norway, Bodo/Glimt are making headlines of their own.
They stormed past Austria’s Sturm Graz with a 6-2 aggregate win, even though they lost the second leg 2-1.
This makes them the first Norwegian side since Rosenborg in 2007 to feature in the group stage.
Fans will remember they went on a fairytale Europa League run last season, reaching the semi-finals before being stopped by eventual winners Tottenham.
With their home located north of the Arctic Circle, any visiting side will face a unique and icy challenge.
Kairat Almaty: Shocking Celtic
The biggest upset, however, came courtesy of Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan.
After two tense goalless draws against Celtic, the tie went to penalties — and the Scottish giants collapsed.
Three missed spot-kicks gifted Kairat their historic passage, making them only the second Kazakh club ever to qualify, after Astana in 2015.
For any club drawn against them, the trip will be gruelling: a 3,600-mile journey to Central Asia with an eight-hour time difference.
Just ask Chelsea, who experienced the same long-haul test last season during their Conference League campaign.
Union Saint-Gilloise: Belgium’s Return to Glory
Joining them are Union Saint-Gilloise, a Belgian side with history but now making their modern mark.
Their rise in recent years has been impressive, and their qualification adds another layer of competitiveness to Pot 4 in the draw.
How the Draw Is Shaping Up
The league phase draw takes place on Thursday in Monaco at 5pm BST.
The format is slightly different now: all 36 clubs will be split into four pots, each side playing eight different opponents — four at home and four away.
Here’s how the pots are currently looking:
Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona
Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica*, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge*
Pot 3: PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting Lisbon, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Marseille
Pot 4: Copenhagen*, Monaco, Galatasaray, Qarabag*, Union Saint-Gilloise, Athletic Club, Pafos, Kairat, Newcastle
(*some still awaiting confirmation)
What Awaits the English Clubs
For the Premier League’s representatives, the road will be anything but easy. Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea — all in Pot 1 — are guaranteed to face two of the giants like PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, or Barcelona.
The tournament kicks off between 16 and 18 September, setting the stage for another dramatic season of Champions League football.
