Europa League draw - LIVE: Arsenal and Chelsea learn group stage opponents plus Celtic and Rangers latest
Follow live coverage of the draw from Monte Carlo, Monaco
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal and Chelsea learned their Europa League fate on Friday afternoon along with Scottish Premiership sides Celtic and Rangers as the group stage draw took place in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Arsenal, who reached the semi-finals last season before losing to eventual champions Atletico Madrid, face a nightmare schedule of long-distance trips to Azerbaijan and Ukraine after being drawn against FK Qarabag and FC Vorskla Poltava, with Sporting CP making up Group E.
But the draw has been far kinder to Chelsea, who will take on PAOK, BATE Borisov and Hungarian side Vidi.
Celtic have a testing group on their hands as stablemates Salsburg and RB Leipzig are paired together along with Rosenborg in Group B, while Rangers return to European football in Group G against Villarreal, Rapid Vienna and Spartak Moscow.
Follow live coverage of the draw below...
Please allow a moment for the blog to load...
When and where is the draw?
The group stage draw takes place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Friday 31 August. It will take place at midday.
How can I watch the draw?
On BT Sport 2 from midday. You can also follow live coverage and reaction right here with The Independent.
What do I need to know?
48 teams are involved in the group stage: 17 teams which automatically qualified and another 21 teams which survived the various play-off rounds. There are then six teams added that lost in the Champions League play-off round, as well as four defeated in the Champions League third qualifying round.
No team can play a club from their own country.
The pots
Pot 1: Sevilla, Arsenal, Chelsea, Zenit, Bayer Leverkusen, Dynamo Kyiv, Besiktas, Salzburg, Olympiakos, Villarreal, Anderlecht, Lazio.
Pot 2: Sporting CP, Ludogorets, FC Copenhagen, Marseille, Celtic, PAOK, AC Milan, Genk, Fenerbahce, Krasnodar, Astana, Rapid Wien.
Pot 3: Real Betis, BATE Borisov, Qarabag, Dinamo Zagreb, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Malmo, Spartak Moscow, Standard Liege, Zurich, Bordeaux, Rennes.
Pot 4: Apollon, Rosenborg, Vorskla Poltava, Slavia Prague, Akhisar Belediyespor, Jablonec, AEK Larnaca, Vidi, Rangers, Dudelange, Spartak Trnava, Sarpsborg.
Halfway through the draw, here's how it's shaping up:
Group A: Bayer Leverkusen, Ludogorets
Group B: Salzburg, Celtic
Group C: Zenit St Petersburg, FC Copenhagen
Group D: Anderlecht, Fenerbahce
Group E: Arsenal, Sporting CP
Group F: Olympiakos, AC Milan
Group G: Villareal, Rapid Wien
Group H: Lazio, Marseille
Group I: Besiktas, Genk
Group J: Sevilla, Krasnodar
Group K: Dynamo Kiev, Astana
Group L: Chelsea, PAOK
A tough draw for Arsenal with Sporting ranked the best team in pot two by Uefa, while Chelsea have a rather kind draw against Greek side PAOK.
Pot 3 up next, here's the teams involved:
Real Betis, BATE Borisov, Qarabag, Dinamo Zagreb, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Malmo, Spartak Moscow, Standard Liege, Zurich, Bordeaux, Rennes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments