How the UEFA Champions League draw works

The world’s richest club competition, the UEFA Champions League, is back, with the group stage draws set to happen in a couple of days’ time. German club Bayern Munich won the trophy last season, and will be one of the favourites again to reclaim the crown, but will be challenged by other big clubs all around Europe.

However, a question that sometimes goes unanswered is how the 32 teams participating in the UEFA Champions League chosen. Which are the teams that participate in the playoffs before the group stages?

With the UEFA Champions League draw to take place on Thursday, click the next few pages to get a lowdown on how the competition works: